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Helen Foundation Reviews (2)

Three weeks into Microdose Therapy, Ms. [redacted] reported 18% improvement in pain, 21% improvement in back pain and 32% improvement in chronic fatigue syndrome using her numeric evaluation of her symptoms using the digital patient tracking system.  At this time, she voluntarily...

withdrew.The protocol of Microdose Therapy is that recommended by the [redacted] for cortisol use:Microdose Therapytm: Patient self-administration of cortisol with concurrent stress, infection, allergy and injury minimization that complies with [redacted]-recommended indications, dosages and administration for cortisol use.  Its success is dependent upon dosage precision, administration timing, quality patient education and patient compliance. Phase 1, of the Microdose Therapytm one-time patient education that prepares patients for cortisol self-administration, reduces symptoms to a minimum symptom state, and Phase 2 education sessions teach minimum symptom state maintenance for the rest of life.Cortisol (hydrocortisone): The principal hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex.Dosage and Administration: “Dosage requirements are variable and must be individualized on the basis of the disease and response of the patient.  The initial dosage varies from 20 to 240 mg per day depending upon the disease treated.  In less severe diseases doses lower than 20 mg may suffice, while in severe diseases doses higher than 240 mg may be required.  The initial dosage should be maintained or adjusted until the patient’s response is satisfactory.  If satisfactory clinical response does not occur after a reasonable period of time, discontinue cortisol and transfer the patient to another therapy.  After a favorable initial response, the proper maintenance dose should be determined by decreasing the initial dosage in small amounts to the lowest dosage that maintains an adequate clinical response.  Patients should be observed closely for signs that might require dosage adjustment, including changes in clinical status resulting from remissions or exacerbations of the disease, individual drug responsiveness, and effect of stress (i.e., surgery, infection, trauma).  During stress it may be necessary to increase dosage temporarily.  If the drug is to be stopped after more than a few days of treatment, it usually should be withdrawn gradually.” Physician Desk Reference, 2000, p. 1808This procedure was being followed precisely for Ms. [redacted].  The initial and highest dosage for Ms. [redacted] was 100 mg per day, conservatively less than the 240 mg per day allowed by the FDA.Ms. [redacted] signed a contract that defines the conditions of withdrawal before starting: “Voluntary Withdrawal:  If I withdraw before having the qualifying medical examination, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995).  If I withdraw after having the qualifying medical exam, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995) and the cost of the qualifying medical examination ($250) and the food allergy laboratory test ($900) if done.  If I withdraw after beginning the Shower, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995), the cost of the qualifying medical exam ($250) and the cost of the food allergy laboratory test ($900) and the cost of the Shower ($3,400).  If I withdraw after starting Maintenance Education, there will be no refund of any kind.”The appropriate refund was sent by the Helen Foundation and received by Ms. [redacted] as acknowledged in her complaint.Sincerely,[redacted], Ph.D.Helen Foundation

Review: From: [redacted]

Date: May 20, 2014

Ref: Complaint against the Helens Foundation Clinic & Dr. [redacted] for overcharging fees

Helens Foundation

[redacted].

###-###-####

[redacted]

Dear Sir or Ma’am,

I wish to file a complaint against the Helens Foundation Clinic and Dr. [redacted] for overcharging fees for completing only 15 days of a five month medical program which I had to withdraw due to adverse drug reactions.

On March 3, 2014 I entered a Microdose Therapy Program through the Helens Foundation with Dr. [redacted] Stenberg, hoping to find some relief from 13 years of chronic pain from herniated discs, Arthritis, CFS & Fibromyalgia. I communicated with Ernesto Gallegos from the Foundation via phone & email about the 5 month Microdose Therapy Program which included using Hydrocortisone tablets to maintain a certain cortisol level to decrease pain, a food allergy test and patient education on managing chronic pain, medical exams, daily patient tracking system, patient manuals and other examinations. After careful thought, I signed the contract and sent in a check for $7495.

On 3/18/2014 I saw Dr. [redacted] in Pinellas Park, [redacted] sponsored by the Helens Foundation for an initial examination and was prescribed Hydrocortisone 20mg tables to start the 3 week “Shower” loading dose according to Dr. [redacted] recommendation at 100mgs for 7 days. I was to decreased down to 60mgs for 7 days then down to 40mgs for another 7 days. During the first week of the first “Shower” phase, I started to experience concerning adverse reactions from the high level of Cortisone. I decreased the dosage but I was still suffering from swelling of the face, jaw, neck and armpits, a sore throat & minor chest pain. The head face, jaw pain, depression and fatigue made it unbearable to be around anyone or do anything. I did speak to my "nurse educator" [redacted] a number of times over the phone regarding my reactions and my concerns.

Per the advice of three doctors including the Foundation’s doctor, Dr. [redacted], I was told to stop taking the drug which I did on April 3, 2014, only 15 days into the program. I sent an email voluntarily withdraw from the program to the Foundation on April 6th because I believed the program was compromising my health and was the wrong course of treatment to take. I received an email dated April 7th from Dr. [redacted] stating that I was in the program for “3 weeks” and I had 32% “improvement” in my overall pain. Both were incorrect. Dr. [redacted] believed he was responsible for relieving “1/5th of my pain” but in reality the “improvements” came a few days after I stopped taking the drug and had withdrew from the program. Despite my concerning reactions to the drug, Dr. [redacted] wanted me to continue taking the drug! Dr. [redacted] even questioning my decision and the advice of the three doctors who advised me to stop taking the drug!

I send another email on April 12th disagreeing with Dr. [redacted] “3 week assessment” to which I was only in the program for 2 weeks and asked for a partial refund. I received a snail mail letter from Dr. [redacted] dated April 14, 2014 with a check for only $1,950 for the 15 days I participated in the 5 month program. I was charged $3,400 for the full 3 week “shower” when I completed only 2 weeks. Should a doctor charge a patient the full amount when they only completed 2 weeks out of the three and had such a miserable flare-up due to the overdose of the prescribed drug?

I was also charged $995 for a “Digital Tracking System” which is a graphing computer program that graphs your total scores from four pain diaries I was to fill out and send in. I received the graphs only after I sent in an email to my “nurse educator,” [redacted], with the total pain scores from 3/24 to 4/6 pain logs and my intention for withdrawing from the program! This is the email sent April 6, 2014:

“Hi [redacted],

I can't tell you how hard I have been struggling with the elevation of my pain, fatigue & depression since I started the Shower. I now do not think that this treatment was good for me at all.

On Wednesday, April 2, 2014, I was told by Dr. [redacted] to stop taking the cortisol for 7 days. I do not believe that I should restart after the seven days. The shower was a very strong dose for me--too strong. I have had more problems with the Hydrocortisone that I ever had with Prednisone!

I did see my Primary Care Doctor, Dr. [redacted], on Tuesday, April 1st, who advised me to stop this medication. We are also monitoring my blood & liver levels. My Rheumatologist, Dr. [redacted], who has been treating patients for many, many years also advised me to not continue this treatment. I do believe that both of my doctors are advising me from their heart. I have spent much time with both of them during each of my appointments which are usually 30 mins long each time and I know they are really trying to help lessen my pain rather than issuing medication for the purpose of kickbacks from drug companies. My mom has also been seeing Dr. [redacted] for about 20 years.

My scores are roughly the same until a day or two after I stopped the Hydrocortisone. I do believe I am going to stop this treatment. I do not know what partial refund of the $7495 I can receive. I hope to take the remaining refund and in a few months head up to the [redacted] in [redacted]. I have got to find out what is going on. I am sure you have had some clients who have had similar reactions. At the beginning of this program, I told you that I had to wean off the Prednisone because of the side effects. I was assured that the Hydrocortisone was a more "natural" drug and that the side effects would be much less than the Prednisone was is a synthetic steroid. I am here to tell you that this is not the case for me. As I said before I have never experienced such strong side effects from Prednisone at 20mgs or any other drug.

Please tell me what I need to do to withdraw from this program.

Scores:

Migraine: 3/24 at 100mgs 130, 3/25 at 100mgs 131, 3/26 at 60mgs 127, 3/27 at 60mgs 119, 3/28 at

60mgs 111, 3/29 at 40mgs 121 (I dropped dose myself), 3/30 at 40mgs 121, 3/31 at 40 mgs 121, 4/1

40 mgs 125, 4/2 at 40mgs 125, 4/3 at 0 mgs cortisol stopped 125, 4/4 0mgs 125, 4/5 0mgs 113, 4/6 at

0 mgs 105.

