> Regina 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.