CFS Doctors or Hospital in New York City (or Westchester) ?

I want to evaluate myself for CFS, does anyone know a experienced Doctor or Hospital in New York City (or Westchester)region.

Roger--There are several doctors I have worked with for CFS. I haven't had any success yet but I am determined to find success. Some names of doctors who specialize in it are: Susan Levine in Manhattan, Leo Galland in NYC and Benjamin Natelson in NJ. Hope this helps--

I have seen Dr Levine for several years with no improvement. In addition, most of these dr's do not accept insurance assignments which makes things even worse. Does anyone know of a CFS dr in nyc who accepts insurance?

Roger--

Go see Dr Enlander. Believe me, he is excellent, and in Manhattan.

Drew

I, too, am looking for a really good CFS doctor in Northern NJ or NY CITY. I have had CFS for 6 years now and have already been to Dr. Susan Levine for 6 years and have really not gotten any better. I also have been to Dr. Podell and Dr. Majid Ali. Any other recommendations? I'm starting to lose hope! And I've tried so many things and have taken so many tests and IV vit drips!! thank you, Amanda

Does anyone know a Dr. or clinic in NYC who could diagnose Chronic Fatigue who takes Medicaid?

So far the only Medicaid-accessible treatment I've found is the OMT clinic at St. Barnabas Hosp in the Bronx but they dont diagnose or fill out forms for Social Security.

Drew wrote:

Roger--
Go see Dr Enlander. Believe me, he is excellent, and in Manhattan.
Drew

He has a 1 month waiting list. Can get in to see Dr. Levine much quicker but am afraid she isn't as good as Dr. Elander--is he really that much better

I have been going to Dr. Levine for 6 years now and I really think she is very good and tries really hard to help. I would recommend her. Good Luck!

I recently started working with Dr. Levine. She is affordable, available and knows how to diagnose CFS. I would highly recommend her.

Still need someone who takes medicaid. Levine, Enlander and an Osteopath who's name I forget do not accept medicaid and "affordable" is relative...not affordable if you're poor.

want any info on Dr. Susan Levine, including new reports from patients w ME/CFS, and also map from 59th st. to 155th st., Harlem, N.Y.C.

please send me recent info from patients of Dr. Susan Levine, ME/CFS on 72nd st. in NYC

I found an osteopathic clinic that takes medicaid and has been helping me. It's helped my back and neck problems more than the fatigue or my Crohn's Disease but at least I'm not knotted up like a pretzel and have less back, neck, shoulder and hip pain.

St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx has what they call the "OMT" clinic. I discovered that Health First, my Medicaid insurance provider, will even pay for transport via cab, since I'm in Manhattan and had no way to get there after my car died. There's a form your doctor can fill out.

I had to switch from HIP to Health First though because HIP wouldnt pay for the visits, or only sporadically.

does anyone know of any CFS Dr. accepting HIP? my 18 yr. old daughter has been diagnosed and is in constant pain. This illness is new to me and my family yet i've learned that millions suffer from it. It's not just seeing her in constant pain, but all of the other things that accompany cfs-please any useful info would greatly be appreciated. We're a little desparated at this point. thanks in advance.

I have been seeing Dr. Levine since 1993 and highly recommend her. She is well qualified, available, takes Medicare (don't know about Medicade), and will take the time when needed to spend with her patients. She is aware of the latest treatments (before the "hit the market") and what has and has not shown to make a diffence in helping with symptoms. Sadly, if you are looking for someone to make you 100% better, especially for those of us who have sufferd for decades, that most likely isn't going to happen - at least not yet. CFS still has so many unknowns and affects each of us a bit differently. Miraculous healing from above is the only way I am aware of for a total healing! I have not been to the other two CFS doctors others have referenced in Manhattan and NJ, so I cannnot compare. But,I have been to a plethora of other doctors and practitioners and I have tried virtually everything from mainstream to the absurd. Dr. Levine is still the top MD in my book. There are others out there with the best intentions that may actually make your symptoms worse due to their lack of knowledge of CFS and FM.

carol wrote:

does anyone know of any CFS Dr. accepting HIP? my 18 yr. old daughter has been diagnosed and is in constant pain. This illness is new to me and my family yet i've learned that millions suffer from it. It's not just seeing her in constant pain, but all of the other things that accompany cfs-please any useful info would greatly be appreciated. We're a little desparated at this point. thanks in advance.

Hi,

I would advise joining one of the CFIDS Meetup Groups -- even if you can't get to the meetings, there are kind people there, many of whom can advise re an appropriate MD for your daughter. I know that most of the people on my group www.meetup.com/Fibromyalgia-CFIDS suffer from the pain of fibromyalgia so could advise you and your daughter. This group is Manhattan/Bronx/Brooklyn/Queen s based. You can also send messages to individual members when you join.

