Topic: anyone familiar with J's Specialty Clinic in DC?
17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
Am looking for your opinion...
would you recommend it?
have you heard good things about it?
or not.
And yes, I did do a search this time. It sounds like people respect this LLMD, but I'd just like to make sure. Thanks.
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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cactus
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posted
I've always heard great things about that doc. For lots of years.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I have heard great things about him as well, but yes, long waiting list. I've been told he's very personable, takes time to truly listen to you, and has a great staff.
Posts: 5 | From Illinois | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
A friend just went to him a few weeks ago and loved him. She had been waiting awhile though.
Posts: 104 | From No. VA | Registered: Aug 2009
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Dawn in VA
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posted
A+!
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Here is an old post that explains his treatment protocol:
(link removed)
He has developed his own pulsing meds protocol and this post also explains his rationale.
A Dr. Phuli is doing the explaining.
(edited by sunnydays to remove more specific info which is unique to this doctor. Also deleted link because the link gives a LOT of info about treatment specifics that we try not to post on Lymenet. If you would like this info, just do a search on Lymenet with doctor's initials and state. I didn't edit the content of the link, but I'm removing the link from this thread.)
seekhelp
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posted
Seeing that thread reminded me of Coltman. I'm guessing he was really a doctor or medical professional.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Dawn in VA
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posted
Actually, he does not put everyone on IV. But yes, he is a big proponent of it.
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
He is excellent. I was impressed and glad I saw him.
No IV BTW...he put me on cycled orals of M, W, F for three weeks and one week off.
Posts: 410 | From Victoria BC, Canada | Registered: Jul 2008
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
This is awesome! Thanks so very much, everybody!
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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lymetwister
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19590
posted
Be aware, he has a "CMA", Consulting Maintenance Agreement"
A friend of mine went to see him and paid the big bucks for the first visit.
She got home and had an email waiting which outlined this agreement. She wasn't told about this prior to her first visit or even at her first visit.
She had to stop seeing him b/c of thess fees.
She emailed it to me and when I saw it, my jaw dropped. I believe her first visit was close to $1000 which had nothing to do with the membership type agreement.
Here is an Excerpt from the "CMA".
[copy of CMA removed by sunnydays]
So it's clear, I'm not bashing this Dr. at all, as I hear he is great. I just can't afford this kind of money and I do understand why he charges what he does with what he has lost and been through. My only problem is that most of us are weeded out if we wanted to see him due to these huge fees.
I'm only posting this for information purposes only for those thinking of seeing this Dr.
Gary
[ 06-09-2010, 06:21 PM: Message edited by: sunnydays ]
Posts: 1227 | From District of Columbia | Registered: Mar 2009
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
quote:Originally posted by seekhelp: Seeing that thread reminded me of Coltman. I'm guessing he was really a doctor or medical professional.
Hey, I talked to Coltman on PM a couple of months ago and he was doing pretty well.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
In other words, only the rich can see this doctor.
You are looking at ------- a year out of pocket just for the CMA. Plus office visits that probably are not fully covered by insurance. Plus IVs per month that could be as much as $3000 to $5000 a month. Thats an approximate cost of ---- per year. Am I understanding that right?
posted
Hmmm, I just saw this Dr's PA and she spent 4 hours with me and at the end he came in for about 10 minutes which I wasn't expecting. The visit was ---- and I will have a phone consult in a couple weeks for ----.
I don't think we signed anything like the above mentioned. I loved his PA and Dr J was very nice.
Sapphire
[ 06-10-2010, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: sunnydays ]
Posts: 495 | From KY USA | Registered: Dec 2004
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seekhelp
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posted
Was Mandy rich in UOS? Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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sutherngrl
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Member # 16270
posted
Seek, I don't know, but maybe she came from a rich family!
Sapphire, are you doing IV's? Sounds like just the IV ppl are having to sign.
Who knows this may be a nasty rumor. It does sound a little over the top!
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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sutherngrl
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Sapphire, Just saw how much your phone consult is........geeesh!
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Wow, this is very discouraging! The complaints are piling in about the pulse therapy too and patients are leaving by the busload.
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posted
I am on the West Coast. Have been to Seattle LLMDs and was going to try Dr. S in San Fran but he was way more epensive and you have to pay 100% up front just to book it.
Not to mention the Seattle LLMD and LLND I saw and phoned are every 8 weeks. The LLND being "in person only" every 8 weeks and she gets mad if you don't buy all her herbs and natural products.
Dr. J was cheaper and I can phone appt for only ---- after 3 months.
Not sure if the treatment is working yet...too soon to tell. I was impressed with his clinic and himself though.
posted
Sutherngrl,that is the plan since I've already been on them. The problem is my liver enzymes were sky high but are coming down some. I'm having seizures just like Mandy in UOS. I had 6 yesterday and heading in that direction today.
They won't give me rocephin till my liver calms way down. They have me on seizure meds but so far they are not working. We've been in contact with Kim (PA) for the last couple of days. We don't know what to do. I can't stand this much longer.
My body is freezing up still just like Mandy. I need abx. That stopped it when I was in the hospital. At least, Dr. j's office will get back to you the same day.
A 30 min phone consult is ---- with the PA, I do know that much.
I was impressed with the whole visit.
Sapphire
[ 06-10-2010, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: sunnydays ]
Posts: 495 | From KY USA | Registered: Dec 2004
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sutherngrl
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Member # 16270
posted
This was actually my second choice on a LLMD.
