IBS Treatment Center

Reviews 3

ME

Melodie Hill

This in one of the worst experiences Ive ever had with a doctors office. Ive spent a lot of time and money going to GI docs that havent been able to help me, so Ive started to do a lot of my own research. Ive come across compelling research that has been published in medical journals and peer reviewed as well. I wanted to find a doctor that that could look at this research, do the testing and prescribe the antibiotics and supplements needed. I have done the supplements only route before and that has not worked for me so it was time to dig deeper. I researched GI docs that could help me test and treat SIBO, which the IBS Treatment Center says they do. In fact, on their website it says they are "experts" at treating SIBO. They have a big paragraph that talks about Rifaxamin (which is the antibiotic that is used to treat SIBO) and how it is an effective drug to treat SIBO. After reading their website, I was excited that I might have found a place that could help me! I called their office to make and appointment and specifically asked if they test for SIBO with a hydrogen breath test and if the test is positive, do they treat with Rifaxamin, which is what their website says they do. The women I spoke with assured me they do so I scheduled the appointment, even though their prices are much higher than any other doctor Ive ever gone to. But I figured, if they could help it would be worth the money. On a side note, they mention on their website that there billing is done this way, the patient pays up front and then tries to get reimbursed by their insurance later, so that the costs are up front so that the patient knows what they are paying for. However, when I called the office to make my appointment, I asked roughly how much the tests would be and the women said she had no idea. If I knew that the 1 test (which isnt even the test I need) would cost $700 I would have seen it as a red flag right away. Once I got into the appointment I started telling the Dr. Pentland how I have been to other doctors and have done extensive research on my own. He didnt seem interested. I told him what I found in the research and that I would like to be tested for SIBO and if positive be prescribed the appropriate antibiotic Rifaxamin. Well Dr. Pentland told me that he has never prescribed that antibiotic before and has no experience with it, even though their website clearly states that they do and their office manager also told me they would be able to treat with Rifaxamin as well. In fact, I corrected the doctor on Rifaxamin because he started in on how antibiotics are bad and create resistance but I told him in the research I have done Rifaxamin is only absorbed in the gut so is very safe and does not lead to resistance. Then he said, "oh, yes, thats right." Instead of looking at the research and what I have already tried his "treatment plan" for me was to have a blood test that cost $700 and a stool test that cost $400. I told him that I did not want to do that at this time so he "prescribed" me hydrochloric acid supplement, which of course I have tried before. If I wanted that advice I would have gone to my local supper supplements. Bottom line, is they are very misleading on their website and when you call to make an appointment they will flat out give you fraudulent information to get you to schedule your $300 consultation. When I called their office this morning to express how disappointed I am the women I spoke with had nothing to offer me. I said I would like to speak with the doctor and I would like a refund of my $300 because they gave me fraudulent information about their clinic and the appointment. She basically told me that if they refunded every patient that was unhappy with their service they would be out of business. Thats the one piece of information that is actually true about this clinic. You would think if a patient was that upset, in tears, and felt taken advantage of then the doctor would be willing to contact a patient that just spent $300! This place is ripping people off! Do not spend your money here!!

JU

Julie S

This review is based on my two visits to the IBS Center last year. First, the doctor is a really nice man. My poor review stems their business practices. I feel that they are really financially taking advantage of patients who are chronically ill. It is $600 just to see the doctor - this I understood before I went. But what I was not prepared for was for them to substantially mark up the all tests they do from outside labs (over $1,000 in several cases) - like food sensitivity tests and blood work. By "Mark up" I mean they add large sums of money on to what the lab charges.They never disclose this......Here are some examples Dr. Wangen wanted me to do a stool test by Genova - I had had this exact same test done by my ND who is just across town in Seattle 6 months earlier, My ND had charged me $108. His office wanted to charge me over $1,100 for the exact same test. I told them this just couldnt be. I asked them why the same test would be SO much more expensive? They didnt answer. Then I asked them if they were marking up the test costs, meaning adding on extra charges over and above what the lab charges? The gal at the front desk wouldnt answer me - after waiting several minutes the office manager came out and I asked him - do you mark up your outside lab tests? He also did not want to answer me - when he finally did he couldnt even look me in the eye. He then went on to say that their doctors need to make a decent living, Their cost for a food sensitivity panel? Same - over $1,000. I had the EXACT same one done by the EXACT same lab for $105 at another doctors office. Like I said Dr. Wangen is a nice man, but I dont think this is ethical. You not only pay the mark up on the tests, but then pay around another $450 to review the results with the doctors. There was a woman crying the day I was there because she was so sick and could not afford the tests they wanted to run. Research is now finding that over 70% of patients with IBS really have SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). The cost of a breath test to diagnosis SIBO is around $150 (I dont know what this office charges). He never suggested doing this test. All the money they are making from marking up these tests made my swollen belly hurt all the worse.

A

A Private User

For anyone planning to go see Dr. Wangen, save your money. What he charges people is borderline insane and does not take any kind of insurance. Aside from that, hell run the usual panel of tests (which you can get done anywhere else if you a decent insurance) , like the celiac test. His food allergy test will come back alarmingly desperate; congratulation, you are now allergic to 3/4 of the food pyramid, including beef, pork, nuts, eggs, milk, seeds, some vegetables, some shellfish and (OF COURSE), gluten. Naturally at this point youre totally distraught as you realize you cant eat anything aside from chicken and rice anymore. But if thats not bad enough, you still have to go pay the several hundreds of dollars hes charging you for this lunacy. So there, problem solved! from Monday to Wednesday one day you became allergic to 3/4 of the food pyramid, for no reason whatsoever. Of course, Wangen doesnt bother talking about WHY you actually feel this way; things such as diverticulitis inflames your intestine for instance (THAT is an underline problem, NOT food allergy). Or hey, maybe you have cancer and the only thing you are doing is avoiding 37 foods he told you youre allergic too. The bottom line is, if this is so personal and close to his heart (since he claims he went through it), why is he charging so much? Why doesnt he go IN DEPTH instead of just stopping at "this food bothers you" Worse part is...once you spend 6 weeks eating nothing but rice and chicken and you feel no better youll have to go back to him and pay more so you can have a follow up visit. I have seen 14 doctors so far AND an acupuncturist. The only thing they all agreed on is Wangens theorys arent reliable at all.