Can anyone give me any helpful tips on deciding among Dr. Elofson, Dr. Katzenmeyer, and Dr. Franz? All 3 have been personally recommended to me, and I saw that they are all on this site as vax friendly. I want to go ahead and get my son in, without going through interviews. After moving, we are quite behind on a well visit. I don't want him to get sick and not have a dr. to call! Thanks!
Jennifer

we have Dr. Elofson and are thinking of switching to a lady in his same office, Dr. Dana A Fakouri, MD she took alot more time with us when we went in for fever.ear infection and was more than happy with my suggestion to get the script and wait a day or so and see how he did. Have not talked to here about vax's

Dr. Elofson is fast and to the point. I liked Dr. Katzenmeyer but she is still very pro vax and seemed to try and pull the white coat pressure on me. Dr. Katzenmeyer's nurse was the best yet.

I never met Dr. Franz


edited to say no to Dr. Dana A Fakouri, MD

We see OLOL peds on Bluebonnet just because they are close to my house, I think Dr. Franz is w/that group--I see Dr. Sandy Reed. She is sweet, but I didnt delay vax, except for chicken pox and she wasnt too happy but let me. I have heard some moms really like Franz, but overall the group favors vax schedules, so if you need to see someone else in the group, it may pose an issue?

I have heard great things about Elofson and would choose his practice, if I had another baby :)

Thanks! So difficult to leave our pediatrician that we loved in Dallas! I just have to quit stalling and try someone We used one dr. at the Bluebonnet office when my son was first born. He was fine with delaying but if I remember correctly he was a "won't treat you if you don't vax." That has never made sense to me. I do vax but very very minimally. Why should my child not get medical care because of that ????? It's ashame because we really like him otherwise. I do have to give him credit though for not giving me any problem about skipping the hep b. But I agree, using an office where all of the other peds are pro-vax makes it difficult. That has been my main hesitation about Dr. Franz because i have heard rave reviews of her. I think we will try Dr. Elofson's office. I appreciate the tips!!!!

I go to the OLOL group, too. My kids see Dr. Reed but have seen many others. We very selectively vaccinate and I have never gotten grief about it but I never really bring it up. When the kids were infants I made it clear they would get no more than two at a time and I was picking the shots. As they got older I just quit going for well-child visits and that avoided the issue. Mine never got MMR, Chicken pox, hep b, prevnar, and a few others. I am of a rather strong personality and I don't think she's ever opted to confront me on it. We just avoid the issue. Never any word of dropping us as patients. We also avoid conversations about sleeping arrangements and other issues like that.
I have seen Dr. Franz, once. I liked her fine. I've also seen most of the other women in the group and like them all, along with Dr. Hutchinson. One guy in that group I hated...I mean hated....can't remember his name but he is an older guy. Dr. Harris actually invited us, as LLL leaders, to come speak to the nurses in that practice and to help them with some topics that often come up with breastfeeding moms, so I've always been impressed with her, too.
I have had two friends who switched from Dr. Elofson because they thought he was not very progressive but that is all I know of him. I didn't realize he was considered on the "open-minded" list but I really know nothing of him!
Laura

We see Dr. Katzenmeyer. I love her. The BRC has a policy on every single door stating that they support the AAP vaccination schedule. All of the doctors have signed it. With that said Owen has only had 2 sets of shots and he is 17 months old. I do not go for many well visits so that helps to curb the need to talk about vaccinations. She is very accepting of alternative schedules, but I don't think she would (or can working for the Clinic) promote not vaccinating at all.

Anyway, in my opinion she is awesome. The boys love her. Her nurse Susan is incredible and when we've needed to see another doctor due to an illness and she was out there are several great ones to see and I feel like I get to see a second great choice. I know the vaccination thing is a big issue, but for me I can deal with that if the doctor is great. Since I really need a good pediatrician when I'm freaking out over a fever because my kids only get them once or twice a year and I can't decide what is normal! Now that I've written all of this I don't really know if you are not vaxing or just delaying. If you are doing some vax I definitely recommend her.

Lastly, she agreed to Owen having NO shots including vit K and no eye drops in the hospital. She signed a letter I typed up with a few modifications so I could have it on file when I went in to birth him. Also, she completely agreed to no vacs before 2 months and did not push it. He did have vacs at 2 months and again at 6 months, but nothing since.

I interviewed Dr. Katzenmeyer and liked her...except the vax issue. She told me, straight up, that if I chose not to get Dorothy vaccinated, she would drop her as a patient.

I then chose Dr. Jennifer Hogan at Ochsner and we love her. She challenges me when I tell her I don't want to do a shot, but is cordial and would never drop us because we chose not to vax. She is also a huge supporter of breastfeeding and waiting til 6 months to start solid foods.

I use Dr. Elofson as little as possible. Li has been for Well Baby only two times b/c I hate the vax confrontation. My kids rarely get sick and with my background I feel comfortable with mostly home remedy/rest/fluids type of stuff. I would not go to the doctor for an illness, unless I was ready to accept antibiotics, etc (normal medical procedure).

In my opinion, while Elofson respects your right as a parent to not vax, he is not supportive on not vaxing. He just doesnt kick you out. I find his presentation to be aggressive and he talks so freaking fast and goes off a paper handout. It is hard to get a word in edge wise. I dont feel that he really conversed WITH so much as AT me. I also feel that the entire appt becomes about not vaxing. I have never felt such a whirlwind in a visit.

But, I take it b/c it is the best option.

Does anyone know of a good naturopathic doctor? I am looking for more preventative care for my girls without it being so focused on illness and vax.

I've been told there is a great naturopath that is on Coursey (ok, not in the road, but her office is on Coursey somewhere). I looked her up one time and she is in the yellow pages but I don't remember her name. I know some folks travel in order to see her.
Laura

I have no personal knowledge or experience with her, but just recently came across Dr. Callahan's name (Board Certified Naturopathic Doctor in the Coursey area) via a link from BR Herb Society's web site (brherbs.com). You can find more info at www.drsylviacallahan.org.

OT here but may be of interest...
BR Herb Society's meeting topic this month is Herbs for Health, boosting immunity with herbs.
Meeting is next Thursday evening, Jan 28.




Personal experiences with Elofson...

When I mentioned we planned to use AP principles (in the pre-birth interview), his first comment (emphatically) was that he does not support co-sleeping.

I don't remember the interview conversation exactly, but remember discussing abx and from whatever he said I had the impression that he did not ascribe to the "can't hurt, might help" abx theory. Have since found him quick to recommend abx.

Also in that interview, we mentioned alternate vax schedule. He said he supports the recommended vax schedule but respects parent's decisions. When we declined vax at later appts he wanted to know "Why?" as he again reassured us of their safety. The "why" didn't bother me but the condescending almost confrontational tone did. It did not sound as if he truly respects parent's vax decisions. He went on to "remind" us that she'll HAVE TO HAVE all those vaxes for school anyway. hummmm.... oh yeah, ok doc, since she's eight weeks old already and will HAVE TO HAVE her vaxes for school (even if that were true, that's 5 years from now!!!), never mind what we've already decided and expressed and lets just go ahead and get her ready for kindergarten by getting those vaxes today. Surely he knows Louisiana laws allow vax exemptions?!

I would agree with aggressive and fast talking and I'll add loud too (so startling to my tiny baby!). I'm far from easily irritated or annoyed, but for some reason I do seem to leave doctor appts feeling that way, including Elofson's.