Back Pain: 3/24 at 100mgs 94, 3/25 at 100mgs 98, 3/26 at 60 mgs 96, 3/27 at 60mgs 84, 3/28 at 60mgs

84, 3/29 at 40mgs 88, 3/30 at 40mgs 88, 3/31 at 40mgs 88, 3/31 at 40mgs 88, 4/1 at 40mgs 88, 4/2

40mgs 88, 4/3 0mgs 88, 4/4 at 0mgs 88, 4/5 at 0mgs 80, 4/6 at 0mgs 78.

CFS: 3/24 68, 3/25 71, 3/26 71, 3/27 68, 3/28 68, 3/29 68, 3/30 68, 3/31 68, 4/1 55, 4/2 55, 4/3 55, 4/4

47, 4/5 46, 4/6 39

Joint & Soft Tissue: 3/24 100mgs 276, 3/25 100mgs 275, 3/26 60mgs 284, 3/27 60mgs 242, 3/28 60mgs

240, 3/29 40mgs 240, 3/30 40mgs 240, 3/31 40 mgs 241, 4/1 40mgs 250, 4/2 40mgs 250, 4/3 0

mgs 250, 4/4 0 mgs 247, 4/5 0 mgs 228, 4/6 0mgs 226.

Ok, that’s about it. Thank goodness the headaches, face & jaw pain, neck pain & armpit pain/feeling of fullness/swelling is going down as well as the sore throat and chest pain. I don't know if Hydrocortisone can increase one's depression but something happened while on this drug. I haven't been so fatigued and this deeply depressed in years. That's it for me. I have had enough.” (End of Email Msg sent 4/6/2014)

Somehow the four graphs sent to me the following day on April 7th after I expressed my intention to withdraw from the program, showed a “decrease of pain” when I experienced an increased amount of pain & fatigue. Again, these numbers came from my body’s attempt to recover after I stopped taking the drug. I believed that I was sent the graphs from Dr. [redacted] via [redacted] after my withdrawal from the program so Dr. [redacted] could justify charging me $995 for the “Digital Tracking System.” I do not believe I should pay for this $995 program since the graphs were sent to me on April 7th after I withdrew on April 6th. Why did Dr. [redacted] continue with the program, graphing & charging me fees for services I haven’t received the days before I clearly stated that I was withdrawing from his program? Prior to the above email with 14 days worth of total scores from the four pain diaries Dr. [redacted] had no scores to graph! I was told that the digital tracking system was to be provided for the entire 5 month program.

I was also charged $900 for a food allergy test from a company that mainly provides testing for dogs, cats & horses so I don’t know how accurate it is. Similar tests for humans cost about $400-500 at my lab nearby. So Dr. [redacted] inflated his cost as much as 100%.

Yes, I did sign a contract with the Foundation on March 3, 2014 that “defines the conditions of withdrawal and refunds” but the charge of $5,545 for only 15 days of a five week program for a drug that caused me a lot of pain, fatigue & depression is unethical.

I wish to receive a refund for 1/3 of the “Shower” & $995 for the “Digital Tracking System” which showed up after I withdrew from the program. I don’t believe I or anybody should be charged $900 for a test that costs $400-500. I asked Dr. [redacted] “to work together on resolving this issue in good faith and with a good heart” but I can see from his responses that he is not concerned for his patient’s wellbeing but only their money! In his final letter, Dr. [redacted] wrote, “Which are we to believe: Ms. [redacted]’s diary numbers or her words.” If that isn’t an inappropriate and an arrogant remark from a person who prides himself of being at professional “doctor” I don’t know what is! Perhaps the doctor needs a humility check, a refresher course on compassion and to reread the Hippocratic Oath: “Do not harm…” I am not just a daily total number you can graph! It seems that Dr. [redacted] wasn’t interested in the numbers of my individual symptoms just the overall total number at the bottom of the pages so he could play with his graphing program. I crunched the numbers and I have experienced the flare up of pain, fatigue & depression so I am well aware of both the “words” and the “numbers.” I even had to see my Primary Care Physician for help. She was angry that there are such doctors around taking advantage of vulnerable people in pain. The following week I had to see my RA doctor to help rein in some of the pain I suffered while on the program.

