DH and i have discussed, at length, the logistics of getting to Sydney to see Dr S. and there are a few things that have prevented us doing this already. firstly - the travel and expenses. i don't like flying, so it would mean driving to Sydney - which is around 10 hours from here. now, this isn't really a drama - DH drives for a living so he is well set up to drive - but i get car sick if i'm a passenger for too long! we did it at Easter, and we're prepared to do it again to see Dr S - but it would essentially mean both DH and I taking several days off work. i am able to take leave - no biggie there - but DH gets paid when he works (well, he does accrue leave, but he's used most of that to be with me when we've had our losses etc). we'd also need to arrange accommodation (have family in Bulli we can stay with, but i've heard that is MILES out of Sydney!!) which is extra dollars too. being that we would be away from home, i'd be making sure we stayed at least a couple of nights, as i have chronic fatigue and to go up and back within a couple of days would wreck me for weeks!

the other problem is the timing of appointments. from what i've read from others, one of the tests that Dr S likes to do is only done on Tuesdays and Thursdays - which would mean trying to get to see him before one of those days, and having a tentative appointment for the test if it's needed.... would mean being in Sydney longer, and given how many fur babies we have, the logistics of getting someone to care for them is damn horrific!!!

and then to the biggest issue. my current FS. ultimately, if i could get to sydney and see Dr S, with the blessing of my FS, i'd do it in a heartbeat - money be damned, inconvenience be damned!! BUT - and here is the issue - my FS despises people getting second opinions behind his back. i know of another BB member who sees my FS down in Melbourne - she got a referral from her GP to see Dr S, flew up to see him - and apparently the FS refused to have anything to do with his recommendations. he wouldn't prescribe the prednisone Dr S had recommended, he wouldn't monitor anything relating to Dr S recommendations... and that bit scares the crap out of me!! how can i go ahead and do what Dr S recommends if it puts me in the bad books with my FS. i don't have much choice in FS unless i want to double the travel for all procedures/u.s/BT's - at least the "local" clinic is set up to have most stuff done within 100k's of home - and things like BT's can be done and couriered - at their expense - to the clinic - i seriously doubt that would be possible with any other clinic - and the extra travel would do my head in!

i have been contemplating this visit for months - hell, our trip to Sydney at Easter (as much as being an opportunity to catch up with my lovely BB friends) was more about working out the logisitics of travelling for an appointment to see Dr S. and yes, we can make it work - but it's playing on my mind HUGELY as to whether it's worth the effort if it's going to p!ss my FS off and make life more difficult going through treatment...