By Kris Courtney on Monday, June 24, 2013

 

See also -  http://www.doctoralia.com.au/ - http://www.ratemds.com/ - websites for rating of doctors by patients

See also -  https://www.acnem.org/find-a-practitioner/new-south-wales - nutritional & environmental doctors

Disclaimer:  these recommendations are provided in good faith, and won't suit everyone.  Please use your own judgement  before travelling long distances, considering phoning the doctor to discuss suitability.

 

Neurologists

• Dr Stacey Jankelowitz, Neurologist & Neurophysiologist - Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney - private rooms at Bondi Junction.  *WARNING* "she said she can't tell if my POTS is caused by deconditioning or pure dysautonomia -  she referred me to an electrophysiiologist [to look at the rhythms & electrical currents of the heart]"

• Dr Alan McDougall - at Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool - also a Senior Lecturer at University of NSW

• Dr Judy Spies, Neurologist, specialises in autonomic disorders and peripheral nerve diseases - Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney - also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney.http://sydneyneurology.com.au/index_files/Page756.htm

• Dr Mark Thieben, Clinical Neurophysiologist - Nepean Hospital, Penrith.- Dr Mark Thieben offers a Neurophysiology service including Electromyography, Nerve Conduction Studies, and a limited number of evoked potentials (mainly SEP and VEP).  Dr Mark Thieben contributed to Mayo Clinic research on POTS, proving neuropathic and autoimmune involvement - see  http://dx.doi.org/10.4065/82.3.308.  - "[Aug 2013] is not taking new patients at Nepean Hospital, is moving to Royal North Shore"

• Dr John Watson, Neurologist - Sydney Adventist Hospital, Sydney - also Professor of Medicine, Associate Dean and Head of Clinical School, at University of Sydney -  - http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/people/academics/profiles/johnwatson.php - "he does know about POTS, but not about the connection between EDS and POTS" 

 

Cardiologists

• Dr Malcom Barlow, Cardiologist and General Physician - private rooms at Hunter Heart, New Lambton, Newcastle -  http://www.hunterheart.com.au

• Dr Christoper Flood, Cardiologist - at Blacktown, Castle Hill, Ashley Lane Westmead, and Wahroonga - http://www.christopherflood.com.au/

• Dr Duncan Guy, Cardiologist - at Norwest and Westmead Hospitals, private rooms in Castle Hill and Westmead.*WARNING*  "Does not believe in POTS and makes this clear to patients"

• Dr Bruce Walker, Cardiologist - at St Vincent's clinic, adjacent to St Vincent's hospital, Darlinghurst Sydney.Areas of interest: cardiac arrhythmias, radiofrequency ablation, pacing, syncope."Diagnoses through tilt table testing (TTT) and tries numerous medications till he finds one that works. He is very thorough and checks all the POTS measurements each visit. He also diagnoses dysautonomia. He is not a dysautonomia expert, as he doesn't always know exactly why the body does certain weird things, but he is very good with the heart side of things."

• Dr David Whalley, Cardiologist, special interest in electrophysiology - private rooms at North Shore Private Hospital, St Leonards - http://www.sah.org.au/specialist-details?id=407579

 

Immunologists

• Dr David Sutherland, Clinical Immunologist - Broadmeadow Newcastle - "knowledgeable about POTS and [some?] mast cell disorders"

• See also http://www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-and-clinical-immunology-services/how-to-locate-a-specialist/nsw

 

Gastroenterologists

• Dr Robert Gibson, Clinical Gastroenterologist - private rooms at Hunter Gastroenterology, Charleston Newcastle - staff specialist at John Hunter Hospital - http://www.huntergastroenterology.com.au/styled-5/ 

Geneticists

• Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Department of Molecular and Clinical Genetics - Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050 - "for EDS testing"

• Dr Anne Ronan, Clinical Geneticist - Hunter Genetics , Newcastle, with outreach clinics through northern NSW (Waratah, Muswellbrook, Taree, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Kingscliff) - http://www.kaleidoscope.org.au/site/hunter-genetics - "She is one of the most knowledgeable, intelligent and caring doctors I have ever seen. Before my consult she went as far as contacting researches in USA who are doing current POTS genetics testing. Brilliant doctor."

• Dr David Sillence, Clinical Geneticist - The Childrens Hospital, at Westmead Sydney - or private rooms at Westmead Private - he is also the Foundation Chair and a Professor of Genetics at Sydney University - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sillence

• Dr Lisa Worgan, Clinical Geneticist - Genetics Clinic, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool - also a lecturer in medicine at University of NSW - "she diagnosed me with EDS type III ... lovely lady, i highly recommend her ... answered many questions and put my mind at ease ..." "8 month wait [August 2013]"

• Dr Andreas Zankl, Clinical Geneticst - The Children's Hospital, at Westmead Sydney - has an interest in rare genetic diseases including connective tissue dysplasia - he is also a Professor of Medical Genetics at University of Sydney -http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/people/academics/profiles/azankl.php  - previously at University of Queensland and Genetic Health Qld - "EDS.  moved from Brisbane and well respected"

 

Other Physicians 

• Dr Caroline Broderick, Paediatric Sports Medicine - The Children's Hospital, Westmead Sydney - "my daughter was diagnosed and treated by POTS through Westmead Children's Hospital.  The best doctor we found was Dr Caroline Broderick at CHISM (Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine)."

• Dr Edwin Cassar, Physician - Garran / Woden Valley, Canberra - http://www.chroniccarecentre.com.au/*WARNING* claims to have 35 years experience in multi-system illnesses, with qualifications in General Medicine, Cardiology, Rheumatology and Pain Medicine.  Despite this experience and training, wilfully ignored other specialist's  reports describing serious immune and neurological dysfunction, re-diagnosed to have "somatoform disorder" (imaginary/hysterical illness, and accused patient of not trying and not wanting to get better.

• Dr Todd Gothelf , Orthopaedic Surgeon - consults from Concord, Hurstville, Randwick and Penrith - specialising in foot, ankle and shoulder surgery - http://www.orthosports.com.au/content_common/pg-todd-gothelf.seo - "not an EDS specialist, but he knows a lot about EDS"

• Professor Andrew Lloyd, specialist in immunology and infectious diseases - Fatigue Clinic at University of NSW, at Randwick - this clinic focuses on CBT and GET  - http://medicalsciences.med.unsw.edu.au/community/lifestyle-clinic/services/fatigue-clinic

• Dr Paul Thibault, GP and Phlebologist - Suite 1. 41 Belford Street Broadmeadow 2292 PH: 49610688.  Dr Thibault does testing for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) (ie compromised flow of blood in the veins draining the central nervous system), which can lead to neurological problems, and may be linked to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)  - http://www.cosmeticcentre.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=217201- http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3572695.htm

• Western Imaging, Radiologists - Blacktown, Sydney - have an upright MRI machine (most MRI are horizontal and can feel claustrophobic)  - http://www.westernimaginggroup.com.au/

 

General Practitioners

• Dr Michael Beliby, GP - Your Health, Manly Sydney - areas of interest:  integrative medicine, specialisting in bio-energetic medicine - http://www.yourhealth.com.au/natural-medicine-alterntive-doctor-australia.php?id=35 - "i've heard he's good, works at same centre as Dr Varipatis"

• Dr Jenny Dan - Glendale, Newcastle

• Dr Peter Dobie - Lilyfield, Sydney - areas of interest: integrative medicine, nutritional medicine, etc - http://drpeterdobie.com/ - "Don't know much about him though but sounds sympathetic - Fibromyalgia and CFS" "about ?20 yrs ago, he was with environmental unit of Manly Waters Private Hospital, working with Dr Mark Donahoe & Dr Joachim Fluhrer, he was quite helpful then"

• Dr Nyrie Dodd - Newtown, Sydney - "Will have to write her a letter explaning situation. Great for lyme, Sarcoidosis, CFS, Fibromyalgia etc"

• Dr Mark Donohoe, GP - Cremorne, Sydney - areas of interest:  multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) - http://docmarky.com/ - "he helped my son" "he is excellent at the biochemistry of symptoms, and was happy towork in conjunctin with Dr Schloeffel, they both praise each other"

• Dr Alexander Gillespie, GP - in Leura and Penrith - areas of interest include Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)"he knows a lot about EDS"

• Dr Ian Rafter, GP - Macquarie Street, Sydney - Bondi Junction, Sydney (?) - areas of interest:  ME/CFS/FM and post-cancer fatigue - "the best doctor i've seen for CFS/FM ... based on diet-related autoimmune effects such as leaky gut and food allergies, and toxic conditions caused by that, and treatment using hormone replacement, herbal tonics and others ... i could not recommend him more highly".

• Dr Ben Seckold - Hamilton, Newcastle - for EDS - http://www.hamiltondoctors.com.au/ - "was open to exploring EDS diagnosis initially and helped with all necessary referrals, support and care. Member now has EDS Hypermobility diagnosis through Geneticist and Dr Seckold is learning all about EDS!"

• Dr Richard Schloeffel, GP - Gordon, Sydney - areas of interest: adolescent and child chronic and complex illnesses, nutritional medicine, etc - http://pymblegrove.com/practitioners/dr-richard-schloeffel - "Dr Schloeffel specialises in working with teenagers as he feels that they are at an age where he has the best chance to help them recover" "is only accepting new patients under 25 years" - *** http://www.mindfood.com/article/health-mind-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/ 

• Dr Jonathan Turtle, GP - Gordon, Sydney - areas of interest: chronic fatigue disorders, allergies and intolerances, gut disorders, fibromyalgia, hormonal disorders, etc  http://pymblegrove.com/practitioners/dr-jonathan-turtle - "i saw him for gut issues and exhaustion, he was terrific" "great integrative medicine GP" "he's great and CFS is his area of speciality" "he charges $300-350*/hr, and first consult will take 1.5-2hrs"  *before medicare & safety net rebate  

• Dr Emmanuel Varipatis, GP - Your Health, Manly, Sydney - areas of interest:  integrative, nutritional and environmental medicine, complex health issues, bowel and digestive disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome etc - "he is very good and less expensive after the initial appointment, charging the usual doctor rates" - http://www.yourhealth.com.au/natural-medicine-alterntive-doctor-australia.php?id=50

 

Other Practitioners

• Tegan Butters, Physiotherapist - Merimbula - great physio

• Michelle O'Sullivan, Occupation Therapist - The Sports Physio Clinic, in Narrabeen and West Pymble - areas of interest:  hypermobility, chronic pain & fatigue - http://www.hypermobilot.com.au/