I was the first patient that got an appointment with KDM in Reno, in the first week of November. It was strange, the WPI building was completely empty and it was just me, my husband and KDM, no nurses no one. He was there to set up his office etc but let me know he would loved to see me.
I can confirm the $700 fee for the appointment but make sure you discuss the lab tests that are going to be done. I neglected this. I thought that since there is a large lab at WPI that he would use that for my blood tests and I could get it reimbursed from my insurance. That was not the case. They should have told me beforehand when I informed about the costs that he would take my blood back to Belgium and have it tested there. They did tell me that the costs of the lab would be added to the $700 but in no way I suspected that this would be RED labs in Belgium.
I think you can imagine the shock that I got when my credit card company called me that an European 'Marketing' company wanted to charge an amount of $5000. They thought is was a fraude and I thought so too until they send me the details that said RED labs and then a light bulb came on.
I waited, they had not send me an invoice or nothing so I just waited, figuring they would now contact me if the wanted me to pay. And yes after 3 days they contacted me and send me the invoice. My husband had a look at it and said that we as US residents do not have to pay European sales tax, in this case over 20% of the bill. So we contacted RED and got nowhere. They said we were not the first one trying to get the sales tax removed but that the Belgium law says that 20+% sales tax need to be paid over services. if we didn't pay I would not get my results released.
We decided not to fight it but will contact the tax office to get the sales tax reimbursed.
After I paid I heard nothing. Radio silence.
When I saw KDM he said that we would have a telephone consult in 6 weeks to discuss the results of the tests but half december came and went and I figured with the Holidays especially in Europe it was no use in trying to contact them. I'm from the Netherlands myself but live in the USA.
First thing I did this week was to write and email and request my test results before the phone app. so I can ask questions and a date for the phone app. to discuss treatment plan.
Just a few hours ago I received my tests results(not good, more red than black) and a date next week for a phone consultation.
About the appointment I had with him. I liked him, but I knew that before I had the appointment. We speak the same language so that makes a difference for me. First thing to go when anxious and in a brain fog is my ability to speak decent English.
I had send him my medical records before the app; so we could save time instead of going over that.
He looked at me and came closer and looked at my face and said I had the classical Borrelia mask. I always thought I had Lupus because that's how my face looks, the red mask. But he explained to me how it works and said it was probably in a very late stage. I have been ill since 1970 and diagnosed with ME in 1984 in the Netherlands.
As a young child I was always ill, we lived in the forest, smack down in the middle, so being bitten by a tick would be nothing my mother would have been worried about. But besides that TBI are also transmitted by other nasties then just ticks of course.
After questions and answers he told me that on top of my ME he thought I had Babesia and Borrelia and another I can't remember. To say I was shocked and not a happy puppy is an understatement.
I went to see him and was hoping to go home with a treatment plan doe my ME. I am bed and wheelchair ridden. Instead I went home with 3 new diagnosis.
In order to get from Oregon to Nevada my husband rebuild our truck and build a bed in the back so I can travel lying down but still I had a major relapse. We were there a week ahead of my appointment so I could recover a bit and that helped. if I had to travel back and forth in a short amount of time I think it would kill me.
I'm not sure what he is going to recommend. When I saw him he said IV ABX because it's a late stage and oral abx won't work with me. The time I did ABX for my Cpn it resulted in a full blown systemic yeast infection that after 3 years is still bothering me. He would like to do this in Reno but I'm not sure how to manage that.
Will keep you posted. If you have any questions let me know.