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Anyone seen Dr Neil Nathan in California?

caledonia

Senior Member
I understand his prices aren't ideal and some people won't be able to afford him. Or choose not to use him. But if the guy wants to charge a price to provide a service than so be it. If we were to force him to charge a certain amount, he could go back to being like every other doctor and spend 4 minutes with you and up your Prozac and Xanax and lyrica.

All I'm saying is we need to be careful who we are criticizing here. Who is the good guy? Who is actually helping people? Who is just working the insurance system and not healing people?

Its not like the guy is charging $50,000. I bet these same people who think he's expensive have spent more on there iphone and iPhone bill over the last few years than he would charge for 5-10 appointments. iPhone 200. Plus 100/month. For three years is about $3800. Shameful. How much is a semester of college? $5000? An average crew car is 30,0000. Maybe I'm crazy, but I would have paid double that if he was in Houston when my wife was still ill. I probably would have flown to CA and paid 750 if he was around then.

Oh Grasshopper, I can see that you're early into this game called getting proper treatment for ME/CFS. Nothing is guaranteed. $750 is just the starting price, and it goes on from there. There are many naturopaths and holistic docs out there who can do the same thing for much cheaper.

Most people on this board are severely ill, unable to work, and have been for many years. They've already spent all they had on treatments that didn't work or made them worse, or at best, only a tiny bit better. As a consequence I would guess they they're all experts at managing their money, not spending on toys such as iPhones and extravagant phone and cable bills. If they don't have the money, they do without. It's a slow attrition into poverty. At this point, I actually look poor, with old stained clothes, shoes falling apart, glasses so old that I can't see shit, car from the 1990s (back when I used to work) and no possibility of replacing it. I think I'm pretty typical.
 

Dreambirdie

work in progress
Messages
5,569
Location
N. California
All I'm saying is we need to be careful who we are criticizing here. Who is the good guy? Who is actually helping people? Who is just working the insurance system and not healing people?

Why should we be careful about criticizing someone we feel is charging obscenely exorbitant fees for his services! Maybe Nathan does help some people... as long as they are filthy rich and/or heavily insured. As for the rest of us, I suppose we can all eat cake. :rolleyes:

225px-Marie_Antoinette_1767.jpg
 

dannybex

Senior Member
Messages
3,561
Location
Seattle
I agree with what most everyone has said here. I know I wouldn't be able to afford to see him, and his alleged poor beside manner doesn't help.

Having said that, his fees are a bargain compared to Paul Cheney's, who last I heard charged something like $7,500 for an initial appointment, and $500 for a 15 minute phone consult. Cort posted about his experiences a couple years ago...buried here someplace.

Plus, I've only heard of one patient -- ONE -- doing better after seeing him. Others, especially those who did his stem-cell treatments in Panama...got much worse...some are still bedridden. On top of that, he promotes Klonopin. Don't get me started... :)
 

Dreambirdie

work in progress
Messages
5,569
Location
N. California
As long as we are complaining about doctors who charge obscene prices, I would like to add The Holtorf Medical Group to this list. I consulted with one of their doctors back in 2009 for an $800 fee. He was the one who prescribed the hydrocortisone, that ended up DEMOLISHING my adrenals, and causing the worst crash I've had since being struck by lightning in 1979. (My horrible HC experience is something I have posted about on several other threads.)

The best "doctor" I have ever had is my TCM practitioner, who charges me only for the herbs he prescribes, and has followed the Hippocratic oath to the letter by DOING NO HARM. I am relieved (and happy!) that he is actually more interested in helping and healing others, than he is into acquiring a mountain of cash. That is what the helping professions are supposed to be about.
 
