Tick bourne Center in West Chester - Dr. S.

I made an appointment on Tuesday the 2nd with Dr. S. They accept my insurance. They use a lab called "MDL" labs (http://www.mdlab.com/html/home.html) any info on this type of lab? I guess if my ins. doesn't cover, depending on how much it costs we might go with it if this is a good lyme lab. Otherwise we might have to use a lab that is covered under our insurance. I'm not overly worried, because I even had a positive elisa, and my western blot had one band present, but since I did not have 5 bands they did not diagnose me, even though I had the rash (and I still have a picture of it, which is in my other post).

Has anybody else seen Dr. S.? What is your experience with him? What was your wait time in the waiting room? (I have a toddler so that can get itchy), Did he for you make a clinical diagnosis? What are his forms of treatment? (iv, injections, oral, etc), How long did you have lyme before you saw him - was it chronic? How was Dr. S.'s bedside manner?

I ask because my exposure was almost 6 years ago. It's about an hour drive from my house which is a blessing on top of getting covered by my insurance. Thanks to all who reply!!

Please do not post full names of Dr.s.

Post Edited By Moderator (1bitten2xshy) : 10/22/2009 12:53:12 PM (GMT-6)

My LLMD also uses MDL Labs in conjunction with Igenex.

My BCBS covered most of the MDL charges, which was a good thing. My bill with them was 3300- after all the differrent tests were run.

How much of your testing was covered? I also have bc/bs. I was considered negative by the CDC rules since only one band was present. Will he retest me?

Jenna, my appt is at 320.

Hi, This is my first post here :) I will write my Lyme story to you guys shortly... it may take a while!!!

I just started seeing Dr. S in West Chester, and ironically, I have an appointment for Tuesday also! I am in the evening though around 6. This will be my third visit with him. So far, I do like him. I have been told by several PCP, ID doctors and even had two surgeries and he is the only one who believes I have Lyme and is willing to treat me. Since I only have 1 band showing up on the WB, my insurance will not cover the IV treatment that I need. Right now he has me on oral antiobiotics with hopes it will break up the Lyme in my system so I get a more positive test. (I previously had a "CDC" positive WB several months ago with 2 igm and 1 igg but my PCP would not treat me for it!) Dr. S based my diagnosis based off my previous labs, ruling out all other ailments and by my symptoms.

I too drive about an hour and a half to see him, but I go on Tuesday evenings and I have not waited longer than 20 minutes. I have not been in the afternoon since I cannot leave work early.

MDL is short for Medical Diagnostic Lab based out of Hamilton, NJ. My sister actually works there. From what Dr S. as well as other employees there have told me, my insurance will not cover their test, although they are very accurate. Also, even if the test does come back positive, Aetna will not consider me positive for it since it is not thier preferred testing, they only go off the WB and Elisa. And even still, many times no matter what test you do, it may never show up!

So far I do like Dr. S. He is a no BS kind of guy, and seems as thought he is just as disguested with the insurance standpoint of the disease as we are. He is straight to the point but at the same time very knowledgable. He too tells me to stop reading so much since I make myself sick over the entire situation. (although I can't help it!)

I am getting another WB on Tuesday so hopefully it will come back positive so my insurance will cover the IV treatment. If not, it looks like we will be liquidating our assets to pay for it ourselves. (not really what I want to be doing, what choice do I have). I am also seeing a nutritionalist who has Lyme experience and is wonderful at showing me which vitamins and supplements to take.

I will share my story this eveing, time to go pick up the kiddie! MY story may take A WHILE!!!

I hope you all begin to see relief of this horrible disease.

Good luck to all of you with your appts. Kind of ironic that all three are the same day!

sorry didn't realize I wasn't supposed to post drs names, apologies!

Robin, what time is your appointment at? I have BC/BS. Out of the four insurence options my husband has at his work, it is the best one that covers the most. I can't complain, they did cover a $250,000 NICU bill and my one $30,000 c-section and multiple hospital stays because of a high risk pregnancy, along with my meds for my disorder that run about 10k a pop.

My appointment is at 6. I usually get there really early though since I am coming from South Jersey, one accident on the turnpike can wreck my timing so I give myself 2 hours to get there!

BCBS was another option my insurance just began to offer. If things don't work out with the United I will switch to that one. It's liek a trial and error with these insurance companies. They sound so great until you need them to cover something then you find out how great they really are! I guess I will see as I go!

God, I really hope we all have a good outcome on Tuesday!

Well I guess I'm glad I'm not a morning patient I'll keep that in mind for future appointments.

How did everyone's appointments go with Dr. S? After reading this thread, it seems important to offer my experience with Dr. S.

It took fourteen doctors before they finally diagnosed me. Dr. S was #13. By then it was clear that the illness was Lyme based on my symptoms, many of which were the most common Lyme symptoms - joint pain, insomnia, brain fog, tinnitus, nerve pain, etc.

My insurance carrier is Aetna and Aetna insists on only testing with Quest, no other lab results will be considered. Three previous Quest Lyme tests were negative.

My first appointment with Dr. S went well. He said it sure sounds like Lyme, let's run another test - through Quest because that's the only results Aetna will accept. At appointment #2, he said the test came back negative (big surprise) so I probably don't have Lyme. Then he told me that my insurance wouldn't cover IV therapy but I could pay for it myself to the tune of about $3,000 for 30 days. Gave me some schpeel about how his hands are tied to what the insurance carriers pay for. He said that 30-days is enough treatment for most people, maybe six weeks in certain circumstances. When I balked for financial reasons, he gave me a 30 day low dose Doxycycline prescription and said that was the best he could do.

The next doctor I went to was an LLMD who did an IGenex Lyme test and that came back with a positive result. A SPECT scan on my brain was used to further support the Lyme diagnosis. So far, Aetna covers a portion of my costs (knock on wood).

To me, Dr. S was just looking to herd patients into the I.V. therapy. Two other people I've met within the Lyme community have had similar experiences with him.

He is no LLMD. His beliefs seem to border the IDSA & ILADS viewpoints but still falls on the IDSA side. It will always be about what the insurance companies will pay for. Of course he urges patients to avoid researching Lyme - because educating yourself about the disease and the controversary surrounding it might make you realize that his standard treatment is inadequate.

It took thirteen doctors telling me they can't find anything wrong, making me question my sanity. Such crazy things were happening to my body & mind but no doctors could give me any answers. Only when I finally went to see an LLMD did I start to make progress. I get that it's so hard to come up with the finances to pay for an LLMD so you go to doctor after doctor within network to get help only to leave disappointed & frustrated after a few appointments. Everyone on these Lyme boards kept telling me to forget mainstream doctors and head straight to an LLMD. A very painful year and a half went by and hundreds of dollars later (tens of thousands for Aetna) before I broke down and went to a real LLMD. If you are here seeking advice, I urge you stop wasting your precious, precious time and go see one.

To each of you who recently went to see Dr. S, please do tell us about your experience.

Good luck - Danni