Naturopathic Doctors??

B123
B123 Member Posts: 730
edited June 2014 in Alternative Medicine

Has anyone seen a naturopath MD for help and if so, is it worth it?  Do they really help?  Any advice would be great! Thanks

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • momoschki
    momoschki Member Posts: 682
    edited November 2011

    Well, haven't actually "seen" the naturopath, but arranged a phone consultation with a well known one who happens to be in AZ (I am in NYC.)  I wanted a second opinion regarding all the supplements my integrative oncologist in NY has recommended for me.  Because she is out of state and naturopaths are not licensed in NY, she cannot be my primary doctor, nor can I get insurance reimbursement, but I found her opinions helpful (I had specific questions) and she is now available to me to email if additional questions arise.  I found her to be extraordinarily knowlegeable-- she specializes in breast cancer and is a survivor herself.  Feel free to PM me if you want details/contact info.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2011

    B125 ~ I'm seeing a naturopathic doctor, and depending on where you are in your treatment and what you're looking to accomplish, I think they can be very worth it.  The one I'm seeing has found and is treating some imbalances that none of my other doctors were concerned about -- things that have helped me to recover from tx, feel great, and have much more energy.  For women still in tx, an ND can work with your oncologist to help minimize SEs of tx.  

    Like momoschki, I've worked with an integrative doctor, separate from my oncologist, mostly immediately after my active tx.  She was very good, but she wasn't covering all of my concerns. My ND has done very complete hormone and antibody testing, RX'd some hormones (not estrogen or progesterone) and RX'd minerals to hopefully stop my bone loss -- all concerns none of my other docs seemed very concerned about.

    I think if you have questions or concerns not being addressed by your conventional docs, an ND might have some answers.  At least that's been my experience.   Deanna 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • B123
    B123 Member Posts: 730
    edited November 2011

    Dlb823, thank you for your input.. It sounds worth it and helpful, I am not getting what I need from my Onc and I have not been able to eat since off of the Tamox for 2 weeks and no one seems to have an answer. I have lost way to much weight and i feel as though I am on my own to figure this out.  Is it covered by insurance?  I was a bit nervous about trying a ND because they seem to be in small little shady places (most, not all) and no one seems to know much about them?  I just want results, and if they help then I will definatley try.  Thank you!

    Momoshki:  Thank you as well, I will PM you for that info!  :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PLJ
    PLJ Member Posts: 373
    edited November 2011

    B123...what sort of problems are you having? I developed difficulty eating a few years back, even had a hard time swallowing water. It turned out to be a dairy allergy, eventhough I had been consuming dairy my entire life! Go figure!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2011

    B123, I think some ND credentials are better than others.  It may also vary by state re. who's allowed to call themselves an ND.  Just like conventional docs, there are good ones and bad ones, and good schools and not-so-good ones.  Do some homework before choosing one.  Check out how much education they've had and where, and also what professional associations they belong to.  I passed up a couple that had been recommended to me because their main areas of focus seemed to be anti-aging stuff or weight loss, and I really wanted one who had some serious knowledge about and experience with breast cancer.  Don't be afraid to call or go by their offices and ask some questions, to see if their background and interests sound like a match for what your looking for.  For the most part, they're expensive and insurance may not cover it.  So invest some time to find one who's worth the cost.  Good luck!    Deanna

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited December 2011

    My ND was an emergency room physician before he went into naturopathic medicine.  I have done a lot of research, and when I met with him he went over a lot of the things that I had already read about, so I feel comfortable with him.

     He doesn't try to discourage you from doing conventional treatments, rather he has complementary therapies that work with chemo and rads.  He has a chiorpractor and an accupuncturist on staff, as well as a massage therapist.  He met with me for an hour and a half and asked many questions about my life so he could determine what kind of toxins I might have in my body.  He is doing blood and urine tests to confirm, and has put me on an anti cancer diet.  He has scheduled me for a thermography scan to see if there are any suspicious areas that might be developing and are too small for a mammo to pick up.  There is no radiation exposure with thermography.

    Since I had a low grade small tumor that was completely cleared on margins and nodes, I am not sure I'm doing rads, but I know I am going to proceed with the complementary treatments.  I have app'ts with two radiation oncos to see what they recommend, then I will decide. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited December 2011

    Hello: 

    I saw a naturopathic doctor as soon as

    I was dx 12 yrs ago

    He is now in Portsmouth area

    and I found him to be very good

    I did a vitamin regime while on TX

    but my onc knew what I was taking

    best to you on your journey

    I believe in it

    Sierra :)

    (almost 12 years out)

    I had grade 3 er-pr- node pos fyi

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tigsun
    tigsun Member Posts: 177
    edited December 2011

    I see one.  I think it is worth it.  I drive an hour away to get to her office.

     My ND is not covered by my insurance.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 3littlegirls
    3littlegirls Member Posts: 853
    edited December 2011

    It's best if you go to a Naturopathis Oncologist. They no way more about cancer and how to treat it. Here is a link to find one in your area. www.oncanp.org

    I have been going to one for a year now and have been doing and feeling great. And for my stage that is saying alot.  I swear by mine. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • B123
    B123 Member Posts: 730
    edited December 2011

    Thank you all very much for your information, I am just not sure how to find a good one.  You dont know until you go...  Im glad you are all saying they are trustworthy, because it does scare me.. Sierra.. 12 yrs ago! WOW, so happy for you and that it works!!  I will try your link 3littlegirls! Thank you all!!!

    PLJ:I am having all sorts of problems and not sure what to link them to, I had a masectomy done Aug 30 and one month later started tamoxifen, it had bad effects on me and my GI system went wild, so stopped and started again and same thing if not worse.  Long story short, I am JUST finding out that I developed CDIFF!! Where the heck this came from I dont know.  I am guessing when I had the surgery and stayed 2 days and the Tamox brought it out in me.  So now I can barely eat/drink, I have a hard time swallowing at times, I can not tolerate any dairy/yogurts.  I am taking meds for the infection (hopefully it will clear) and I am scheduled for Lupron shots on Friday. I just feel like a guinea pig and am taking and doing so many things and no one knows what helps.  Im just getting to a point where I am so done!  I had clear margins, cancer free (I bite my tongue when I say that..) and I STILL can not move on and feel physically well.  Im sorry to complain, I know there is so many that are feeling so much worse out there and my heart goes out to them... no one deserves this but Im reaching my limits and just feel like throwing in the towel.

    Thank you all again for your help!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • john123
    john123 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2012

    YEs,

    I have experience with the naturopathic doctor.Yes they are so helpful.And they will treat us very carefully.They have so many methods in Naturopathic treatment.I feel so relaxation from them and their treatment.It gives us a good relief.Naturopathy helps us to heal our body soon.I will help you,please refer www.erinmillshealth.com

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories