Guest guest Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 Hi nycjimi: Your post was reall helpful. I'm not sure how long ago you wrote this post but would you mind saying which doctor you saw at Holtorf's? Thanks, Terri > > > Re: Holtorf Clinic > > I have to weigh in on this. > > I began as a patient there within the last year. > > First off, from what I know I feel like the poster that says Dr. Holtorf knows his > stuff is 100% correct. But he isn't seeing new patients. > > In my opinion, the doctor I saw was provided a fair at best experience so far. > He did not listen to me on some critical issues. At least one thing he told me, > directly contradicted what is published on the Holtorf website and on handouts > in the lobby. I pointed that out to him. I don't think he liked it but it caused > him to change my treatment. > > The initial office visit was over an hour. A general wellness check by a nurse, > an hour or so with the doc and some in office tests. They have three tests that > everyone seems to get run through on their first visit--- some sort of metabolic > rate test, urine iodine test, and an reflex test for thyroid. The doctor ordered > over 20 lab tests on this visit. > > They seem to have a bag of tricks which are a bit different than other HRT/ anti > aging clinics I have read about. > > They use HGH, time release T3, time release Hydrocortisone, Welbutrin/Nalrexone > combo for weight loss, HCG for weight loss and Byetta or Symlin for leptin/weigh > loss issues. > > I learned male patients are sometimes prescribed Nondralone(sp? )in addition to > Testosterone. Apparently, Nondralone(sp?) is unusual to be prescribed in HRT. > Also, they give guys progesterone. > > They push push push their proprietary supplements. In my case the repeated push > made me VERY uncomfortable. The doctor must get a cut of the supplements sold. > He acted like a used car sales person with the supplements. DId I mention he was > pushy? I walked out of the office with about $500 in monthly supplements. On my > followup I battled and just refused some. He wasn't happy. It's so many > supplements, how do I know what's working? Some non proprietary supplements were > recommended and I have gotten them elsewhere > > Another issue is their compounding pharmacy. There is a sign in the lobby > pointing out that you may have your prescriptions filled anywhere. Since I Iive > what is over 5 hours traveling time away and have a great compounding pharmacy > 10 minutes away, I asked that my prescriptions be filled there. The doctor told > me that wasn't an option on one or two. These happen to be the most expensive. I > checked with the local compounding pharmacy and a cursory comparison showed the > local compounder was around 40% lower than Holtorf. Please give me ideas on how > to handle this if you have them. > > They also pushed their IV therapy. Sorry I don't remember the details. But I had > it. Couple of hours worth of drips. Can't say it did anything one way or the > other. > > As for costs (in round numbers), my first visit was about $700 for the doctor > plus $500 in supplements plus about $600 in compounded scrips plus $400 in in > office tests and IV. That's over $2000. The original labs were another $2000 I > recall. > > My second consultation was about an hour. On this visit we discussed my labs and > he tweaked my meds and ordered more labs. This was probably about an hour. $700 > for consultation and compounded meds and after a battle fewer supplements. The > added scrips were not compounded and I got them locally. > > My third consultation was about 30 minutes. Same format as second consultation. > Tweaked the meds and ordered labs to be done before my next consultation. > $300ish for the doctors time. I can't put my hands on the supplement/compounding > amounts at this moment but it was substantially less due to " encouragement " from > my bottom line oriented spouse. > > Next appointment mid summer. > > Am I better? Yes. To what degree is the question. > > My initial complaints were weight, poor sleep, fatigue and some sexual issues. > > I was diagnosed as hypothyroid, adrenal issues, and leptin resistant. No cause > was defined yet for my sexual issues. > > I'm sleeping better. Still tired but maybe not as much. No significant weight > loss. Sexual issues persist. > > Since my spouse is a numbers guru, I'll say I'm 25% there. > > They are really expensive (at least by my standards and we're not poor). The > supplement pushing is very annoying. The compounding issue angers me. Insurance > reimbursement has not been what I would have hoped. > > The nurses I dealt with were superior. Both caring and excellent. With regard to > the office staff, they are like any other business. Some seem real good. Some > seem not good. > > I think if there was a way to separate the medical care from the purely profit > driven appearance of this practice, they would have earned a mild thumbs up so > far. HOWEVER, the " let's gouge the patient " feeling I have gotten at almost > every turn may be too much for them too overcome. > > Here's hoping for significant improvement in the coming months. I plan on > staying the course through my year anniversary but I must see more light at the > end on the tunnel. > > Forgive the length but I wish I had known all this 9 months ago. I may or may > not have made the same decision to see Holtorf Clinic but I would have been much > more prepared when I walked through their door. > > Hope this helps someone. