A Visit to Dr. Franco...Xrays overdose?

[Guest guest]

Dear Group.... Ronnie here. I had my appointment with Dr. Franco yesterday. You may remember I asked for input concerning his practices after receiving his rather unusual pre-appointment packet. I have had PA for over a year and after suffering the standard treatment I convinced my Rheumatologist, reluctantly, to put me on Minocine. Since the AP seemed successful I decided to see Dr Franco for a second opinion because my doctor had no clue for establishing a protocol and I had simply implemented Dr Brown's method. I made consecutive appointments for my wife and myself since she has been on a lot of drugs for Fibromyalgia and my 4 year old daughter has been treated twice for mycoplasma sinus infections. I thought that we might have a mycoplasma transference problem and Dr. Franco is, supposedly, the man of choice in Southern California.

We left early yesterday for the 2+ hour drive dropping off our daughter at her grandparents on the way. We got there on time not knowing what to expect. The first thing they did was take blood. They took more blood than I have ever given for any number of test from both of us, donor amounts, before we talked to anyone. Then the took our medical histories, about an hour and a half each. The person who took our histories was not an MD. He was a sports medicine DO or something. We were both woozy from the blood sampling and not eating by then, probably not in the best condition to make decisions. This was when it got weird. We had still not seen Dr. Franco and they were sending us off to X-ray. My wife asked if we might speak to Dr Franco and we were told not until our next appointment. We said we weren't comfortable with that and Dr. Franco came in for a few minutes and told us there was little he could discuss without the test results and left.

I went to X-ray first. I told the DO that I had a lot of exposure the past couple of years and wanted to limit the number of x-rays taken. He said no problem, just my hands my shoulder and my feet. I thought this excessive but conceded. They did both shoulders , my hands and my feet. All from at least 2 or 3 angles. At least 15 exposures with no shielding. I was very tired and weak by then. and worried.

I went to the waiting room and my wife was already in the x-ray room. She was in there a long time. They gave her more than THIRTY exposures head to toe and she had to insist on a shield apron. When she came out we both had to give more blood, sign more weird documents for hundreds of dollars worth of testing and make the follow-up appointment for later in the month. We staggered out to our SUV to drive home in the rain.

ly, I understand the setup. They are a special clinic and everyone has their own MDs. You go in, give your history, have some test, the Dr. reviews the data, you come back for a diagnosis and consultation and decide on a treatment strategy. Fair enough. WHY ALL OF TH X -RAYS? I have never really been concerned with the cost of the consult. Good lawyers and good medicine are expensive. I am concerned with EFFICACY, SAFETY, and COMPETENCE. My wife has been ill since we got home. I am not entirely sure it is not because of excessive x-ray exposure. I'm also concerned with cumulative exposure. Is there anyone out there with a radiological background? Have we just increased our cancer risk factors dramatically? Is their technician and equipment competent? WHY NOT AN MRI? I've had 2 last year. I am not bothered by the fact that my PPO will probably deny most of if not all of this even though they list Dr. Franco. The blood is easily regenerated. I'm worried that Dr. Franco's standard practice may have permanently damaged my wife for no reason. It's embarrassing. We are both educated people. The Hippocratic oath is " First do no harm!".

So, in a couple of weeks we will go back to hear the results and get his opinion. What's done is done. But I am now worried and very skeptical. Ronnie E.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ronnie,

I'm not an x-ray expert by any means, but I guess what I do have is faith in the competence and skills of Dr. Franco and his staff and equipment. Yes, it is pretty much standard for most patients to receive a plethora of x-rays and lab tests. The way I see it, Dr. Franco is very thorough and with the additional tests he is able to find the cause, and diagnose correctly, where many others fail. Prior to my coming to see him, I had been seen by two other rheumatologists, including a visit to the University of Washington Medical Center. Both failed to correctly diagnose my dermatomyositis. Eventually, lab tests bore out Dr. Franco's original hypothesis concerning my diagnosis....by then, it would have been obvious for most doctors to see. What I am getting at is.....Dr. Franco leaves no stone unturned when it comes to understanding just what is going on in each of his patients.

The person who took your medical history was Dr. Lallande. He, I am told, has an uncanny ability to compile complete medical histories for new patients. (Have you ever read other doctors' reports which are part of your file? I have read some of mine.....and most of the time they have many facts incorrect and/or misleading.) Dr. Lallande was carefully chosen by Dr. Franco to join the practice. He shares the same philosophies in treatment and causes of rheumatic diseases. Yes, he is a DO and is well qualified to treat patients. I know we've had previous discussions here in the group concerning MD vs. DO and have concluded that there is little difference. Others can clarify this, hopefully. New patients are now seeing Dr. Lallande during the first (and long) appointment and as you have found out, will see Dr. Franco on the subsequent appointment. By doing this, you have the benefit of both the detailed history by Dr. Lallande and the expertise of both doctors working together on your individual situation.

