Doctor in Katy, TX (west of Houston)

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I've not seen his name mentioned on this site, but i'm new plus i've

just moved to the Fort Worth area (thus, i haven't spent much time

reading emails!). I'm scheduled to see a DO here. It

will be interesting to see what he has to say about all of my health

issues! i've never been to one, so here's hoping. Anyone have any

experiences with them?

anyway,in Katy, there is a Dr. Alvear. He looks like Doogie

Howser (for those of you old enough to remember that show...it means

that he looks VERY young). Do not be fooled, though, because he has

a LOT of knowledge about hormones, as well as many other things.

I saw him for a time or two before submitting to the infamous saliva

test (which i call a spit test..hey, call it what it is...lol).

Anyway, it was expensive. i think they use ZRT labs. all of my

stuff is still packed...sorry. I paid like $250.00 for cortisol a.m.

and p.m, as well as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone (i think

this is what it was..anyway 5 tests cost $250.00). They really like

for you to pay for a consult (OVER THE PHONE with someone who is NOT

a dr, but has a lot of knowledge about hormones...she used to meet

with people one on one, but her health is not good enough to do that

anymore (?), so she does phone consults...charges the same

thing...hmmm, how does that strike you? Supposedly doctors call her

because she is so knowledgeable...anyway, i bypassed her

because i've read so much that i figured i could always go back to her

(oh, excuse me, get back with her via phone) if i felt the need.

anyway, after the dr gets the lab results, he schedules you for a 30-

45 min. appt. and it is expensive as well...like $175,

maybe...again, my records are packed. anyway, i wanted just to do a

phone consult with him because i'd had the flu and didn't see any

sense in having to go in because i'd managed to get a copy of my lab

results. but, he wouldn't hear of it...it was too

important that he be able to explain things to me in detail...ha, ha,

ha...5 min. later, i had my scripts and was out of there. if i

hadn't been so weak and still recovering from the most violent flu

i've had in decades, i would have confronted him about it...either

give me the time, or decrease the cost of the visit.

However, I do feel better than i have in a long time. i've been in

chronic pain for several decades, and it's pretty severe. i think it

had an impact on my adrenals, and he prescribed Cortisol. when i ran

out, i called him and told him that i was out and also that my pain

levels were out of control...i couldn't stand to be in my body, and

just writhed in pain during the early morning hours before i could

take my pain pills. he said that it was time to get off of the

Corisol (after just one month!). Whoopee...one less med to take! I

am having trouble taking the prescribed dosage of Progesterone

because it makes me so sleepy! He seemed surprised about that. i've

been trying to start taking small amounts in the a.m. to see if i can

get my body used to it.

So, there you go. As much as it cost, and as much as i have some

(what i think are legitimate gripes),issues with the way the office

is run, he is a very dedicated guy. He actually RETURNS calls!!!

From his home, even, if he doesn't get it done at the office. I've

had cardiologists offices that NEVER returned calls. Now, wouldn't

you think that it might be important to do that? I tell people, " if

you aren't sick, don't even think about it, because it will make you

sicker to have to deal with all the ...hmmm, can't think of a nice

word...junk? you have to deal with. Not to mention the paperwork.

btw, i've found that dr.s and dentists offices are keeping any money

that they may have been overpaid. you have to ask a lot of them,

well, maybe most of them, if you have a balance due you on your

account. Now, they would have a fit if a department store or anybody

else did that to them! What is wrong with these people???? OK,

enough of my soapbox...i'm stepping down.

Hope this may help some of you that might be closer to Katy than

wherever these other doctors are.

Dr. Alvear's office staff isn't always on top of things, so just stay

after them...as with many of the doctor's offices. If you tell them

that you are calling about hormones, they will take your name and

have this other person call you, but sometimes she forgets (?), or

gets overwhelmed (?). Just keep calling. When you call the office,

and they take your name, ask how long it should be before someone

gets back to you and then call back if she doesn't return your call

in a timely manner. Can you tell that i've learned to be assertive.

i really try to not be obnoxious. There is a difference between

being assertive and being aggressive. And at the price we're paying,

i think we deserve good treatment. If you need a long appt., stress

it to the office staff. maybe you will get lucky and they will

listen to you. have them repeat it back. sometimes it works!

Sorry that this went on for so long...tried to get it all in there.

Feel free to write if you have questions that I might be able to

answer...long shot, but hey, it's worth what you pay for, right?

Have a great day...there is hope!

PS I saw a dr there in north Houston...i guess it would be the

Woodlands area...boy, what a turkey. I'd drive 50+miles one way, and

she would have an emergency nearly every time. and the first appt.

that was supposed to be in-depth was cut way short because she had to

give a speech...good for her, but was it like a surprise? she could

have rescheduled me...the $$$ is just too good for the hormone

doctors...it makes me crazy. her emergencies usually coincided with

her husband waiting for her (this was always around lunch time)...not

accusing, just being observant. when i had a near break down the

last time she pulled that stunt, all of a sudden she appeared and

didn't seem to be in a hurry. When i said that if she had an

emergency, she needed to go, didn't she...that got ignored. i'll

have to recall her name...personally, i'd put it on the " don't go

there " list.