I started seeing Dr. Fabbi at the recommendation of my midwife. I was so excited to become pregnant, but far less excited about my eczema going totally crazy just weeks after conceiving. After hearing my medical history, she told me that Dr. Fabbi could probably help me find the true cause of a variety of issues I have had throughout my life.
The benefit of seeing a natural medicine doctor, as opposed to a mainstream doctor, is that the focus is on finding out WHY you are having symptoms, not just treating the symptoms. Dr. Fabbi has been really proactive about recommending tests for me and telling me 1) what those tests are for, 2) if my insurance will cover them, 3) what the results mean, and 4) what to do about the results. If you come to this practice, be prepared to take a long, hard look at your lifestyle. Be prepared to take blood and other tests. Be prepared to make changes, even if you do not like the results of that looking and testing. Dr. Fabbi, as a doctor of natural medicine, is not going to sugarcoat things and tell you she will write you a prescription so you don't have to stop shoveling fried crap into your face, guzzling Pepsi, and counting sugar as a food group. She was up front with me about how I am not doing my stomach any favors by chugging Coke, and if I want my reflux to improve, I need to stop drinking it. On the other hand, she also hasn't asked me to make very many drastic changes. Because I am pregnant, she hasn't advised major sudden changes to my diet or routine, but instead a series of smaller things I can do to make gradual positive change.
Ok, I know what some people are thinking--aren't natural doctors just going to have patients sit in a drum circle and chant or something? Not at all! Dr. Fabbi works with a lab that does up-to-date testing AND she takes BCBS insurance. For my, um, lady exams, she uses the exact same instruments that I have seen at any other appointment (though she is kind enough to rub her hands together a few times to warm them before starting). You will get the same, if not better, medical care here than at a mainstream doctor. Case in point: I have had a variety of issues for many years, all of which I had been to specialists in hopes of resolving. None of them talked to each other, or to my regular doctor, so none of them ever put all the pieces together and thought to test me for a food allergy or sensitivity. I even asked about it once and was told by that doctor I didn't need it. Dr. Fabbi did this first thing, right away, and I can't believe that no other doctor ever thought to do this. She also put me on a B vitamin that dissolves under my tongue since many of the similar pills are huge and might make a pregnant lady gag and vomit--not something my regular doctor had considered for me.
Bonus: she is a chiropractor, so she is super about recommending exercises and stretches for pregnant women (or others) with back pain. I felt amazing the day after my first adjustment from her, and I can feel that the stretches she advised are working in the intended area (though my back will probably not be "right" again until after I deliver this baby).
Bottom line: if you can't deal with doctors being blunt and honest with you, this isn't a good practice for you to visit. If you DO want the straight dope on resolving or improving a chronic issue, try Fox Valley Natural Medicine. read more