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Seeking information on long-term outcomes with Dr. Kaufman

ivorin

Senior Member
Messages
152
As the title suggests, I'm wondering how many of you have been long-term patients of dr. Kaufman and what it's like? How much has he been able to help you? I will be starting my road to a healthier state with him this January but as it will be my family's last money, I would still like to be sure as possible that I'm making the right choice.

Ps I'm from Croatia.

Pps I am aware of other posts about Dr. Kaufman but they are about first appointments and not so much continued care.

Cheers :)
 
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ivorin

Senior Member
Messages
152
With the RituxME trial results soon to be published, it's not a good moment to make big treatment decisions.
I know what you mean, I'm just not an RTX believer. If it was working as well as we hope, we'd see more success stories from the OMI patients that were put on it. I'm not saying they are treating a hidden autoimmune disease in the Norwegian studies,but it's definitely a mistery.

That, and I'm rapidly deteriorating since relapsing this January. If I wait another year I don't think I'll be alive, and I definitely won't be sane.
 

ivorin

Senior Member
Messages
152
Some of the best outcomes tend to be from Dr Kaufman's office. But everyone is different
Just hoping to find some personal stories. It's a big decision moving for a few months to another country in this state and having my mother move with me so I can survive at all. Guess I need a pat on the back and a nod from a few people before making such a big decision.
 

Jesse2233

Senior Member
Messages
1,942
Location
Southern California
Just hoping to find some personal stories. It's a big decision moving for a few months to another country in this state and having my mother move with me so I can survive at all. Guess I need a pat on the back and a nod from a few people before making such a big decision.

What country are you in?

There are people here who have improved considerably under the care of Dr Kaufman. I don't want to tag them bc it's their story to share. You can search google scholar for his case studies on Bartonella recoveries for a concrete example.

Personally I'm a patient of Dr Chheda, his partner, and I can't say enough good things about her. She is broad minded in her treatment approach, takes the time to really listen, present a many options and helps you make decisions, and goes the extra mile to get insurance coverage. She's one of the best doctors I've ever had. With her I have gone from housebound to driving and seeing friends and am continuing to improve.
 

ivorin

Senior Member
Messages
152
What country are you in?

There are people here who have improved considerably under the care of Dr Kaufman. I don't want to tag them bc it's their story to share. You can search google scholar for his case studies on Bartonella recoveries for a concrete example.

Personally I'm a patient of Dr Chheda, his partner, and I can't say enough good things about her. She is broad minded in her treatment approach, takes the time to really listen, present a many options and helps you make decisions, and goes the extra mile to get insurance coverage. She's one of the best doctors I've ever had. With her I have gone from housebound to driving and seeing friends and am continuing to improve.
I'm from Croatia and in 6.5 years the only CFS doctor I saw was KDM and his treatment hasn't helped up until now. I've just found this other encouraging story: https://www.healthrising.org/forums/threads/my-recovery-after-my-one-and-only-crash.5163/

It makes me think I have a much better chance at stopping my decline with dr Kaufman and Cheda, and their new clinic. To be honest, my healthcare system is in such shambles I can't even be sure I don't have other comorbidities.

That's why I wanted to see dr.Kaufman, he seems to really delve deep into patient histories and alternative and missed diagnoses.

I'm really glad to hear you're doing so well btw, you're really doing a lot of work here at PR with your engagement, I wish you the very best of luck going forward :)
 

ivorin

Senior Member
Messages
152
Thanks @ivorin same to you.

If you do see Dr Kaufman, do you think you'll be able to get his treatments prescribed in Croatia? It could be things like IVIG, antivirals, antibiotics, and maybe rituximab depending on your case
I've talked to my family and decided to sell my apartment if necessary to fund my therapy, it's that bad at the moment. I'll start whatever he recommends in the States and continue at home (hopefully). If he does think I am a sure case for RTX I intend to go to Kolibri. That's the plan for now.
 

perrier

Senior Member
Messages
1,254
Since we are talking here about Dr Kaufman and Dr Chedda, can someone please outline, if possible, the differences and similarities of these two physicians. Thank you.
 

