Dr Donato Russo

Reviews 5

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Oriana Balestrini

Please please stay away from this doctor. I would give 0 stars if I could. I loved Nancy Dotti when she was still working there but decided Id stay at the clinic and see Dr. Russo. I have PCOS and was not comfortable with taking birth control, so Nancy had advised me to at least take progesterone every 3 months that I go without a period to cause my period to come down. I went to Dr. Russo to get the progesterone prescribed after 3 months without my period had passed. When he walked in, he said "Do you know what you have? You have PCOS" and proceeded to give my a very text book explanation of what PCOS is. As if I wasnt already diagnosed over 5 years ago and didnt already know. I asked him for the progesterone and he tried convincing me to get started on birth control because "his wife is on it", so I have nothing to worry about. I had bad symptoms and sharp pains in my brain/face last time I took birth control so I try to avoid it, but he was not listening to me and didnt care because his wife takes birth control. Finally he agreed to prescribe me something to make my period come down. The pills looked different from last time but I took them without really thinking about it. The next day my urine was dark orange and I was dizzy so I looked up exactly what medication he prescribed. He gave me phenazopyridine. I read the entirety of the drug inserts that came with my prescription and it very clearly says phenazopyridine is a pain reliever for urinary tract infections. It is not estrogen, it is not even a hormone at all, and will not cause anyone to get a period. I couldnt even find anything regarding off label use for causing a period anywhere. I thought maybe there was just an error with the pharmacy. I work at a veterinary clinic and I understand that sometimes mistakes are made. So I called and spoke to Dr. Russo to ask if phenazopyridine is the medication I should be taking. He assured me it was. I said "isnt this just a pain medication?". He said "no its a progesterone". You can literally Google what it is right now and will see that it is for urinary tract pain. I wasnt getting through to him and told him my urine was orange and I was dizzy which never happened with the progesterone I took in the past. He told me just to keep taking it because it was the best stuff out there and its so safe that he gives it to pregnant women all the time. Mind you, WHY would a doctor prescribe medication that he believes is going to cause a period TO A PREGNANT WOMAN? I told him I didnt want to take it, I wanted the regular progesterone, and finally he agreed to prescribe that instead. Please do not go to see this man especially if you are pregnant. God knows what kind of random medication he will prescribe you. I am lucky he only gave me a pain medication. As someone who works with doctors everyday, I understand that they sometimes have to refer back to their drug books if they dont remember off of the top of their head what a drug is, and I have seen them own up to all of their errors. I would have appreciated if Dr. Russo at least apologized instead of trying to cover up his mistake.

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A Private User

Unfortunately, I had a late term miscarriage at 15 weeks and had to have a D & E procedure. My Dr. was Dr. Boffard who although has had a few bad reviews about punctuality and bedside manner, he ended up being an excellent Dr. and very capable. He is also the only Dr. in this area who performs this somewhat controversial procedure. Two days after my D & E, I was experiencing some pain in my upper thighs particularly after taking methergine for the bleeding. I called the office and was told a Dr. Russo was on call and would respond. I specifically needed to know if I should continue to take this medication and if thigh pain was a side effect. Coincidentally, I had googled this and found some women had experienced the same thing. Dr. Russo was very quick on the phone and as I talked to him he changed his recommendation three times. First Dr. Russo told me that I should stop taking the pills if my bleeding wasnt severe and then proceeded to tell me that the thigh pain may not be caused by the meds. By the end of the very unpleasant and confusing conversation, Dr. Russo said I should continue with taking the full prescription. He got very defensive when I questioned his inconsistent recommendations and proceeded to say, " I dont know, I didnt do the procedure, now did I?". Shocking! I cant believe this idiot is a Dr. and is on call to return patient calls for other Drs when he has no knowledge of certain procedures or medicines related to Obstetrics and Gynecology. I am outraged.

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Michelle dalcenelson

I have been going to him for years. For the past 5months I have been complaining of extreem pain. I Know I have Pcos but the pain was unreal. I went to the Er and they said a cyst rupture. They called Dr Russo for a follow up visit. I went to his office all he could say was you need to do a pelvic ultrasound. I explain to him that i just got one done yesterday from the er cant you get the results from there. He told go downstairs and get one done. Where was the compation. I left the office and pain and fustrated. Later on that night I went to a different Er for the same pain. The look at my catscan and ultrasound from previous hospital and said you have a fibroid. We going to refer you to a gyno. Went to my new doctor got results explain to me that I have to go through surgery due to the location of the fibroid. He took his time and eplain things well. Now a days you have to get a second opinion. If I did this problem would have been fixed 5months ago. If he really cared about my well being all the previous exams I did he would have saw this. This fibroid did not grow overnight. Thank God for my new Doctor in Montclair Dr Miller

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A Private User

I have been with Dr. Russo for 12 years. Dr. Russo has always been comforting, responsive and informative. Whenever I have had issues before or during my pregnancies, Dr. Russo always called me back personally and when I had complications with my first pregnancy and wound up in the hospital at 30 weeks came down at 9 pm from HOME just to check on me and make sure I was ok, and to see if I needed anything. I was high risk with both pregnancies, and felt that I was in the best of care. Dr. Russo delivered my son Donato and is caring and compassionate. I would drive 100 miles and self pay if I had to. I have sent several people to him as new patients and they too love him! - JMC Clark, NJ

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Alexandra DePena

hey all! Please when you read, be mindful of the dates that these reviews were written. I am in agreement with the past, PAST, reviews..but I see a change. Although the staff does not always call You back with the results, Doctor Russo does call though! YES theyre always busy.. the population is growing...having patience & set your appointments up in a timely order!! but they do accommodate when it comes to emergencies... there is a new staff to lol so stay calm ladies. Nancy dotti has retired :( Still a good OBGYN...complain or SUGGEST w hat you think would help... dont be mean or non helpful.... someone cursed on here...thats ridic -_-

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