Dr J clinic in DC

I started going there last October. Unlikely that you would ever see Dr. J himself, but his staff are very knowledgeable. The protocol is aggressive and there is very little flexibility, and you cannot get through to a nurse on the phone without leaving a message and waiting 1-2 business days. But I feel like they know what they're doing and I have found the protocol effective so far.

aphysicalwreck said...
Hi:
I have heard about this dr a few times on this board but since he is about 5 hrs away from me I didn't give it much thought.

Recently I decided to look into what he is all about. I called the office and was informed that he treats with abx.

I am not crazy about using abx for chronic Lyme.

Does anybody have any input as to how good he is? Is he and his clinic that great that it's worth going 5 hrs and spending a ton of money and being treated with abx for Lyme disease that I have had for years?

I am on buhner protocol now for about 2 1/2 months and feel horrible!!

Thanks for any input.

I have decided to see him...you think 5 hours is far? LOL I'm flying across the continent from Canada (west coast) to see him. I have plateaued with my LLND...and he seems uninterested in getting me further IMO. So, my choice to see him is after a few months of research...but I am on board with antibiotics.
I am bringing my MRI's on a disk. My LLND never looked at the imaging of my brain. Dr. J. will.
He definitely knows his stuff. Does he heal everyone...? I doubt it.
Dr. J doesn't give up on his patients...he said that in an interview once.

As far as spending a ton of money. I don't think it will end up being more than many other LLMDs.
I just heard a Dr. in a NE State charges $1500 for initial consult. And he isn't as well-known as Dr. J and hasn't been a LLMD as long.
Dr. J's is less than that....and what I like is appts are 3-4 months apart...he doesn't change up the protocol every month. And - I am going to do my 2nd appt via phone call...so no travel necessary.

Here's an interview that he did in 2017 - you can get a gist of what he does:



/www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDe0L-5yKvI

Re: seeing him...some people do see him - maybe not at the initial consult. I have asked to see him at the end of my appt. I was told he could come in for 15 minutes. (I'll take it)

Oh and the initial consult is 2 hours long.

Thank you girlie. Your info is very helpful. Do you feel any better yet? How many years have you been suffering?

What are the meds they gave you? Do you do herbs with it as well?

Thank you girlie.

Good luck with your appt. keep us posted. I am sure others would love the feedback also!!!

That's sweet of you to do that for your husband.

I fly several times a year and one of my main symptoms of lyme is head pressure and head tingling. The flight never made it worse!!

As for diet, they told me to avoid gluten, alcohol, sugar and sugar substitutes (until they prescribe a certain amount of sugar substitute later to break biofilms). As with any doctor, it is up to you how strict you are with it. It's not something they emphasized heavily to me. But I do think they have good support and reasons for what they do.

Hi Aphysicalwreck -

All four of us in our family starting going to the JC clinic in November of 2017. Each of us has had lyme for many years. Each of us were previously treated back in 2014 by another doctor and got to 70-75% but symptoms would creep back in.

We came to the decision to go to the JC clinic because:

1) Dr. J. had cutting edge ideas that were effective in the treatment of AIDS many years ago. He applies those same approach to lyme.

2) He continues to do research on emerging breakthroughs and applies them to his work/protocols

3) He combines abx and some herbals; He has a protocol he follows.

4) He pulses his medications ( we have never tried this approach before)

5) He employs a team of practitioners that have been trained by him so more patients can be seen (eliminating the wait lists) . EX: All four of us were seen on the same day!

6) He has extensive knowledge on lyme patients - and the various impacts it can and does have on the body systems.

7) We had already spent $1000's in treatment. Our daughter is in a very bad place and neither of our children are in a place to attend school. We decided we would rather invest extra money in what we view is a best shot treatment than continue doing more of the same.


10 weeks into treatment at the JC clinic. I would say I am still confident and pleased with our decision. Yes. Phone calls and emails have a 1-2 day turn around but they are helping so many people. I gladly will accept a 1-2 day wait time (and use these boards as a backup) rather than having to wait 6-12 months to get in to the clinic initially. Here are some other reasons I am happy with them:

1) They really got to know us in our 2-2.5 hour intake meeting. Some testing I had never seen before

2) They ordered an MRI for our daughter. We learned she has a lyme-induced brain lesion. This explains so many of her issues.

3) Treatment is different speeds for each of us. My daughter's is VERY slow. First goal is to reduce her inflammation. Mine is much more fast paced. I appreciate they treat each patient as unique.

