Hi Vicki-

I would research it closely before going for treatment. I know they have helped (and cured) patients with all different types of ailments. But the majority that I know were not helped even in the slightest. For the amount that they charge for their treatments I believe you could do better with other therapies which can be done in the comfort of your own home. Plus you won't have the expense of travel, food and lodging. Initially, they like you to stay 4-6 weeks, which means the other costs can really add up. Hope this helps.

I heard about Sierra from someone I met at the Hope To Heal Lyme conference back in May. After speaking with her and talking with folks at the clinic, I decided yesterday that's what I want to do. Have you made any decisions yet about Sierra?

Maria

I went to SIMC in 2004. In 2002 at age 41 I was diagnosed with MS due to some severe vision disturbances and white spots on my brain MRA (plaque). I finally caved and allowed a neurologist to prescribe me Avonex injections. This harsh pharmaceutical shuts down your immune system. Other than a vision issue I had twice and some small white lesions showing in my brain MRI, I had zero physical symptoms. I had no other known diseases, was slim fit and energetic. After 18 months of injecting myself with Avonex, I became fatigued, bruised at the slightest touch, had sores in my mouth and nose...when I complained to the neurologist, he insisted it was not the medicine but the MS was in a rapid progression phase. I knew this was absolute c**p. I felt fine until the meds and my health deteriorated badly.
I dumped the last three needles of Avonex and researched like crazy in many states, researching backgrounds, Dr's licenses, testimonials, searched for pending lawsuits, etc...I settled on SIMC based on my extensive research. I only live 2 hours from Reno which was lucky. I would have flown to TExas if needed.

I met with Dr. Fong and he did about $1,800 worth of blood work, etc. I had the following:
Lymes, Herpes II, High mercury and lead levels, other viruses Epp-Barre, and several severe food allergies - Egg whites, cherries, dairy, ginger (darn it!) various beans, bananas, etc...

I had three IV and shot treatments during the 3 days of my initial consult and tests. I went home, in a couple of weeks Dr. Fong called me to do a phone conference about all findings - they had sent me all tests results. We talked over an hour, I took notes on my lab paperwork. I was diagnosed with Optic Neuritis, caused by an over-whelmed immune system which had been dealing with Lyme's, mercury, lead, Herpes II, food allergies , Eppstein-Barre, etc...

I took one month of leave from work, went to Reno, had IV shot and other treatments for 4 weeks. I took home a box of vials of meds to inject in my own arm daily...3 or more each day for 6 weeks...to create immunity to my food allergies . I followed the regimen exactly.

That was in May of 2004. To this day I have had no optic nerve issues. I have not had a Herpes II outbreak once since my treatment. I used to get a blister on my nose or mouth antyime I was rundown, had a fever, several times a year. No more herpes II outbreaks. I never "felt bad" so I can't say I feel so much better. The only time I was sick was from the Avonex injections. My neurologist "fired me"...what a jerk.

My husband just had all of his exam and blood work completed last week. He had a donor Aortic valve done three years ago and a pacemaker put in last Dec. He has hereditary heart malformations - otherwise he has no known diseases or heart or cholorestol issues. For the past year he has been very fatigued to the point of getting winded walking. He has a constant clogged and runny sinus which makes him cough until he chokes and can't breath all the time. He sleeps constantly and is never rested.

So far, Richard's tests at SIMC have shown he has Lyme's (which Dr. Fong believes at his point is attacking his heart muscle it is a weaker organ and Lyme's will go for the weak organs first). Rich has extensive and lumpy surgery scars all over his chest from two open-heart surgeries and the pacemaker implantation. THEY do a wonderful injection therapy that lifts the skin from the attached scar tissue and frees the nerves that lie under the scars. I had it done on an incision from an old abdomen hernia scar right over my stomach. It was thick and ropey. After the one treatment it flattened out and was silky to the touch. The tightness I felt when exercising in that area was gone.

Rich will have all of his scars loosened, flattened, etc. which Dr Fong said will allow him to breathe more deeply (he has super shallow breathing and difficulty blowing the air out), and allow the energy meridians to flow unencumbered.

It is expensive and for many it is far. I was "cured" of MS - I note here strongly, I never actually had MS. No one really has MS, or any other autoimmune disorder...Lupus, Chrones, arthrities, etc...When your immune system is attacking you.....it is because it is out of balance and it is misfiring......AT SIMC YOUR "SYMPTOMS" ARE NOT TREATED...!!! Your symptoms only help point to a cause of disease........

I am a fan. I return every couple of years for a few days of IV, shot therapy to keep my Lymes nearly dead (They can destroy the viral "larvae" but the adults are super tough. They can be eradicated over time, but with minimal follow ups Lymes is more of a benign tenant.

Hope this helps. My husband is so exhausted and a bevy of Drs have no real idea what to do except slice, dice and medicate the symptoms. We are excited to finally have him make this journey and take back his health.

BTW - There were people from Canada, Germany, England, and New Zealand at the clinic when we were there last week.

Thanks. C of Sacramento CA

I have two friends interested in the SIMC (Sierra Integrative Medical Center) who asked me to research the internet for discussions.

In addition to several apparent "gateway sites" created by or about Katrina Tang for traffic optimization, and numerous directory listings, I found only 3 meaningful discussions, of which this is one of the best.

Secondly, a "Rougue's Gallery" listing at Scribd.com posts a news article documenting serious charges and license revocations against people involved with SIMC in several various incarnations.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27011561/Rogues’-Gallery


Thirdly, a discussion titled "Bad Alternative Lyme Medicine Claim" at LymeNetEurope.org:
http://www.lymeneteurope.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2583


Incidently, SIMC is endorsed by Kevin Trudeau , the controversial telemarketer who (if I remember correctly) claimed that cancer could be cured by calcium supplements, and was consequently in trouble with the law, and is still actively writing popular books.

There seems to be a prevelant allegation that anyone who goes to SIMC will possibly be diagnosed with Lyme disease, whether or not they have it--and also to be told that every close family member is likely to be infected--etc. Also there is an allegation that their methods are not only unproven and expensive but possibly unsafe, possibly transmitting new diseases to a patient.

This, to me, does not in any way disagree with the information given here by the forum member "SACRAMENTO". "Sacramento" implies that she was devasted by an "orthodox" treatment for a "possible" condition. This story is worse than anything I have heard from so-called "alternative" medicine and I strongly sympathize with it.

Nonetheless, just because one pot is black does not make another pot white. It seems to me that "Sacramento's" success can be explained simply in the fact that she stopped taking a wrongly-prescribed orthodox treatment. Meanwhile, SIMC then recommending that her husband also should come for treatment is fully in line with the negative allegations.

Certain treatments at SIMC are probably quite harmless and healthy. I personally believe that adding oxygen to the blood--either with hyperbaric chambers, chlorine dioxide infusions, or swimming in cold water--can have remarkable results that are somewhat temporary but can help when repeated regularly. However I would suggest:
1. Find out precisely what the SIMC treatments are that appeal to you.
2. Find out if you can have these same treatments less expensively and with a more sound reputation, possibly even doing it yourself at home.

My friend with Lyme disease tells me that SIMC refuses to tell her exactly what is their protocol for Lyme disease, claiming this to "depend on the patient." Although of course every protocol must vary with the patient--I find it hard to believe that they have no basic protocol for their most basic speciality. Anyway, if this is their reply, I would simply go over their website carefully, make a list of everything they have, and see if you can't try these same treatments elsewhere.

(Unless you have lots of money. Then perhaps just go there, then come back here please and tell us all what happened!)

Just my impressions from today's readings. I am not an expert. Thank you everyone for your contributions to this discussion. This is showing up prominently in searches.