As far as being woozy after the blood drawing.....you should have asked for, or been offered....not blaming here :-) something to eat or drink.

Concerning the x-rays themselves.....on their website at www.thearthritiscenter.com Drs. Franco and Lallande have described their equipment and staff by the following:

Radiology Services:

State of the art equipment

High Energy Beam delivers less radiation

Frequent inspections to ensure safety

Licensed and experienced personnel

Full Body DEXA scanning for Osteoporosis

I'm sure they would provide you with greater details if requested. Another reason for all of the x-rays is to monitor your situation and also have a baseline report. Six weeks prior to my appointment with Dr. Franco, I had fallen down the stairs and broken a rib. In addition, my back had since then been giving me trouble....lots of stiffness in the mornings. Dr. Franco looked at one of my prior year's x-rays and described to me that I have an excess curve to my spine, which was even further hyper-extended by my fall. He recommended that I see a chiropractor upon returning home to Washington. By golly, he was right! After the first visit with my chiropractor, my back was 90% better. I'm glad my past x-rays were available. I never would have thought to see a chiropractor as I had been raised to doubt their effectiveness. At least now I am more open-minded.

So Ronnie, try to relax. You and your wife are in good hands. I've always felt that skepticsm is healthy.....it protects us from doing all kinds of crazy things. In this case, you've done the right thing. By looking into the mycoplasma/infectious theory, you are doing yourselves a world of good. By seeing Dr. Franco and Dr. Lallande, you're way ahead of the game.

Please keep us posted. I have a feeling that you will be very glad that you are taking this route. Eventually, it will become much more accepted and available to people. In the three years since I started the AP, I am encouraged by the growing number of doctors who are joining the party.

take care and hugs to you and your family,

Connie

<<<<<<<<Original Message>>>>>>>>>

Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 22:10:36 -0800 From: "Ronnie " <ronevans@...>Subject: A Visit to Dr. Franco...Xrays overdose?Dear Group.... Ronnie here. I had my appointment with Dr. Franco yesterday. You may remember I asked for input concerning his practices after receiving his rather unusual pre-appointment packet. I have had PA for over a year and after suffering the standard treatment I convinced my Rheumatologist, reluctantly, to put me on Minocine. Since the AP seemed successful I decided to see Dr Franco for a second opinion because my doctor had no clue for establishing a protocol and I had simply implemented Dr Brown's method. I made consecutive appointments for my wife and myself since she has been on a lot of drugs for Fibromyalgia and my 4 year old daughter has been treated twice for mycoplasma sinus infections. I thought that we might have a mycoplasma transference problem and Dr. Franco is, supposedly, the man of choice in Southern California. We left early yesterday for the 2+ hour drive dropping off our daughter at her grandparents on the way. We got there on time not knowing what to expect. The first thing they did was take blood. They took more blood than I have ever given for any number of test from both of us, donor amounts, before we talked to anyone. Then the took our medical histories, about an hour and a half each. The person who took our histories was not an MD. He was a sports medicine DO or something. We were both woozy from the blood sampling and not eating by then, probably not in the best condition to make decisions. This was when it got weird. We had still not seen Dr. Franco and they were sending us off to X-ray. My wife asked if we might speak to Dr Franco and we were told not until our next appointment. We said we weren't comfortable with that and Dr. Franco came in for a few minutes and told us there was little he could discuss without the test results and left. I went to X-ray first. I told the DO that I had a lot of exposure the past couple of years and wanted to limit the number of x-rays taken. He said no problem, just my hands my shoulder and my feet. I thought this excessive but conceded. They did both shoulders , my hands and my feet. All from at least 2 or 3 angles. At least 15 exposures with no shielding. I was very tired and weak by then. and worried. I went to the waiting room and my wife was already in the x-ray room. She was in there a long time. They gave her more than THIRTY exposures head to toe and she had to insist on a shield apron. When she came out we both had to give more blood, sign more weird documents for hundreds of dollars worth of testing and make the follow-up appointment for later in the month. We staggered out to our SUV to drive home in the rain. ly, I understand the setup. They are a special clinic and everyone has their own MDs. You go in, give your history, have some test, the Dr. reviews the data, you come back for a diagnosis and consultation and decide on a treatment strategy. Fair enough. WHY ALL OF TH X -RAYS? I have never really been concerned with the cost of the consult. Good lawyers and good medicine are expensive. I am concerned with EFFICACY, SAFETY, and COMPETENCE. My wife has been ill since we got home. I am not entirely sure it is not because of excessive x-ray exposure. I'm also concerned with cumulative exposure. Is there anyone out there with a radiological background? Have we just increased our cancer risk factors dramatically? Is their technician and equipment competent? WHY NOT AN MRI? I've had 2 last year. I am not bothered by the fact that my PPO will probably deny most of if not all of this even though they list Dr. Franco. The blood is easily regenerated. I'm worried that Dr. Franco's standard practice may have permanently damaged my wife for no reason. It's embarrassing. We are both educated people. The Hippocratic oath is " First do no harm!". So, in a couple of weeks we will go back to hear the results and get his opinion. What's done is done. But I am now worried and very skeptical. Ronnie E.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ronnie,