I hope this matter can be resolved. I am just sickened by how I was dealt with by Dr. [redacted] and by the staff at the Helens Foundation. It is easy to prey on people who are sick, in pain & depressed. I am sure that others in pain who have experienced similar problems and were unable to find the strength to file a complaint. To take advantage of others who are suffering is wrong & unethical! I intend to report this incident to other agencies to see if other actions can be taken so that other people in pain won’t be taken advantage as I was.

Respectfully,

[redacted]Desired Settlement: I wish to receive a refund for 1/3 of the cost of the $3,400 for “Shower” phase since I was unable to continue with the program due to adverse reactions to the prescribed drug. I also would like a refund for $995 for the “Digital Tracking System” for computer graphs which showed up after I withdrew from the program. I don’t believe I or anybody should be charged $900 for a test that costs $400-500. I would like a refund of $900.00 for the food allergy test which was conducted at a lab that caters to dogs, cats & horses. I am not sure of its accuracy and will have to be retested at a lab that tests humans rather than animals.

Business

Response:

Three weeks into Microdose Therapy, Ms. [redacted] reported 18% improvement in pain, 21% improvement in back pain and 32% improvement in chronic fatigue syndrome using her numeric evaluation of her symptoms using the digital patient tracking system. At this time, she voluntarily withdrew.The protocol of Microdose Therapy is that recommended by the [redacted] for cortisol use:Microdose Therapytm: Patient self-administration of cortisol with concurrent stress, infection, allergy and injury minimization that complies with [redacted]-recommended indications, dosages and administration for cortisol use. Its success is dependent upon dosage precision, administration timing, quality patient education and patient compliance. Phase 1, of the Microdose Therapytm one-time patient education that prepares patients for cortisol self-administration, reduces symptoms to a minimum symptom state, and Phase 2 education sessions teach minimum symptom state maintenance for the rest of life.Cortisol (hydrocortisone): The principal hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex.Dosage and Administration: “Dosage requirements are variable and must be individualized on the basis of the disease and response of the patient. The initial dosage varies from 20 to 240 mg per day depending upon the disease treated. In less severe diseases doses lower than 20 mg may suffice, while in severe diseases doses higher than 240 mg may be required. The initial dosage should be maintained or adjusted until the patient’s response is satisfactory. If satisfactory clinical response does not occur after a reasonable period of time, discontinue cortisol and transfer the patient to another therapy. After a favorable initial response, the proper maintenance dose should be determined by decreasing the initial dosage in small amounts to the lowest dosage that maintains an adequate clinical response. Patients should be observed closely for signs that might require dosage adjustment, including changes in clinical status resulting from remissions or exacerbations of the disease, individual drug responsiveness, and effect of stress (i.e., surgery, infection, trauma). During stress it may be necessary to increase dosage temporarily. If the drug is to be stopped after more than a few days of treatment, it usually should be withdrawn gradually.” Physician Desk Reference, 2000, p. 1808This procedure was being followed precisely for Ms. [redacted]. The initial and highest dosage for Ms. [redacted] was 100 mg per day, conservatively less than the 240 mg per day allowed by the FDA.Ms. [redacted] signed a contract that defines the conditions of withdrawal before starting: “Voluntary Withdrawal: If I withdraw before having the qualifying medical examination, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995). If I withdraw after having the qualifying medical exam, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995) and the cost of the qualifying medical examination ($250) and the food allergy laboratory test ($900) if done. If I withdraw after beginning the Shower, I will be refunded all money paid less the cost of the digital tracking system ($995), the cost of the qualifying medical exam ($250) and the cost of the food allergy laboratory test ($900) and the cost of the Shower ($3,400). If I withdraw after starting Maintenance Education, there will be no refund of any kind.”The appropriate refund was sent by the Helen Foundation and received by Ms. [redacted] as acknowledged in her complaint.Sincerely,[redacted], Ph.D.Helen Foundation

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Description: Clinics, Physicians & Surgeons - Medical-M.D., Health & Medical - General, Medical Diagnostic Testing Facilities

Address: 105 S Delaware Dr Ste 8, Apache Jct, Arizona, United States, 85120-6512

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