Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

The closest RLS specialist to you that I know of is Dr Philip Becker in Dallas.

Greensboro Rheumatology, Dr. Angela Hawkes in Greensboro, NC

Dr Becker in Dallas has retired. Does anyone know another doctor who treats RLS in the Dallas area?

Bubba, that is not good news for those of you in the DFW area. You might try calling the Foundation to ask them, but I suspect that they do not know anyone else because I have heard them make the statement that there are two RLS doctors in Texas, Dr Becker and Dr Ondo in Houston.

You may be facing a situation where you will need to teach a doctor how to provide your care unless you want to go to Houston.

I see a Neurologist in Seattle

When my GP first sent me to Hershey Medical Center, they had a sleep specialist named Dr. Meoli. She is really knowledgeable about RLS. She set me up on my current medication 3.5 years ago. Its still working for me. However, she moved to Washington state. So anyone in that area now has another excellent RLS doctor.

I live in Los Angeles area and I have Kaiser. I’m seeing a new RLS doc early July. If he does not work out I may have to go outside of kaiser. Although I may not be able to afford it. Anyone who knows a Kaiser doctor in LA or Ventura County or a non Kaiser doctor in this area please let me know. Thank you

A non-Kaiser doctor in LA that is one of the leading experts in the treatment of RLS is Dr. Mark Buchfuhrer. Dr Buchfuhrer has patients who travel from all over just to see him.

Bedbboc wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 24, 2020 4:22 am

I live in Los Angeles area and I have Kaiser. I’m seeing a new RLS doc early July. If he does not work out I may have to go outside of kaiser. Although I may not be able to afford it. Anyone who knows a Kaiser doctor in LA or Ventura County or a non Kaiser doctor in this area please let me know. Thank you

Dr. Buchfuhrer is definitely a drive for you - he is in Downey. The last time I saw him without insurance (at least 4 years ago), it was $300 for the first visit, then he worked with me via email and required I see him once a year. I actually moved to Long Beach so I could be close enough to see him regularly, but I was in the Midwest US at the time.

I don't know any RLS docs in the Kaiser system - since I see him, I haven't bothered to find out and each year I purchase insurance from the exchange based on what groups he is in.

Wow, this is really helpful. He gets it? I’m ok with $300. Is it too much to ask how one purchases insurance from the exchange?

If anyone knows anything about kaisers position on opioids I would appteciate it. Thanks View Askew

Just in case in would be useful Dr B will reply to an e-mail if you wanted to ask him about your rls.

Bedbboc wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:52 am

Wow, this is really helpful. He gets it? I’m ok with $300. Is it too much to ask how one purchases insurance from the exchange?

If anyone knows anything about kaisers position on opioids I would appteciate it. Thanks View Askew

It could easily be $400 by now....but I looked at it as a one time fee. He was born in Canada and finds the US healthcare system archaic. So, he likely loses money he could get if he were a stickler. Once you are a patient, he is pretty good about working with you from afar. Even now that I am in Long Beach, I can email him and he will email me back.

No idea about opioids an Kaiser. It was so much more to get the insurance on the exchange, I didn't want to spend it.

The exchanges in California are open year round if you lose a job or your carrier and need to buy insurance. If you have insurance, you have to wait until the end of November/December to choose a plan for the following year. You cannot switch during the year. Once you have a plan, you're stuck with it. I use LA Care - a plan developed for LA County.

You can likely go to the website now and check plans and prices, as if you'd lost your plan. There is no restriction from checking plans. You just cannot purchase them. Covered California - https://www.coveredca.com/

Thanks

I made an appointment with Dr. Buchffuhrer. Next week.

Bedbboc wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 26, 2020 12:13 am

I made an appointment with Dr. Buchffuhrer. Next week.

WOW! Great! Hope it works out well. The freeways have been way easier to use, lately, with so many people working from home. Hopefully you'll be there in reasonable time.