Messages
13
We live in a country (I assume most here are in the U.S.) where countless people will never get well or even die, simply because they cannot afford quality medical care. In this day and age, it IS shameful that any person be denied quality health care, due to their financial status. I have nearly bankrupt my family trying to get well. I had to leave traditional medicine, because they were the worst of all. I saw the top specialists at UCLA, USC, Scripps Institute, just to name a very few places, and not only received absolutely no help at any of those places, but was treated like an insane hypochondriac, despite having positive lab tests showing I was very ill. Also, had i followed the medicine protocol one doctor wanted to put me on, i would have had chance of going blind. he misdiagnosed me as having lupus when i didn't. Despite knowing I would have to pay out of pocket, I stopped going to western medicine doctors, because it was a waste of time, and the co-pays for what insurance wouldn't cover (which was surprisingly a lot), was costing a lot of money too. I have gotten more answers and temporary help from natural and alternative medicine, than I ever did with traditional medicine, however I had to stop being treated, because we simply couldn't afford it. Now I am having a really hard time and I know I'm going to just sell whatever I can, to try and pay for care through the right person. More and more insurance companies are starting to cover alternative therapies like chiropractic, acupuncture, etc., but most will not cover naturopathic medicine. The naturopaths I have talked to also say they will never work with insurance companies because they make it very hard to keep their doors open. $750 may not seem expensive to someone who makes a decent living and doesn't have to pay any additional money. But that is to just get you in the door. It doesn't cover testing, which can run thousands of dollars, supplements, which will for sure run into the thousands of dollars, and so on. I am not a Rockefeller. My husband and I live paycheck to paycheck and are living with family, because I am too sick to work.

Despite my own horrible health, I also am taking care of my mom, who has stage four cancer. She has been through chemo and just got through radiation. I wish you could see how this stuff has ravaged her body or hear her whimper and moan all day long from pain. She needs something like acupuncture because the hardcore narcotic pain meds they have given her are not working. But she doesn't want to go, I am sure because they can't afford it right now. They are not part of the 1% either. I have gone through my personal nightmare for 17 years and I have talked to soooo many people also who are the same boat that we are - who cannot afford the care they need The whole process over the last almost two decades has been so nearly traumatizing, that I am thinking of writing a book talking about what I have experienced and witnessed, as well as sharing the experiences of others. Several people who have gone through the same thing have asked me to do it and I think the truth needs to be told.
 
Messages
35
The thing I've noticed with doctors is always the "I heard...." or "someone I kind of now...". Not knocking that at all, it is very very useful information. But I'm also curious to hear about anyone's personal experiences with him. If you've seen him, please share! :) Or you can PM me instead.
 

Red04

Senior Member
Messages
179
Why should we be careful about criticizing someone we feel is charging obscenely exorbitant fees for his services! Maybe Nathan does help some people... as long as they are filthy rich and/or heavily insured. As for the rest of us, I suppose we can all eat cake. :rolleyes:

View attachment 4453

Because the system is broke, but it's not because of "filthy rich" doctors. Who is the bad guy here? Do you want to force the doctors to charge a certain fee? We don't own him because of his profession. If he feels $750 is a fair price, so be it. People won't pay it, if it's not worth it. Having the freedom to charge what you want to provide a service that can help people will allow doctors to push the envelope and find cures and explore new things. Cast your shame at the doctors seeing 10 patients in 90 minutes, charging $75 each and prescribing some crazy chemical that doesn't cure the problem, instead of the few that are taking 90 minutes to see one patient at $750.

Don't you think it would be easier to just hand out prozac, klonopin, and lyrica?

Maybe they will stumble on a cure. A rising tide lifts all boats. Maybe some day the doctors seeing 10 patients in 90 minutes can steal this guys findings and make a big profit, but that won't be fair.

Pretty much every major inovation starts off only available to those with resources. Cars, plumbing, microwaves, VCR's, cable, flatscreen tv's, cellphones, and even medical care. I don't know the ins and outs of HIV treatment history, but notice how magic johnson is still alive? Notice how far that treatment has come? At one time everyone questioned how this millionaire was not dead, and how it wasn't fair. Now he is the poster child.
 

SanDiego#1

SanDiego#1
Messages
280
Location
SouthEast USA
Just wait on obama care to come in to play. Then we will all get quality treatment for FREE! After 2 years of going to some of the very best doctors in Houston, it became evident to me that this would need to be tackled outside of traditional care.

