Overall you take the positive from each doc you see discard the rest. This is a free program.
Its the only program available and no other publicly funded choice. I'd like you to consider this in terms of the severely affected or people in more desperate situations.
Having to attend the welcome group needlessly cost my friend a day off work, gas, tolls, parking but more importantly left me in a crash for a month. Extra sick. That was not free and not something easily discarded.
My doctor appointment was cancelled 4 hours before, after my friend already took another day off work for it. He could not do another day and I had to scramble for a ride when the appointment came. That will be 2 years ago this fall and the last time I was able to get any kind of real sleep. The first 6 months almost no sleep at all, now it takes a ton of benedryls just for a little. That was not free either but a big cost to me. 2 years sleep!
Money wise...One of the MD tests ordered cost me 110. None of the tests the ND should be ordering are payed for. He suspected SIBO for me but couldn't order the test. Instead he guessed and encouraged I look up and undertake a treatment on my own for it. A treatment of elemental food that would cost upwards of about 1400, which I could not afford on a guess. He was upset and blamed me for not trying.
But its the non-monetary cost that makes the program a problem. I am not the first to say they have been worn down and made sicker by the program. Some of us are the only bread winners and have alot riding on getting at least some level of health back. Families, friends, GP's are looking to the clinic for answers. Not just some validation of sorts. Again these people are left wondering why no treatment. A 'take the good leave the rest' attitude is not good enough, plus can be harmful. It leaves an impression things are well when they are not. Needs go unmet. The severe can't be tossed around a program like that in my opinion. It has health costs and not free.
I'd like to see the clinic alot more open about what it is they are doing so that patients can make an informed decision about whether they will be helped and if the wait is worth what they have to offer. I waited for the clinic and had I known may have tried the US instead.
Realistically. If you need help with disability and can tolerate the CSS biopsychosocial thing then you may get helped and consider going. If its validation/counselling I think they can provide that. I could see the mildly effected possibly helped a little with diet change had they not done it before. They could easily come on to PR here for diet advice. Although they spin it as personalized its still pretty generic. I see no point in dressing it up as something its not.
I never fully returned back up to the level of illness I was at before the clinic. I'm sure when you said free you meant money but wanted to point out whats not free and that's the cost to patients health, lives and families from a program like this when they are counting on it.