Diwi9

Administrator
Messages
1,780
Location
USA
Personally I'm a patient of Dr Chheda, his partner, and I can't say enough good things about her. She is broad minded in her treatment approach, takes the time to really listen, present a many options and helps you make decisions, and goes the extra mile to get insurance coverage. She's one of the best doctors I've ever had. With her I have gone from housebound to driving and seeing friends and am continuing to improve.
I want to second @Jesse2233. I have had the same experience with Dr. Chheda and have also gone from being in bed 20+ hours per day, to driving again and being able to visit with friends and family a few times per week. I've read Dr. Kaufman's protocols from other patients on here, and they are matched to Dr. Chheda. She carefully listens and has made accommodations in order for me to save some money, since all of my treatment with her is out-of-pocket, as is much of the lab work. Their office is now called the Center for Complex Diseases.

It seems that all of the recent cases I know of rituximab from that office includes IVIG treatment. So, their protocol is possibly different from how some of the early experiences with it. I know in my case, we are waiting for the Fluge & Mella phase III clinical trial to be published before considering it.
 

ivorin

Senior Member
Messages
152
I want to second @Jesse2233. I have had the same experience with Dr. Chheda and have also gone from being in bed 20+ hours per day, to driving again and being able to visit with friends and family a few times per week. I've read Dr. Kaufman's protocols from other patients on here, and they are matched to Dr. Chheda. She carefully listens and has made accommodations in order for me to save some money, since all of my treatment with her is out-of-pocket, as is much of the lab work. Their office is now called the Center for Complex Diseases.

It seems that all of the recent cases I know of rituximab from that office includes IVIG treatment. So, their protocol is possibly different from how some of the early experiences with it. I know in my case, we are waiting for the Fluge & Mella phase III clinical trial to be published before considering it.
Thanks so much for your reply, it's very much encouraging. Best of luck going onwards!
 

aquariusgirl

Senior Member
Messages
1,732
US healthcare is $$$$ without insurance. And treatment is still a fishing trip for many of us.. I have thought about moving to India .....where healthcare is cheap.....if only I could find someone who would work with a US CFS specialist.
 

Gingergrrl

Senior Member
Messages
16,171
@ivorin I am a patient of Dr. K and honestly feel that he has given me my life back (even though I still have a long way to go). But I have US health insurance and could not have paid for my ongoing treatment (high dose IVIG & Rituximab) without it. I do not know if you could pay for or access his treatment recommendations in Croatia.

I have seen him since 2014 and we initially tried two different anti-virals (which did not help me) but I understand why we tried them and do not regret it. But there was a lot of testing and information gathering until we discovered what was really going on in my case and each patient is so complex and unique.

I have never met Dr. Chheda but have only heard great things about her.
 

ivorin

Senior Member
Messages
152
@Gingergrrl I've read your story before, it is one of the most interesting and hopeful ones on PR, I am glad you finally found that the antineuronal issues were the big problem and are getting the right treatment!

For me, finding out what lies beneath my sudden decline after 6 years of mild ME would be a life-saver, literally. I have a strong feeling that if anyone can figure it out, it would be Dr. Kaufman. As for the costs, we will see, all my possessions are worth very little if I die, I am selling most of what I own to fund the healing war :)
 

Gingergrrl

Senior Member
Messages
16,171
@Gingergrrl I've read your story before, it is one of the most interesting and hopeful ones on PR, I am glad you finally found that the antineuronal issues were the big problem and are getting the right treatment!

Thanks and I can't say that the anti-neuronal (or paraneoplastic) autoantibody was "the" cause but it was a missing link that led to further autoantibody testing and the discovery that by early 2016, I was in this state of "autoimmune chaos" that my doctor felt was behind my worst symptoms (POTS, muscle weakness, breathing weakness, etc).