4) Collaboration. They actually consulted with a lyme Psychiatrist on the best meds for my daughter. I couldn't believe they consulted. Big hugs to them!

5) Our next appointment is a phone consult. Not every appointment is a trip.


6) Each of us like and feel heard by who is treating us!


I hope this helps.

Big warm hugs.

Peppermint Tea

Rikky - Have you noticed any improvements in the year you've been seeing him?

Hi Rikky and others,

I didn't have babesia and I healed and I didn't use antibiotics. I did have ehrlichia and healed from that (again, no abx).

So basically his clinic is about giving antibiotics? Does he have a time frame for them? What about damage to one's gut and other side effects? (I do know he pulses them every other day).

My last question is did Dr. J. from D.C. have chronic lyme himself?

The reason I ask is that people e-mail me privately for help and some of them are taking long-term abx and I really don't know what to tell them except to take probiotics and detox. I wish I could be more helpful.

Thanks,
Denise

>>I didn't have babesia and I healed and I didn't use antibiotics. I did have ehrlichia and healed from that (again, no abx).

Your story is unique to you. No one will follow the same course as you and likely get the same outcome. We're just all so different in terms of what pathogens we have, overall health, immune system, diet, lifestyle, etc. etc.

I work with a woman who had knee swelling and got tested positive for lyme. She took nothing and after 2 months of her knee swelling it went away and she's been fine for over a year. How does one explain that?

To make blanket statements is dangerous when treating this disease (not that you are but I'm using it as a point ;o). That's why its so important to share our stories because something could trigger a thought that might take someone down a path to get well.

I remember when my first LLMD answered when I asked him "how long do you think it'll take for me to heal". He said I had a guy very similar to you in so many ways it took him about 8 months. Well here I am 3 years later and nowhere near recovered.

aphysicalwreck said...
This is all such great info. I look forward to hearing what Girlie has to say after her apppointment.

I am just afraid to live on abx though and also spend all that money with no guarantee of getting better.

oh man - i'm ready for a nervous breakdown...oy!

Called the clinic and booked an appointment - they are giving me 24 hours to get flights (well actually since they're closed Sat and Sunday, I get until Monday a.m.) and if I can't - I don't forfeit part of the appointment fee.

So, I had already researched flights...etc.two days ago...thought I'd go to the travel agent and have them do the booking...to make sure I had everything covered....also wanted medical insurance....

So, i'm there around 2:00 p.m. and she's very busy...got a few things on the go.

Well, what I had planned - was no longer available. Apparently there was a seat sale..so they went fast.

Trying to find something without having to leave a day earlier (no connecting flights from my small city to the big city airport) - it wasn't going well...I was getting over-whelmed because we were now changing times...and she asked about a different airlines...etc.
Then she asked if we would fly through the night....etc.etc. or maybe go the evening before and stay in the airport hotel. I couldn't give her a decision - because my husband works that day....not sure if he can take that day off.

I told her I'd leave her to search options and I'd go home..and to call me later this afternoon.

Well...she never called... I called just before they closed and left a message.

So, now I have to call the clinic Monday a.m. and say I need to drop the appt. and reschedule...and then I have 24 hours again to try and get flights.

Or...keep the appointment and go the night before and hope my husband gets the extra day off.

I'm tempted to just book them myself - but I just don't trust my brain right now....

Feeling demoralized.

First I would like to wish Girlie luck on getting your flights and I do hope you get the answers you are looking for at Dr. J's clinic in D.C.

Second: Rikky, I'm the one who followed other people's paths as far as Jernigan's protocol so I am not unique at all except that perhaps I healed faster compared to others but it's not a competition. Allow me to explain how I stumbled on Dr. Jernigan's protocol. I belonged to a different forum and looked for members who were getting better. There were very few which I found depressing. Most were on long-term abx. The minority were on herbal protocols.

One day a member started talking about Dr. Jernigan's book and she said "he is way ahead of his time" (yes, I remember those words like it was yesterday). That intrigued me as I didn't read his book yet. Soon after a member posted about his wife going to Hansa Center and I was just fascinated by all the treatment details. I kept waiting for more updates and they came.

That is when I decided to buy his book and follow his protocol. But it wasn't only me, it was many members who followed his protocol and healed.

Then on this forum I know at least 20 members that also followed his protocol and healed (many went to Hansa, some did not). I don't understand why these people can't take 5 minutes to come back and post an update.

Denise