if you have x-rays of your joints always take them with you to a new

doc. You also have the right to refuse tests that you think are harmful.

I have had RA for 16 yrs and all I have is one set of X-rays done 14 yrs

ago.

Ronnie wrote:

Dear

Group.... Ronnie here. I had my appointment with Dr. Franco yesterday.

You may remember I asked for input concerning his practices after receiving

his rather unusual pre-appointment packet. I have had PA for over

a year and after suffering the standard treatment I convinced my Rheumatologist,

reluctantly, to put me on Minocine. Since the AP seemed successful

I decided to see Dr Franco for a second opinion because my doctor had no

clue for establishing a protocol and I had simply implemented Dr Brown's

method. I made consecutive appointments for my wife and myself since

she has been on a lot of drugs for Fibromyalgia and my 4 year old daughter

has been treated twice for mycoplasma sinus infections. I thought

that we might have a mycoplasma transference problem and Dr. Franco is,

supposedly, the man of choice in Southern California.

We left early yesterday for the 2+ hour drive dropping off our daughter

at her grandparents on the way. We got there on time not knowing

what to expect. The first thing they did was take blood. They

took more blood than I have ever given for any number of test from both

of us, donor amounts, before we talked to anyone. Then the took our

medical histories, about an hour and a half each. The person who

took our histories was not an MD. He was a sports medicine DO or

something. We were both woozy from the blood sampling and not eating

by then, probably not in the best condition to make decisions.

This was when it got weird. We had still not seen Dr. Franco and

they were sending us off to X-ray. My wife asked if we might speak

to Dr Franco and we were told not until our next appointment. We

said we weren't comfortable with that and Dr. Franco came in for a few

minutes and told us there was little he could discuss without the test

results and left.

I went to X-ray first. I told the DO that I had a lot of exposure

the past couple of years and wanted to limit the number of x-rays taken.

He said no problem, just my hands my shoulder and my feet. I thought

this excessive but conceded. They did both shoulders , my hands and

my feet. All from at least 2 or 3 angles. At least 15 exposures

with no shielding. I was very tired and weak by then. and worried.

I went to the waiting room and my wife was already in the x-ray room.

She was in there a long time. They gave her more than THIRTY exposures

head to toe and she had to insist on a shield apron. When she came

out we both had to give more blood, sign more weird documents for hundreds

of dollars worth of testing and make the follow-up appointment for later

in the month. We staggered out to our SUV to drive home in the rain.

ly, I understand the setup. They are a special clinic and everyone

has their own MDs. You go in, give your history, have some test,

the Dr. reviews the data, you come back for a diagnosis and consultation

and decide on a treatment strategy. Fair enough. WHY ALL OF

TH X -RAYS? I have never really been concerned with the cost of the

consult. Good lawyers and good medicine are expensive. I am

concerned with EFFICACY, SAFETY, and COMPETENCE. My wife has been

ill since we got home. I am not entirely sure it is not because of

excessive x-ray exposure. I'm also concerned with cumulative exposure.

Is there anyone out there with a radiological background? Have we

just increased our cancer risk factors dramatically? Is their technician

and equipment competent? WHY NOT AN MRI? I've had 2 last year.

I am not bothered by the fact that my PPO will probably deny most of if

not all of this even though they list Dr. Franco. The blood is easily regenerated.

I'm worried that Dr. Franco's standard practice may have permanently damaged

my wife for no reason. It's embarrassing. We are both educated

people. The Hippocratic oath is " First do no harm!".

So, in a couple of weeks we will go back to hear the results and get his

opinion. What's done is done. But I am now worried and very

skeptical. Ronnie E.

To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups