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Dr Rashmi Cabena

outdamnspot

Senior Member
Messages
924
Hi,

I was wondering if anyone here has seen Dr Rashmi Cabena and what kind of approach she takes? She normally works at CFS discovery alongside Dr Don Lewis; I've never been able to afford their $1500 fee commitment, but she's now working at NIIM (though, still, at $300 a pop). Anyway, I have an appointment to see her next week and am wondering if it's worth keeping.
 
Messages
40
Location
Melbourne, Australia
$1500 doesn't sound right - the initial consult at CFS Discovery, including testing, costs $781.50 ($675 with medicare rebate, less with medicare safety net). that includes a VERY long consult to understand your full medical history, and lots of testing. additional consults from $105 to $300, depending on time. might be comparable $ to NIIM, long term ?

either way - she's studied the methods of many ME/CFS doctors, world-wide. and uses many different approaches.
 

outdamnspot

Senior Member
Messages
924
$1500 doesn't sound right - the initial consult at CFS Discovery, including testing, costs $781.50 ($675 with medicare rebate, less with medicare safety net). that includes a VERY long consult to understand your full medical history, and lots of testing. additional consults from $105 to $300, depending on time. might be comparable $ to NIIM, long term ?

either way - she's studied the methods of many ME/CFS doctors, world-wide. and uses many different approaches.

I was told the cost of the first three appointments at CFS discovery + all the testing would be $1500.

I suspect I have a chronic bacterial infection, but was also told she's very reluctant to use abx, so not sure what to do.
 

EtherSpin

Senior Member
Messages
257
Location
Melbourne , Australia
I was told the cost of the first three appointments at CFS discovery + all the testing would be $1500.

I suspect I have a chronic bacterial infection, but was also told she's very reluctant to use abx, so not sure what to do.
reluctant to use antibiotics? anti and pro biotics are some of their most utilised treatments there and one of the initial tests is faecal so they can determine gut lining makeup and address any nasties.
anti and pro biotics for specific bacteria are favoured over things like anti-virals.

lovely doctor I should add.
always felt my struggles with insurance company, family/friends and centrelink etc were understood
 

outdamnspot

Senior Member
Messages
924
reluctant to use antibiotics? anti and pro biotics are some of their most utilised treatments there and one of the initial tests is faecal so they can determine gut lining makeup and address any nasties.
anti and pro biotics for specific bacteria are favoured over things like anti-virals.

lovely doctor I should add.
always felt my struggles with insurance company, family/friends and centrelink etc were understood

you replied to me on reddit too. I was talking to a patient who sees Dr Cabena for Lyme and she said she had to beg her for abx, which she reluctantly prescribed
 

EtherSpin

Senior Member
Messages
257
Location
Melbourne , Australia
ah! lyme is a different story and they use herbal antibiotic and antiviral agents for that but i think traditional antibiotics as well.
I haven't got pos lyme results so can only speak for the CFS stuff :)