It also was very valuable info b/c the calcium autoantibody can correlate with small cell lung cancer and Dr. K was the only doctor who took this seriously and ordered annual lung cat scan for me (until we are certain I am in the clear which so far, I am). He also has coordinated my treatments with my MCAS doctor (who is also an amazing doctor and is local) so I have not had to travel up to his office for the treatments. But this was after I was an established patient and have been up to his office at least five times. Now we communicate via phone consults and e-mail.

For me, finding out what lies beneath my sudden decline after 6 years of mild ME would be a life-saver, literally. I have a strong feeling that if anyone can figure it out, it would be Dr. Kaufman. As for the costs, we will see, all my possessions are worth very little if I die, I am selling most of what I own to fund the healing war :)

After having lost everything I owned to mold in 2015, I can now tell you that material possessions mean nothing to me (even though there were some items I was sad to lose). I truly believe that Dr. K will do everything humanly possible to help you. I recently referred a friend to him who has more classic symptoms of ME/CFS and Fibro/pain. She was so afraid that he would tell her that she is "beyond help" and that "there was nothing he could do" and I could honestly promise her that this would not occur. He can't solve a disease that currently has no bio-marker or go beyond what currently exists in science, but he will never give up on a complex patient.

Another thing that is very unique about him IMO is that he will look at each patient as an individual. He will do certain standard tests for everyone but then if someone has Lyme, MCAS, POTS, EDS, etc, or even something very rare and obscure, he will treat what he sees is there vs. trying to plug you into an existing formula. And if he doesn't know something, he will say, "I don't know" and there is no ego involved like with many other doctors that I have seen.

Hope this helps.
 

ivorin

Senior Member
Messages
152
@Gingergrrl it's a deal-clencher, I'm so glad you wrote your experience of Dr. K, it makes me much easier in my decision as I really do think I'm no longer a clear-cut case of ME that I was for years.

On a sidenote, I sent Amy Poahl's hypothesis paper to him a few days ago and he actually read it and thanked me for it and was overjoyed about having references for some of the stuff he said he was preaching for a while now. I can tell you right now, KDM wouldn't even have opened my mail - no joke.
 

Learner1

Senior Member
Messages
6,305
Location
Pacific Northwest
I am also a patient of Dr K's. He is very knowledgeable and on top of all the latest research. He was able to figure out exactly what's the matter with me in a careful, thoughtful approach and has added things to my treatment plan that in benefiting from. I'd say his expertise is in untangling immune system dysfunction. He's very dedicated and caring.

I also have an excellent naturopathic doctor in my home city who is giving me mitochondrial cocktail, methylation, mineral and amino IVs and managing an extensive hormone and supplement program and oxygen therapies.

I have been very ill, but function much better than I would otherwise due to these treatments, and have improved and think I'm on the right track to become well.

I saw Dr K 3 times in California and have phone appointments as needed. My insurance is covering almost all of his labs and treatment, which, if not insured, would likely have cost over $50,000 over the past 5 months if uninsured and I anticipate it will be another $150,000 for treatment if I were uninsured. I pay out of pocket for visits, but they're worth it.

I've heard wonderful things about Dr. Chedda, too.
 

Gingergrrl

Senior Member
Messages
16,171
@Gingergrrl it's a deal-clencher, I'm so glad you wrote your experience of Dr. K, it makes me much easier in my decision as I really do think I'm no longer a clear-cut case of ME that I was for years.

I'm so glad that I could help! My main concerns are how you will pay for testing and treatment without US health insurance and if you will be able to access meds & treatment in Croatia (unless you are planning to move to the US for the next few years)?

Why do you think that you are no longer a clear-cut case of ME like you did for years? This is what happened to me so I am very curious to hear more about your case! Feel free to reply by PM if you don't want to share publicly.

On a sidenote, I sent Amy Poahl's hypothesis paper to him a few days ago and he actually read it and thanked me for it

He has read everything that I have ever sent him (and vice versa) and it's a true team-work approach.

He's very dedicated and caring.

I absolutely agree with @Learner1 on this.