I haven't heard of either of those doctors, but I am not actively seeking treatment for CFS.
I would suggest that for the time being,you find a really good, sympathetic GP (General Practitioner) and/or a Naturapathic Dr who can help treat your symptoms in the interim (depending on what your preference is for - orthodox or alternative).
I might add that in general, GP's don't have the time in an appointment to listen to your whole medical history, so may I suggest that if you haven't already done so, you try to summarise all your medical history & current symtoms down on paper (before seeing any medical practitioner). This will save some time & give you some notes to get the facts straight for when you DO find someone. Also ensure you book for a longer INITIAL consultation (rather than the standard 15minutes).
Don Lewis is certainly accredited with being one of the best in Melbourne in treating CFS, but the 3 inital consultations (& tests) with him are very expensive. Being only a GP, I'm not sure that the govt Medicare rebate would be very much for his fees - I'm guessing. There are many other qualified GPs who have an interest in diet & nutrition & alternative therapies, but on the whole, most GPs find CFS too difficult to diagnose & treat. You may find you have to consult a number of different specialists depending on your symptoms.
It's an expensive business having chronic ill health in Australia, so I recommend the first thing to do is join a private health insurance fund. Many have 12 month waiting periods before they will cover pre-existing conditions, but shop around & compare the cover each private insurance company offers. That's just my view.
I have still kept up my top private health insurance 'hospital' cover, & 'super extras' cover even though I am no longer working & have a substantially reduced income.
Note: the 'super extras' cover in my fund covers 80% of certain alternate therapies as well as optical & dental - up to certain limits each year. Eg Physiotherapy up to $600 per annum, so that I get 80% rebate on a physiotherapy session & can afford about 10 sessions a year. Same with acupunture & chiropractic etc. There's also things like myotherapy or remedial massage, podiatry & TCM. in my own 'super extras' insurance cover. 'Super extras' cover as it is called in many private health funds, is an additional cost to private 'hospital' insurance cover.
But DO shop around & compare insurance funds to find the one that fits your health needs (IF you wish to take out private health insurance - I highly recommend it, living in Australia).
I also recommend paying for Ambulance insurance cover. A short trip in an ambulance could cost $2000. Single ambulance insurance cover for me as a 'single' person is $75 per year. I think I've only had about 3 ambulance trips in my life, but there's no way I could afford an ambulance without insurance cover.
Having private health insurance also means good cover if you have any unexpected surgery & lengthy hospital stays.
To give you an example. In June 2008 I had lumbar disc surgery. Four days in the neurology unit of a private hospital & 8 days stay in the attached rehabilitation unit. The hospital bill alone was $10,000+ & was completely covered by my private insurance. Then there was the neurosurgeon, the assistant surgeon, the anaethetist, daily attendance by a doctor in the rehab unit & so on. The MRI's & other scans also cost alot of money.
I don't know your financial situation, or your health condition & symptoms, but if you have chronic health problems, private health insurance might be your first step, depending on your need for hospital surgery & alternative therapies.
Private health cover doesn't cover GP & specialist consultations though. They are partially rebateable through the Govt health care system - Medicare. You need to register for this (if you haven't already done so).
I have found that when I am referred to any specialist, on ring to make an initial appointment, I am often asked if I have private health insurance. I seem to get very quick appointments with specialists (when I DO say I have private health insurance cover).
Hopefully, there is another PR member living in Melbourne who can recommend some Doctors they like (or dislike).
Personally, I have found a knowledgable, sympathetic GP who has some knowledge of CFS & the symptoms a good starting point. If you find someone who instantly wants to hand out the anti-depressants or tell you it's all in your mind, I would not go back to that GP.
You will need a GP's referral before you can see a specialist (to get a reasonable Govt. Medicare rebate on your specialist bill fee).
So a GP is your starting point (I believe).
Other PR members who lives in Melbourne might offer different advice. It all depends on your personal requirements for your existing health conditions & symptoms.
But be warned, healthcare in Australia is expensive.