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 Hi nycjimi: Your post was reall helpful. I'm not sure how long ago you wrote this post but would you mind saying which doctor you saw at Holtorf's? Thanks, Terri > > > Re: Holtorf Clinic > > I have to weigh in on this. > > I began as a patient there within the last year. > > First off, from what I know I feel like the poster that says Dr. Holtorf knows his > stuff is 100% correct. But he isn't seeing new patients. > > In my opinion, the doctor I saw was provided a fair at best experience so far. > He did not listen to me on some critical issues. At least one thing he told me, > directly contradicted what is published on the Holtorf website and on handouts > in the lobby. I pointed that out to him. I don't think he liked it but it caused > him to change my treatment. > > The initial office visit was over an hour. A general wellness check by a nurse, > an hour or so with the doc and some in office tests. They have three tests that > everyone seems to get run through on their first visit--- some sort of metabolic > rate test, urine iodine test, and an reflex test for thyroid. The doctor ordered > over 20 lab tests on this visit. > > They seem to have a bag of tricks which are a bit different than other HRT/ anti > aging clinics I have read about. > > They use HGH, time release T3, time release Hydrocortisone, Welbutrin/Nalrexone > combo for weight loss, HCG for weight loss and Byetta or Symlin for leptin/weigh > loss issues. > > I learned male patients are sometimes prescribed Nondralone(sp? )in addition to > Testosterone. Apparently, Nondralone(sp?) is unusual to be prescribed in HRT. > Also, they give guys progesterone. > > They push push push their proprietary supplements. In my case the repeated push > made me VERY uncomfortable. The doctor must get a cut of the supplements sold. > He acted like a used car sales person with the supplements. DId I mention he was > pushy? I walked out of the office with about $500 in monthly supplements. On my > followup I battled and just refused some. He wasn't happy. It's so many > supplements, how do I know what's working? Some non proprietary supplements were > recommended and I have gotten them elsewhere > > Another issue is their compounding pharmacy. There is a sign in the lobby > pointing out that you may have your prescriptions filled anywhere. Since I Iive > what is over 5 hours traveling time away and have a great compounding pharmacy > 10 minutes away, I asked that my prescriptions be filled there. The doctor told > me that wasn't an option on one or two. These happen to be the most expensive. I > checked with the local compounding pharmacy and a cursory comparison showed the > local compounder was around 40% lower than Holtorf. Please give me ideas on how > to handle this if you have them. > > They also pushed their IV therapy. Sorry I don't remember the details. But I had > it. Couple of hours worth of drips. Can't say it did anything one way or the > other. > > As for costs (in round numbers), my first visit was about $700 for the doctor > plus $500 in supplements plus about $600 in compounded scrips plus $400 in in > office tests and IV. That's over $2000. The original labs were another $2000 I > recall. > > My second consultation was about an hour. On this visit we discussed my labs and > he tweaked my meds and ordered more labs. This was probably about an hour. $700 > for consultation and compounded meds and after a battle fewer supplements. The > added scrips were not compounded and I got them locally. > > My third consultation was about 30 minutes. Same format as second consultation. > Tweaked the meds and ordered labs to be done before my next consultation. > $300ish for the doctors time. I can't put my hands on the supplement/compounding > amounts at this moment but it was substantially less due to " encouragement " from > my bottom line oriented spouse. > > Next appointment mid summer. > > Am I better? Yes. To what degree is the question. > > My initial complaints were weight, poor sleep, fatigue and some sexual issues. > > I was diagnosed as hypothyroid, adrenal issues, and leptin resistant. No cause > was defined yet for my sexual issues. > > I'm sleeping better. Still tired but maybe not as much. No significant weight > loss. Sexual issues persist. > > Since my spouse is a numbers guru, I'll say I'm 25% there. > > They are really expensive (at least by my standards and we're not poor). The > supplement pushing is very annoying. The compounding issue angers me. Insurance > reimbursement has not been what I would have hoped. > > The nurses I dealt with were superior. Both caring and excellent. With regard to > the office staff, they are like any other business. Some seem real good. Some > seem not good. > > I think if there was a way to separate the medical care from the purely profit > driven appearance of this practice, they would have earned a mild thumbs up so > far. HOWEVER, the " let's gouge the patient " feeling I have gotten at almost > every turn may be too much for them too overcome. > > Here's hoping for significant improvement in the coming months. I plan on > staying the course through my year anniversary but I must see more light at the > end on the tunnel. > > Forgive the length but I wish I had known all this 9 months ago. I may or may > not have made the same decision to see Holtorf Clinic but I would have been much > more prepared when I walked through their door. > > Hope this helps someone. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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