I think your best bet is to find a general practitioner or chiropractor that will run any tests you want and let you "educate them" or tackle MTHFR completely on your own. There just aren't that many doctors that know about it and treat it with supplements. This was my experience 2 years ago. Even the doctors that knew about it, just know enough to be dangerous. They can prematurely rule out MTHFR with outdated testing. Or prescribe glutathione injections (bad idea). However, it is certainly catching on so you may have more luck finding a good doctor.

It's not super easy to figure all this stuff out, but it is possible. It takes hours and hours of reading. But, you don't have many options and the forums are here to help you answer any questions. And the supplements are all relatively affordable.

Watch these videos: http://www.methyl-life.com/a-doctor-explains.html

Watch Rich's videos.

And read the stickies at the top of the page about Freddd and Rich's protocols.

There is a methylation panel you can have run and some genetic testing as well. I assume a good doctor would run those tests and put you on a protocol of supplements similar to Freddd or Rich's.


RED
Hope you are joking about the care being free with Obamacare!!! Most of the Big specialists are just going to move out of the country or do the same thing with not taking insurance. No one is going to stop them.. Two I know of practice out of the country part time now. Have said they would move if necessary. You are far away from Cumming
Ga.. But Dr. Bradstreet here has had some favorable reviews. I am from California and I would think Holisticwise-You
are in the best location. When you are really sick-doing research wears you out- but you may not have a choice.

San Diego #1
 

SanDiego#1

SanDiego#1
Messages
280
Location
SouthEast USA
Because the system is broke, but it's not because of "filthy rich" doctors. Who is the bad guy here? Do you want to force the doctors to charge a certain fee? We don't own him because of his profession. If he feels $750 is a fair price, so be it. People won't pay it, if it's not worth it. Having the freedom to charge what you want to provide a service that can help people will allow doctors to push the envelope and find cures and explore new things. Cast your shame at the doctors seeing 10 patients in 90 minutes, charging $75 each and prescribing some crazy chemical that doesn't cure the problem, instead of the few that are taking 90 minutes to see one patient at $750.

Don't you think it would be easier to just hand out prozac, klonopin, and lyrica?

Maybe they will stumble on a cure. A rising tide lifts all boats. Maybe some day the doctors seeing 10 patients in 90 minutes can steal this guys findings and make a big profit, but that won't be fair.

Pretty much every major inovation starts off only available to those with resources. Cars, plumbing, microwaves, VCR's, cable, flatscreen tv's, cellphones, and even medical care. I don't know the ins and outs of HIV treatment history, but notice how magic johnson is still alive? Notice how far that treatment has come? At one time everyone questioned how this millionaire was not dead, and how it wasn't fair. Now he is the poster child.


Red - It is not having the freedom to charge what you want that is the problem. It is there are desperate people out there that are begging, borrowing and maybe stealing just to get a diagnosis. Some of These Doctors are ruthless. People are really struggling to get treated. I will never forget years ago when I was seeing an Infectious Disease Dr.
He left the room to talk to another Physician about coming here to join his practice. His exact words were "IT IS A GOLDMINE HERE". I told him had overheard him and he looked at me and never said a word-just left the room-so did
I. When ever someone starts defending these Dr. and their fees -it is because they are using them.!!!!.

San Diego
struggle to find someone to treat you when you are really sick . I doubt is these Elitists are stumbling much
 

Red04

Senior Member
Messages
179
RED
Hope you are joking about the care being free with Obamacare!!! Most of the Big specialists are just going to move out of the country or do the same thing with not taking insurance. No one is going to stop them.. Two I know of practice out of the country part time now. Have said they would move if necessary. You are far away from Cumming
Ga.. But Dr. Bradstreet here has had some favorable reviews. I am from California and I would think Holisticwise-You
are in the best location. When you are really sick-doing research wears you out- but you may not have a choice.

San Diego #1

Yes, I was joking. I don't think the gov't taking over healthcare is going to fix what is fundamentally wrong with the system. I think the govt intervention in healthcare is holding it back.

The average product age of birth control is 3-4 years before they find out it is bad for you. All approved by the FEDERAL Drug Administration. The system is broke, but I don't think anyone who would find themselves on this website thinks its about to get better.
 

