The doctor was very kind and had plenty of experience with vitiligo. He offered to let me check with the local University hospital to see if they had a specialist there, but I pointed out that the University's efforts are currently focused on finding a cure, as a number of recent local newspaper articles have touted. He said I could call around to a few other doctors if I preferred, but that he had no knowledge of any other doc in the central/south Florida region that offered such treatment. I told him I would check around, but went ahead and made a follow up appointment with him.
I called the office of another local derm who has treated several family members and friends for a myriad of ailments and is (allegedly)known for his experience with vitiligo, and was told point blank over the phone that the doctor would not even entertain such an idea (she even put me on hold to double check with the good doc himself). You would think from the receptionist's tone that I had asked for a blank prescription pad and the keys to her car!
So I guess I lucked out with the first doc. He said he's going to do the homework on the treatment and checked all of my appropriate lab work to make sure *knock on wood* that I don't any other accompanying auto immune issues, but otherwise he was completely on board with depigmenting me. I was impressed that despite the heavy advertisement of cosmetic treatments in the lobby (collagen, anyone?), he spent the bulk of the consultation grilling me about my personal health history as well as my family's health history, allergies, etc. Other than me nursing a cold at the moment, I appear to be in tip-top condition!
I think the doctor was still a little puzzled by me when I left, but puzzled in a good way. From his gentle tone, I think he expected me to be on the brink of a nervous meltdown based the extent of my vitiligo. Or maybe he's just a nice guy :-)
Either way, I'm thrilled to find a doctor that understands that I'm okay with not looking like everyone else. I've been different since the day I was born and it's only made me a stronger, more compassionate person. My quirks just give me character. I imagine I'd be a very boring person if I had been born looking just like everyone else. Why change a winning formula?
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