I have an upcoming first-time appointment with Dr. J in DC. I will be travelling all the way from the Caribbean. What can I expect at this clinic? Anyone has any experience with this clinic in DC? Does he follow the Burrascano approach? Is he big on IV or prefers orals? Is there another LLMD you might recommend? Thanks all for your opinion as I am new to this and want to know that I will be seeing a doctor that knows what they are doing. Best wishes to all.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
My personal opinion is that if you are sensitive to meds then he would not be a good match.
This is one of the docs who is a blaster -- uses high doses of multiple meds. Also seems to do a lot of pulsing of meds which also does not work for everyone.
Don't think the doc is really into herbs and supplements either.
I know for hubby pulsing meds would not work for babesia. Just not sure that this doc has the best protocols for coinfections.
But the biggest drawback would be the expense if you do IV's with this doc -- don't see how anyone could afford what the clinic charges as a monthly monitoring fee.
For all the reasons above this doc is not on my list of potential docs for hubby. And I really should probably find a backup doc.
Bea Seibert
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
From all accounts, he will not treat at first appointment. He wants results of tests before he comes up with your treatment plan.
He does not follow the Burrascano approach. He has his own unique approach.
See this old LymeNet post to see a typical J protocol:
[ 07-05-2012, 12:39 PM: Message edited by: sixgoofykids ]
Posted by Maryland Mom (Member # 2043) on :
I found Dr. J's approach to be very helpful for me. His protocols worked for me, and although yes, he does high doses of multiple meds and pulsing, but he tailors the regimen to fit the individual needs of each patient, as any good doctor should.
And if 30% of his patients are on IVs, that may be because such a high percentage of his patients are very ill and in need of it. Many of Dr. J's patients have come to him only after treatment with other doctors has failed.
I can say from personal experience he does not view treatment using IVs lightly, and prescribes orals first whenever possible.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
moving to seeking a doctor
Posted by terv (Member # 29410) on :
I am currently a patient at Dr. J's office. I will second many opinions that his office staff is a nightmare. I wish he get more technology in there and fire half of them.
He is my second LLMD. I quit my first, who also has his face on the ILADs website, when I plateaued and was not improving at all after 6 months. At the time I didn't have the option of seeing the doctor (he didnt see patients) so I was stuck. Since then I have heard he has started seeing patients.
Currently I am seeing improvement with Dr. J's protocol. I also am not as miserable. I prefer the pulsed approach with breaks over the constant stream of abx. Maybe I don't detox well. I am on orals and was never offered IV. I am on supplements and prescription meds. Every time I have been in to see my PA, she has pulled Dr. J into my appt. She also told me in my first appt that their new way of doing things is for us to make appts with him every other or every two appts. That way he keeps tabs on things.
I know someone else who is also a patient there. She sees a different PA than I. Her PA has never pulled Dr. J in and this person is really sick. She has made progress but still is sick. I told her to make an appt with him and she did. (Maybe her PA didn't get the memo for her to see Dr. J every so often). He started treating her for babesia and told her to come back and see him. She has another appt with him in October.
I read through many of the threads that were referenced in this post. One of them referenced Phuli Cohan. Coincidentally she just posted recently about her lyme experience
She has some good advice there. On important one being that if you don't feel like you are improving - move on. If I ever stop improving with Dr. J I will move on.
It would be interesting to see how many people actually got better with only one LLMD. Maybe it takes a bunch of treatments put together to make us better? Sometimes I think I am living in a science experiment.
Good luck.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
My husband and I did not get better with the pulsing regimen. Causing a cytokine storm by overloading on abx is not helping anyone get better.
We saw Dr. J and the PA's. Nightmare city in that office and expensive for all of the stress.
Found a much better LLMD now and getting better slowly. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint!!