My step daughter lives in DC, so it would be doable to have a place to stay. But I don't think I could afford his fees. $350 for a phone consult!!!! I don't even pay half that much for a regular office visit. Thats just insane!
Glad I'm not in a situation to have to use him. I love my LLMD and he is making me better with low doses; and he also works at keeping cost down in every way that he can.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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lymetwister
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Member # 19590
posted
I do believe that CMA fee is for those doing IV's as mentioned. The girl I know that went there was on IV's so this may be true.
I did cut and paste that excerpt from his contract. I have a copy of it and it is authentic.
Gary
Posts: 1227 | From District of Columbia | Registered: Mar 2009
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I deleted the CMA and some other details because it is considered too much detail. The mods try not to allow excessive details about how a Lyme-treating physician operates to be posted publicly.
Things that specific would be more appropriately shared via private message.
Thanks for understanding!
-sunnydays, Lymenet mod
Posts: 89 | From U.S. | Registered: Apr 2010
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seekhelp
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posted
49 posts and a moderator? You have friends in high places? Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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"I still have Mt.Everest to climb, but I have traveled across the world and arrived at the mountain". Posts: 633 | From baltimore | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
Moved from Medical Questions to Seeking a Doctor.
Posts: 89 | From U.S. | Registered: Apr 2010
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Abxnomore
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Member # 18936
posted
If they are really leaving by the bus load that's great. It will make room for the many others who have been waiting for months to see this very highly regarded doctor.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
Sadly, it is true that seeing a good llmd is expensive however, anyone who has seen UOS knows that Dr j has been involved in ongoing legal challenges. In order for him to see lyme patients, his overhead (i.e. legal fees) are humongous. i give him alot of credit for continuing to stay in the fight and care for lyme patients. He has lost so much as a result. As for the wait, he works 10-12 hour days but regrettably, his intake is lengthy so in order to do a full evaluation, takes over an hour. He does not go home every week and works into the evening. He has his list way down from when he first got to DC so hang in there. As for "patients leaving by the busload"...not so. In fact, they are arriving that way. Kudos to Dr J for caring about this community.
Posts: 5 | From maryland | Registered: Jun 2010
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They spent way more than the allotted time with me at my first visit. I'm very very ill at the moment so not sure if that has something to do with it but I feel I got my money's worth and more.
I highly recommend him or Kim his PA.
Sapphire
Posts: 495 | From KY USA | Registered: Dec 2004
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TF
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Member # 14183
posted
If you want the link (which was removed from my post) that describes his protocol, you can private message me.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
I wish it were not true about patients leaving, but the recent patient feedback speaks for itself. Hopefully things will start to look up soon for him on the legal and personal fronts. He is a hero.
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ConnieMc
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Member # 191
posted
I have been a patient of Dr. J's since March of 2001. That's over 9 years! I was infected in 1998, became severely ill in 1999, and over a course of several years, became unable to continue my career and was practically living in a recliner.
Dr. J stuck in there with me and eventually got me in remission and functional. I started a brand new career in 2004 and while I have my ups and downs, I love the life I am living.
I will follow Dr. J anywhere. He has put his heart and soul into the Lyme fight. He could have walked away from us all, but that is not the kind of person he is.
I have not been to the DC clinic yet, but will go next month for my routine follow-up.
Yes, he is expensive, but in the early days of his work with Lyme, he was one of the few who was taking all types of insurance. The insurance companies and medical boards are to blame for the current situation. Not Dr. J. He is doing what he has to do to continue to help those with Lyme.
Posts: 2275 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I wanted to comment that I too admire Dr J for all he has done for people suffering with Lyme and the sacrifices he has made to do that !!
As far as the pulse therapy, would there not possibly be a benefit to this type of treatment in some instances ?
Also I was personally told a couple of weeks ago by HIS office staff about him going home every week or so and was not being critical when mentioning it, if his family is there I sure hope he IS taking some time to be with them !!
Sapphire - Thanks for the comment on his PA as the wait is much shorter if you are willing to see them.
Posts: 448 | From minnesota | Registered: Feb 2010
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posted
I know that this is a very old tune but I, for one, am ****ed off at the agencies, insurers and legal costs that it takes for the more high profile LLMDs to stay in practice. While there are certainly some Drs who are just gauging the community, the most recognized names in the industry are continuously targeted and WE bear the costs! It's easy to get p.o.'d at the Drs who are charging the fees, the reality of it is that legislative bills aside, our drs are still being persecuted and we are still bearing the financial burdens!
Posts: 5 | From maryland | Registered: Jun 2010
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cantgiveupyet
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Member # 8165
posted
I am a tad confused though at how much costs we as patients are to bear-and also trying to understand further as to why the fees might be higher for monitoring IV and why other LLMD's dont charge this fee.
Dr J in CT to my knowledge while raising fees did not raise them to a level that was posted above.
In general, pediatricians are on call more hrs and with all sorts of nuisance as well as serious calls...and IMO would be justified to charge a little more to handle such issues.
Mad dog- when you say legal expenses are you talking about current ones to keep his clinic operational? again I am just trying to gain further understanding..not out to stir up anything.
thanks
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Can't give up the are talking about the other drj. Not the pediatric one.
-------------------- gatorade girl
"I still have Mt.Everest to climb, but I have traveled across the world and arrived at the mountain". Posts: 633 | From baltimore | Registered: Mar 2010
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I'm guessing he was really a doctor or medical professional.
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