Hello-My name is Regina and I too am a chronic ARD sufferer for over 3 years
now. I am a doctoral candidate at a prominent medical school in
Philadelphia. I, like most of you, have been through many doctors and
treatments with very little long term relief and recently I have truly felt
at the end of my rope to the point where even my studies have been adversely
affected at times. I have read many of the quilt stories and have even added
my own. I am truly touched and grateful for the emails of support and
friendship and I feel true camaraderie with most of the members.
I have been reading the ongoing accolades of Dr.'s Reich and Redan. It
"seemed" to me that they were the miracle workers I had been hoping for. I
mean they have patients flying in, to Scranton(?)none the less, for their
amazing(?) procedures. I figured, what the heck, and I submitted my patient
information and thought I would wait and see. Well, it was 24 hours and I
received a call and spoke with a Dr.Gerhart. I spoke with him at length and
I (and he) felt I had the criteria for their treatment/surgery. He was very
nice also. I was instructed to call "Sue" and work out some "details". I
feel like was just through the classic bait and switch. This telephone call
I made to Sue was the most demeaning and insulting call I have ever made.
She was rudely condescending. I am not an idiot and I am well spoken and
educated and I was made to feel like I was some poor, stupid fool. She
"chastised" me for the insurance I had and went on to tell me that these
"Godlike" doctors don't accept my insurance if any at all. She went on and
on how the "up front" money of 3-5 thousand dollars isn't really a lot of
money. A home equity loan or credit card would happily be accepted. I do
not know who these doctors think they are. I have good insurance, in fact,
great insurance! I am a hard working woman who happens to be paying a lot of
money to attend medical school. I personally cannot pull a couple grand out
of my "ear" like Miss Sue can. I feel that these physicians are totally
unethical in their handling of money and insurance.
They are true predators--they offer chronically ill people, some suffering
for years, hope, help and relief. They know how desperate these people could
be and are taking advantage of them by truly gouging desperately ill people.
I have been in so much pain at times I feel like I would sell my soul to
Satan himself, but I come back to reality and trudge on. I guess some people
don't have the strength and are willing to go into hopeless debt on
procedures with NO guarantee performed by HUMAN beings, not Gods.
This experience further seals my dedication to serve and work for my future
patients as a person, not a monetary number. CAVEAT EMPTOR. I know some of
you may have the financial means to afford these Doctors, but what about the
working person?? They do not care about you!
Please do not email me with rebuttals or in defense of these predatory
doctors-I do not have the time or desire to read them and will not. I have
had personal and first hand insulting experience with them. I am TRULY happy
for those who have been helped by them. I wish you continued happiness and
health. They really have the compassion "thing" down pat--it goes straight
to your heart and then zooms to your wallet. I even read they are
"world-renowned"?????
In the past few days I have been in contact with some of the best and truly
"renowned" surgeons and physicians in the Philadelphia area. None of them
have EVER even heard of them, and most agreed that their methods are not
compassionate or necessary. I personally will see to it to find physicians,
truly this time, who are the best and most knowledgeable in this field. I
will make sure they accept all of our insurance's also, there is no reason
not to(unless "something" happened in their history, but I digress, that is a
whole other story) We ARE NOT limited--we all are praying for a "cure", we
have been victims of our own pain long enough, we shouldn't be victims to the
almighty dollar and a doctors greed. We will find other doctors-together we
will find help without going into ridiculous debt. It is sooooo kind of them
to accept credit cards isn't It--but no insurances??What is wrong with that
picture?
To all-stay strong, we will survive!
Regina T.