Dreambirdie

work in progress
Messages
5,569
Location
N. California
Cast your shame at the doctors seeing 10 patients in 90 minutes, charging $75 each and prescribing some crazy chemical that doesn't cure the problem, instead of the few that are taking 90 minutes to see one patient at $750.

Don't you think it would be easier to just hand out prozac, klonopin, and lyrica?

Maybe they will stumble on a cure. A rising tide lifts all boats. Maybe some day the doctors seeing 10 patients in 90 minutes can steal this guys findings and make a big profit, but that won't be fair.

In regard to my policy on "shame casting," I want to make it perfectly clear that I cast my shame equally upon all those practitioners that I feel are deserving of it, and asking for it. And btw... I am an equal opportunity shame caster, due to the fact that my shame is dispensed democratically, and without prejudice, at BOTH the greedy price gouging doctors, who charge desperately ill patients obscenely enormous hourly fees, AND the 10 minute hand-you-a-crazy-chemical-in-a-hurry doctors.

The ethics (or rather the total lack thereof) of both groups qualifies each of them for regular hunking doses of shame. Though in reality, I think it's safe to conclude that ALL of them are suffering from an incurable, most likely terminal, disease of utter shamelessness, which defies reason, fairness and most of all compassion. You can call their disease narcissism or egomania. But whatever you want call it, it's absolutely undeniable that this shamelessness will eventually shrink their consciences to the size of a shriveled pea.

As for the rising tide that "lifts all boats"... WE (the patient community) are that tide. If you stick around here long enough, that will become apparent.

PS I really am done now, and have nothing more to say about this.
Peace over and out.
 

SanDiego#1

SanDiego#1
Messages
280
Location
SouthEast USA
In regard to my policy on "shame casting," I want to make it perfectly clear that I cast my shame equally upon all those practitioners that I feel are deserving of it, and asking for it. And btw... I am an equal opportunity shame caster, due to the fact that my shame is dispensed democratically, and without prejudice, at BOTH the greedy price gouging doctors, who charge desperately ill patients obscenely enormous hourly fees, AND the 10 minute hand-you-a-crazy-chemical-in-a-hurry doctors.

The ethics (or rather the total lack thereof) of both groups qualifies each of them for regular hunking doses of shame. Though in reality, I think it's safe to conclude that ALL of them are suffering from an incurable, most likely terminal, disease of utter shamelessness, which defies reason, fairness and most of all compassion. You can call their disease narcissism or egomania. But whatever you want call it, it's absolutely undeniable that this shamelessness will eventually shrink their consciences to the size of a shriveled pea.

As for the rising tide that "lifts all boats"... WE (the patient community) are that tide. If you stick around here long enough, that will become apparent.

PS I really am done now, and have nothing more to say about this.
Peace over and out.

Dream- Most of the people on this site (patients) know by now-DRUGS are not the answer. Some of the Doctors don't now as much as we do.!!!!!
Good Post!!

San Diego
 
Messages
13
I may have found a doctor towards central CA. He treats Lyme and MTHFR. If I go, I will let you all know how it goes. And much better prices. He is well known by Lyme doctors.
 
Messages
35
I may have found a doctor towards central CA. He treats Lyme and MTHFR. If I go, I will let you all know how it goes. And much better prices. He is well known by Lyme doctors.

That's awesome! Would you mind sharing who? That is too far for me, but I am curious. Please PM me if you don't want to post the doc's name on the board. How did you go about finding such a doc? did you just keeping calling around?

It's so difficult...sometimes you never know until you see the doc and it's such a shot in the dark!
 

