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View Full Version : Any friends in Northern California?



morningsunshine
11-15-2015, 03:26 AM
Hello, fellow weggies!

I moved a couple of months ago from the East Coast to NorCal. I was originally planning to keep my health care over there, but after traveling back for some RTX infusions (and being completely exhausted by the experience), I'm now looking for a new team of doctors in Northern California, which I'm finding to be overwhelming.

Does anyone have any NorCal doctors to recommend? I'm primarily looking to replace my rheumatologist & pulmonologist, but in time I'll need a nephrologist, opthalmologist, and ENT here too.

Any experiences you may have with infusion centers and health insurance plans is welcome too. (I would also be interested in hearing about negative experiences and places I should avoid).

I'm willing to go anywhere from the SF Bay Area to Reno--I don't mind driving a few hours for an amazing team!

Thank you so much in advance!!

NikkiNicole
11-16-2015, 12:04 AM
What sort of health coverage do you have, if any? I don't know if that is too forward a question but it makes a difference on where I can direct you. I mean, I obviously don't have a great team myself because I am struggling with my disease daily. But, I have heard of FABULOUS doctors outside of my care plan that might work for you.
Dr. Sharon Chung at UCSF is a Vasculitis Specialist. My rheumatologist is very good friends with her so she sort of keeps her apprised of what's going on with me and gets info but .... I'm not sure how much sometimes. Perhaps, she would be a good option for you. I hear wonderful things from those that have recommended her.
I'm with Kaiser ... which for a Wegener's patient, I don't recommend. I have a good rheumatologist and a good GP. My good care stops there. My ENTs have always been crappy. The pulmonologist I saw sucked and then after me completely missed the mark on my friend's wife and she had horrific lung cancer (and the doc didn't see it!) and now she's dead. I definitely don't recommend her at all!!!!!
Anyway, I don't know if that's of any help to you at all. Hopefully you can get a good team going.
Where in NorCal are you? I am in Santa Rosa. It's in Sonoma County. Santa Rosa is an hour north of San Francisco.
Welcome to California!!

morningsunshine
11-16-2015, 01:57 AM
Thank you so much for responding and recommending Dr. Chung. I have looked at her profile, but it's so hard to tell what kind of doctors they actually are just based on an online profile. I'm doing a sort of creative treatment and I want to find a doctor who will continue to support that.

I'm actively looking into healthcare here for 2016...I'll be unemployed for awhile, so I'll buy a plan on the exchange, but I saved up for this so I can buy whichever plan works best with my new doctors (and includes RTX). Kaiser had some expensive plans there, but I guess expensive doesn't equal the best. I'll stay away from Kaiser!

I just moved to the Lake Tahoe area--my husband and I are making a huge lifestyle change, and I'm hoping the mountain air helps my lungs out! I grew up near Davis, so I know most of Northern California pretty well. Yay Santa Rosa! I'll be passing through there for sure in the next few months--would you be interested in meeting up for coffee or something? No worries if the answer is no, I just think it would be neat to meet and talk with someone else who has WG.

TommyG
11-16-2015, 05:14 PM
I think Sharon Chung is a wonderful Wegener's Doctor in San Francisco. I 'm happy to drive an hour to consult with her. My rheumatologist in Los Gatos Lynda Lee is excellent and very up to date on Wegeners. You can private message me if you would like more info. I hope you enjoy Lake Tahoe as much as I do. I lived in the Northshore for a couple great years. 5 years ago when I was to sick to walk around the block, I would visualize myself skiing again. After 2 years I was able to get back to Tahoe and ski. The last 2 Winters I was back to skiing the steeps at Squaw Valley at age 53.

NikkiNicole
11-17-2015, 09:54 AM
I love Lake Tahoe and am hoping to escape that way soon. I believe the gorgeous nature and mountain air will do wonders for everyone!!
I am always up for coffee.

morningsunshine
11-19-2015, 06:58 AM
Thanks to both of you! I sent each of you a private message :-)

annekat
11-20-2015, 07:37 PM
I just moved to the Lake Tahoe area--my husband and I are making a huge lifestyle change, and I'm hoping the mountain air helps my lungs out! I grew up near Davis, so I know most of Northern California pretty well. Yay Santa Rosa! I'll be passing through there for sure in the next few months--would you be interested in meeting up for coffee or something? No worries if the answer is no, I just think it would be neat to meet and talk with someone else who has WG. Hey, I lived in Davis for 22 years. Where near Davis did you grow up? Winters, Woodland, Dixon? I think I heard there's a vasculitis clinic at the UC Davis Med Center in Sacramento. You could check that out. But Dr. Chung at UCSF is always the one we hear the most good things about. I think there are one or two mentioned at Stanford or in that area, as well... check the VF site consultant list for those.

thedudos1109
01-19-2016, 07:42 AM
I live in Reno, so not far from northern CA

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