I don't have fibro, but have extremely debilitating weakness from CFIDS. I see Derek Enlander and he's excellent. However, I know most with fibro see pain specialists at either Beth Israel in Manhattan or at Mt. Sinai in Manhattan.

I know it's so confusing at first, my advice is to join this group and see if you can get some feedback. Good luck!

I've been seeing Dr. Levine, and I do like her. I like one thing about her that some others don't: she is not going to hold out false hope for recovery. I was actually glad to hear a professional say, in essence, that holding steady or declining is the most likely scenario - from much time spent online and in forums, I'd already come to that conclusion myself. She told me that by the time patients reach her, they have been sick a long time and recovery if it is going to happen is going to be very very slow. That has proven true.
She knows what lab tests to run and my results indicated two active chronic viral infections. Both are not really treatable - the severe side effects, cost and difficult administration of the strong antivirals make them undesirable choices. She put me on a mild antiviral. I've done a lot of research on natural antivirals and immune boosters and am using some of those as well. After 9 months, there is no doubt that I am getting better though it's a lot of "2 steps forward, one step back". After being homebound for nearly two years before this dx and treatments (both hers & mine) I can now get up stairs, grocery shop, etc. and I don't "crash" every single damn day. I still hurt and have brain fog, but I'll take what I can get.
Also, I like Dr. Levine is not flogging any of her own cures, treatments or supplements. She listens well and keeps up on research. And maybe I'll never get any more better than this, but I'm still grateful to have this improvement and to have medical tests that prove that I have active viral infections causing my problems. After all those years of being told I was "perfectly healthy", it's comforting just to know for a fact that it's not in my head.
I'd recommend paying for an initial visit and testing w/ Dr. Levine out of pocket, just to see what you can find out.

Dr Natelson is in NYC at Beth Isreal Hopsital on Union Square. He is wonderful! He is helping me with CFS and Fibro. I spent a fortune on other CFS specialists without improving. Dr Natelson prescribes prescrition drugs that are covered by insurance that actually help with fatigue and pain. He does not take insurance for the office visits but its worth the investment in your health.

elfantgirl wrote:

I've been seeing Dr. Levine, and I do like her. I like one thing about her that some others don't: she is not going to hold out false hope for recovery. I was actually glad to hear a professional say, in essence, that holding steady or declining is the most likely scenario - from much time spent online and in forums, I'd already come to that conclusion myself. She told me that by the time patients reach her, they have been sick a long time and recovery if it is going to happen is going to be very very slow. That has proven true.
She knows what lab tests to run and my results indicated two active chronic viral infections. Both are not really treatable - the severe side effects, cost and difficult administration of the strong antivirals make them undesirable choices. She put me on a mild antiviral. I've done a lot of research on natural antivirals and immune boosters and am using some of those as well. After 9 months, there is no doubt that I am getting better though it's a lot of "2 steps forward, one step back". After being homebound for nearly two years before this dx and treatments (both hers & mine) I can now get up stairs, grocery shop, etc. and I don't "crash" every single damn day. I still hurt and have brain fog, but I'll take what I can get.
Also, I like Dr. Levine is not flogging any of her own cures, treatments or supplements. She listens well and keeps up on research. And maybe I'll never get any more better than this, but I'm still grateful to have this improvement and to have medical tests that prove that I have active viral infections causing my problems. After all those years of being told I was "perfectly healthy", it's comforting just to know for a fact that it's not in my head.
I'd recommend paying for an initial visit and testing w/ Dr. Levine out of pocket, just to see what you can find out.

I have been seeing Susan Levine for years now. Love her. She is straigh shooter, educated on CFS, She has not cured me but certainly has made me much better than I was when first diagnosed. I have Blue Cross Tri State and she takes my insurance.I come from connecticut because there are no Doctors here that specialize in this area. She has worked with some of the Best Dr in the country and I don't know what I would do with out her.. Go see her it can't hurt

I've been going to Dr. Susan Levine for 9 years now, Wow, has it really been that long?? I think she is the best CFS doctor around. She is a straight shooter, and she never trys to sell any supplements like most CFS doctors do. She's kind, very sympathetic and gives me all the time I need when I go for a visit. I trust her! I've been to so many other doctors in all these years, and Dr.Levine is really the one to see. It's worth the trip to NYC. Again, this is not a cure, but she will take all the tests needed, she is involved in all the latest research and really understands CFS. I don't know what I'd do without her.