SanDiego#1

SanDiego#1
Messages
280
Location
SouthEast USA
We live in a country (I assume most here are in the U.S.) where countless people will never get well or even die, simply because they cannot afford quality medical care. In this day and age, it IS shameful that any person be denied quality health care, due to their financial status. I have nearly bankrupt my family trying to get well. I had to leave traditional medicine, because they were the worst of all. I saw the top specialists at UCLA, USC, Scripps Institute, just to name a very few places, and not only received absolutely no help at any of those places, but was treated like an insane hypochondriac, despite having positive lab tests showing I was very ill. Also, had i followed the medicine protocol one doctor wanted to put me on, i would have had chance of going blind. he misdiagnosed me as having lupus when i didn't. Despite knowing I would have to pay out of pocket, I stopped going to western medicine doctors, because it was a waste of time, and the co-pays for what insurance wouldn't cover (which was surprisingly a lot), was costing a lot of money too. I have gotten more answers and temporary help from natural and alternative medicine, than I ever did with traditional medicine, however I had to stop being treated, because we simply couldn't afford it. Now I am having a really hard time and I know I'm going to just sell whatever I can, to try and pay for care through the right person. More and more insurance companies are starting to cover alternative therapies like chiropractic, acupuncture, etc., but most will not cover naturopathic medicine. The naturopaths I have talked to also say they will never work with insurance companies because they make it very hard to keep their doors open. $750 may not seem expensive to someone who makes a decent living and doesn't have to pay any additional money. But that is to just get you in the door. It doesn't cover testing, which can run thousands of dollars, supplements, which will for sure run into the thousands of dollars, and so on. I am not a Rockefeller. My husband and I live paycheck to paycheck and are living with family, because I am too sick to work.

Despite my own horrible health, I also am taking care of my mom, who has stage four cancer. She has been through chemo and just got through radiation. I wish you could see how this stuff has ravaged her body or hear her whimper and moan all day long from pain. She needs something like acupuncture because the hardcore narcotic pain meds they have given her are not working. But she doesn't want to go, I am sure because they can't afford it right now. They are not part of the 1% either. I have gone through my personal nightmare for 17 years and I have talked to soooo many people also who are the same boat that we are - who cannot afford the care they need The whole process over the last almost two decades has been so nearly traumatizing, that I am thinking of writing a book talking about what I have experienced and witnessed, as well as sharing the experiences of others. Several people who have gone through the same thing have asked me to do it and I think the truth needs to be told.

You do need to write a book about your story. Aids took off with research -as many celebrities came down with the disease. It got more attention. I have been sick for over 20 years, since I have gotten older it is worse. We are constantly denied we have a MALADY. We are getting more attention and some realizing we are really sick.
I like you am not using Conventional for anything but routine. I can't even find one that will honor tests done by my CFID Physician. I am so sorry for your situation and your Mother's illness. Stress is the worst to handle when you have this. Is there any way you can get Disability?? Why don't you try writing an article in the newspaper?

Take Care,
San Diego #1
You do need to write a book. Aids took off when many celebrities started dying from it.
 

Mouse girl

Senior Member
Messages
578
Strange he wouldn't take medicare. I find almost all docs take meidcare even the docs that don't even take regular insurance. I saw one of the top dogs at UCLA, he is fancy pants, head of depts, chairman of something or other (yes, I know how specific of me;)),old, wonderful doc that everyone has heard of, is super expensive, doesn't take insurance, but he takes medicare! And he even wrote off the 20% that medicare doesn't cover so his visit and expensive tests were absolutely free! Even my doc who did research with the guy and got a friend discount on his bill still had to pay $500. But, little ole sick and impoverished me, free baby, free! Docs love medicare in general if they are legitimate and good guys as medicare pays much faster and better than blue cross of other for profit insurances.

I'ld suggest maybe starting with trying out some local rhuemos. I wish someone had clued me in many years ago that the rhuemos end up treating lots of CFS patients since many of them treat fibro patients.
 
Messages
13
Mouse girl, I saw one of the best rheumos at UCLA. He was no different than the rest. The either are uneducated about this stuff, simply don't care or both. I'm done with traditional doctors.
 
Messages
13
SanDiego#1, thank you for your kind words. They have encouraged me more to write the book. I just hope I get enough energy to do it. I've always feared dying from this some day. I don't want to leave this earth without accomplishing something to help others. I'm not looking to become famous, but I want my suffering to have been for something. If I can wake up the masses or get the truth out about how we are be treated, then maybe it will have been worth it. Right now I'm watching Cry Freedom. It's about Steven Biko, a So. African activist who died for trying to make a difference in his country. It is one of most favorite movies of all time and beyond inspiring. If only we all could be Steve Bikos and bring truth and change to our plights.