FCC-Fibromyalgia Fatigue Center- Anyone use them or have any reviews?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa Duffy on July 30, 2010 at 6:50pm

Please don't waste your time and money on this clinic! I went to the FIbro and Fatigue Center in Atlanta, GA for a year and spent about $10,000 and saw no improvement! I got a friend to join after I started and unfortunately she got sicker and sicker. We both did the full treatment, vitamins, herbs, IV's with numerous ingredients, antibiotics, antivirals and hormones. Most doctors agree that their protocol is DANGEROUS! My friend ended up hospitalized with her hormones out of whack. They treat everyone's thyroid and prescribe cortisol for everyone. It permantly damaged my friends thyroid when it was normal before going to the clinic. They are very understanding and compassionate and that's what reels us in. I've never felt validated by a doctor until I went there. Trust me, it wasn't worth it. They're getting rich promising things they can't deliver. They told my friend and myself and had it in there literature that they had a 98% cure rate. They have since been sued and no longer tell that lie. I don't know anyone who got better while I was there.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by PVB Sandy on May 1, 2012 at 10:20pm

Wow....I am a patient there and I feel so much better since I have been going there.It is a very detailed process u have to take your supplements keep to a healthy six small meal diet go every three weeks for if IV treatments athree weeks for ur IV treatments and u will feel better. I am not sure what happened with u but it is totally working for me. They also have just discovered that taking HCG in larger doses than what people do to try to lose weight helps FMS patients tremendously.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tori on July 31, 2010 at 9:33pm

In my opinion your best bet is to see a rheumatologist who is trained to diagnose fibro. The rheumy that dx'd me is the most knowledgeable doctor I've been to on the subject. She took a lot of time talking with me about the various ways to deal with fibro and about the sleep disorder I have that does along with it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tori on July 31, 2010 at 9:34pm

Oh Lisa, what a horrible experience. I'm sorry you and your friend were put through all that, but certainly no one here can blame you because we're all wanting to find that doctor or clinic or treatment that can finally give us real long term relief, if not a cure.

Lisa Duffy said:

Please don't waste your time and money on this clinic! I went to the FIbro and Fatigue Center in Atlanta, GA for a year and spent about $10,000 and saw no improvement! I got a friend to join after I started and unfortunately she got sicker and sicker. We both did the full treatment, vitamins, herbs, IV's with numerous ingredients, antibiotics, antivirals and hormones. Most doctors agree that their protocol is DANGEROUS! My friend ended up hospitalized with her hormones out of whack. They treat everyone's thyroid and prescribe cortisol for everyone. It permantly damaged my friends thyroid when it was normal before going to the clinic. They are very understanding and compassionate and that's what reels us in. I've never felt validated by a doctor until I went there. Trust me, it wasn't worth it. They're getting rich promising things they can't deliver. They told my friend and myself and had it in there literature that they had a 98% cure rate. They have since been sued and no longer tell that lie. I don't know anyone who got better while I was there.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lynn on August 1, 2010 at 7:32am

Thank you ladies for sharing. The last thing I want to do is throw my money away but like you mentioned sometimes dealing with this and finding someone who shows compassion keeps us going back. I'm sorry Lisa for your experience with them but I appreciate your sharing it with me. -Lynn

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by debdrake on September 4, 2010 at 8:02am

Wow what an interesting experience. So do they claim to be a natural wellness center? I've never gone to any of these clinics (thank goodness) but I had wondered how they work. That is a high price tag for something that didn't work. Actually it seems high for if it had worked to me.
I really believe you dont need a clinic to help with fibro. You may want to get some diagnostic tests done at your doctor's office but there is little else a doctor can do. You can try your own remedies though. I keep testing and trying things.
I don't get using antibiotics at all. The good bacteria always die first with antibiotics. Then the imbalance is worse. Probiotics are what will get the good/bad bacteria levels in check.
Vitamins seldom work unless you happen to have a deficiency in something and then of course you will feel better if you take it. But that would be a co-existing problem and not the cause of fibro. Same with the thyroid problem.
A blood test should tell them if you need T3 or other hormones. Some people have symptoms even if their within the 'normal' range. So if it's on the low side or high side, try a little something but low dose and watch for symptoms of too much.

The thing I would try that works the most is acupuncture - it helps but for many it only lasts 2-3 days so that wont work long term. It's worth a shot for many tho. Reflexology feels good but I don't know of it helping long term either.
I have also read about how colostrum helps many. Most the testing has been done with Lupus but it hurts nothing to try it. It will only help.
Gaba is also worth a try since it nourishes the nerve endings.
I've tried lots of other natural methods but outside of magnesium, CoQ10, enzymes and probiotics little has made any difference. They do not all add up to cost that much in a year so I will keep taking those things.
I have found that antioxidants can make me worse. :(

Stretching, exercise, deep breathing, relaxation and getting a good nights sleep all help more than anything else. Get the toxins out of your life too.

Deb
debdrake.com

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cindy Lou on June 11, 2011 at 11:48am

I also spent a load of money on the clinic up in Atlanta. I didn't see any improvement, either. Plus they loaded me up with a case of supplements that got to be a real pain to try and keep up with. I've pretty much been through the gamut - I went to a top rheumatologist who said there was nothing more he could do but prescribe Cymbalta. I tried antivirals from a Dr. who said this was the cure - no change. I've tried acupuncture (couldn't tolerate it), I've been tested for Lyme's disease (neg) sleep apnea (neg) I had my nutritional levels tested by Spectracell through my Dr. in Gainesville, FL who offers alternative therapies, so at least i feel like I can pinpoint the supplements I need. Right now my goal is to just do everything I can for good health, but that's pretty hard to do. I have Chronic Fatigue and for me that's worse than the fibro. Now I am trying chelation therapy with EDTA because I tested high for cadmium, and wonder if anyone else has had success with that. Other than that, it's just sleep, sleep sleep.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by debdrake on June 11, 2011 at 12:33pm

Cindy Lou,

Sorry to hear about the fatigue. I have fatigue but it's not CFS.  It is one of the worst symptoms.

I really think it is worth it and was not a waste of time trying the various things you have done. Since we each respond differently, we each have to be our own laboratory for experimentation. 

I found out a few months ago that my fibromyalgia is caused by dysautonomia. It is a dysfunctional autonomic nervous system. 

Not everyone with fibro has that but many do. There is a lot of research being done on it now in clinics around the US and around the world. Vanderbilt is one that is doing a lot of research. 

I wrote up some information on my experience with dysautonomia. http://www.debdrake.com/dysautonomia.html

Tachycardia, blacking out when standing up, cold hands and feet, hot hands and feet, a mitral valve prolapse, blood pooling in the legs, over-reactions to stimulants...  here's a list of symptoms: http://www.dinet.org/symptoms.htm

It may not fit your situation but since I found out about it everything makes so much more sense.

Deb

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Lee Barnes on July 29, 2011 at 12:35pm

I know people who have gone to the Atlanta clinic.  No improvement.  A lot of money.  In some cases, they got much worse due to medication side effects.  And Dr. Bullington there was recently reprimanded by the GA medical board.

• ▶ Reply

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Lady Tessa -Anise on July 31, 2011 at 9:46am

So glad someone who has been there posted this! I considered going to one of those clinics here . I won't even give it a second thought now.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Lee Barnes on July 31, 2011 at 10:15am

And you should pass it on.  Some people still believe Teitelbaum is not out to get their money.

• ▶ Reply