CFS Doctors in Los Angeles

[ashleyO]

Hi! I am new here and new to using forums so it is hard for me to navigate. My friend @debored set me up here and mentioned it was a good place to ask for advice. I am struggling with CFS and other chronic illness issues and am fairly alone in life, other than my partner. I live in Los Angeles county and have two appointments that I am looking forward to - with Dr. Chheda at the Center for Complex Diseases in April, and with Dr. John Chia in May 2020 (though I hope I can get it moved up by getting labs done for him) - but am looking to establish care in my area that can help me improve and establish a baseline quality of life in the meantime. As it is I spend most of my time bedridden. I have not been able to find competent doctors in my area, and my current PCP will not prescribe saline or order any specific testing I've asked for (I mentioned being concerned about CCI to him), but just prescribes me antidepressants. Does anyone have recommendations for local doctors and/or specialists who are competent to deal with CFS and chronic illness, and ideally who take Blue Cross insurance?

I am very desperate, scared, and in need of help and advice. Thank you so much for your consideration!

 

[Gingergrrl]

Hi Ashley, I replied to you in the CCI thread and had also tried to send you some info via PM a few weeks ago (when @debored13 told me that you were looking for doctors in LA). The PM's did not go through and I am guessing that was b/c you had not yet posted on PR. I gave the info to debored13 and hoping that he can give it to you.

Sadly, I do not have a PCP in LA but I see Dr. K at Center for Complex Diseases (the other doctor who works with Dr. Chheda) and he is without question the best doctor that I have ever seen in my life. I have never seen Dr. Chheda but have only heard great things about her and many others on PR see her. It is not too horribly far to wait until April and maybe they can also put you on a cancelation list?

I did a one-time consult with Dr. Chia in 2016 (strictly to get his input re: enteroviruses and not to switch doctors) and it was a negative experience for me. In good faith I cannot recommend him but in my case he was local and took my insurance so it was not a big loss. The core issue of my case turned out to be autoimmunity (even though it originally started off viral) and the supplement that he sells (Equilibriant) is not recommended for patients with autoimmunity.

I have an MCAS specialist who is local (and is amazing) but he is retiring later this year and is not taking new patients. I have tried on behalf of others but he is definitely closed to new patients. I also have a very good Endo (who treats my thyroid issues) and he is taking new patients. Let me know if you want his info and I can send it via PM.

I will tag some of the other members who are in the greater LA area in case they have any ideas @Jesse2233 @used_to_race @Sidny @Mary @NK17 (I know there are others that I am forgetting and there are tons of PR members up in No CA, way more than in So CA).

 

[frozenborderline]

Hi Ashley, I replied to you in the CCI thread and had also tried to send you some info via PM a few weeks ago (when @debored13 told me that you were looking for doctors in LA). The PM's did not go through and I am guessing that was b/c you had not yet posted on PR. I gave the info to debored13 and hoping that he can give it to you.

Sadly, I do not have a PCP in LA but I see Dr. K at Center for Complex Diseases (the other doctor who works with Dr. Chheda) and he is without question the best doctor that I have ever seen in my life. I have never seen Dr. Chheda but have only heard great things about her and many others on PR see her. It is not too horribly far to wait until April and maybe they can also put you on a cancelation list?

I did a one-time consult with Dr. Chia in 2016 (strictly to get his input re: enteroviruses and not to switch doctors) and it was a negative experience for me. In good faith I cannot recommend him but in my case he was local and took my insurance so it was not a big loss. The core issue of my case turned out to be autoimmunity (even though it originally started off viral) and the supplement that he sells (Equilibriant) is not recommended for patients with autoimmunity.

I have an MCAS specialist who is local (and is amazing) but he is retiring later this year and is not taking new patients. I have tried on behalf of others but he is definitely closed to new patients. I also have a very good Endo (who treats my thyroid issues) and he is taking new patients. Let me know if you want his info and I can send it via PM.

I will tag some of the other members who are in the greater LA area in case they have any ideas @Jesse2233 @used_to_race @Sidny @Mary @NK17 (I know there are others that I am forgetting and there are tons of PR members up in No CA, way more than in So CA).

i passed those specific doctors on to Ashley but I think she is still trying to find either a pcp who’s good and open minded or a neuro in LA who would write the orders for an upright mri w flexion extension and whatnot Thanks for the help!

 

[Gingergrrl]

i passed those specific doctors on to Ashley but I think she is still trying to find either a pcp who’s good and open minded or a neuro in LA who would write the orders for an upright mri w flexion extension and whatnot Thanks for the help!

Thanks for passing along the info and I wish I could be more helpful! I would be almost 100% certain that Dr. Chheda will write the order for the MRI although this involves waiting until her appt in April. And @ashleyO... if you ever do find an open-minded Neuro in the LA area, please let me know! I searched for this for a solid year but never found one.

 

[StarChild56]

almost 100% certain that Dr. Chheda will write the order for the MRI although this involves waiting until her appt in April.

I would also be almost 100% certain because Dr. K wrote the order for me - but I just emailed it to my PCP who is amazing and added the additional views Dr. K needed to her regular order for a cervical MRI. But still, it makes me thing the likelihood is great that Dr. Chedda would write the orders.

 

[ashleyO]

I would also be almost 100% certain because Dr. K wrote the order for me - but I just emailed it to my PCP who is amazing and added the additional views Dr. K needed to her regular order for a cervical MRI. But still, it makes me thing the likelihood is great that Dr. Chedda would write the orders.

is your PCP in SoCal by any chance? i'm currently looking for one who could help me

 

[Hip]

have two appointments that I am looking forward to - with Dr. Chheda at the Center for Complex Diseases in April, and with Dr. John Chia in May 2020

These are both excellent doctors, with Dr Chia specializing in enteroviruses, and Dr Chheda more on the herpesvirus side, so it covers all bases.

Though if you think you might have a CIRS instead of ME/CFS, then a Shoemaker-trained doctor who specializes in mold illness would be useful.

 

[StarChild56]

is your PCP in SoCal by any chance? i'm currently looking for one who could help me

I am sorry, she is not.