Advice about Kaiser Oakland

Hello!

We have just relocated to the Grand Lake/Piedmont area of Oakland, we have Kaiser Permanente insurance and are looking for recommendations for a family care doctor, a mental health counselor and a gynecologist.

If you have personal experience and can make a recommendation for any of those that would be so helpful! 

Thank you!

Jenneva 

Hi all, 
We are newly enrolled into Kaiser and trying to decide between Kaiser Oakland and Richmond facilities. We are equidistant from both, in Berkeley. Our primary requirement is a good paediatrician (for 2 yr old & 6 yr old), and I see several recommendations for both centres. So are there any overall process/feature differences that make one centre better than the other? 

Hi BPNers,

My employer just switched to Kaiser and I am new to the system so thought I would reach out to this great community for advise.  We live in Albany- would you recommend the Pinole Kaiser or Oakland Kaiser?  If you have any recommendations for a General Practitioner for me (Mom) and our two boys (8 and 10), I would appreciate any advice you can share.

Thanks!

Newbie to Kaiser

Hello Bay Area Families,

Our family is moving to Kaiser and I'm looking for some advice.  Thanks in advance for your time.

Does anyone know of a good doctor who has a naturopathic approach - may use nutritional guidelines to improve health rather than medicine.

Does anyone know of a good doctor for people who have Type I diabetes - both GP and an Endocrinologist.

Who is your favorite Pediatrician?   We prefer female for two girls.

Your favorite OB?  Particularly for menopause.

Do people have opinions on the Oakland vs San Leandro facilities?   How do they compare.

Thank you!

I had a colonoscopy 5 years ago with a private doctor and now have to have another one. Except now I have Kaiser for the first time and I'm kind of terrified of having to use whatever doctor they choose to do the procedure. I can live with randomly assigned doctors for most of my health care, but this is almost like surgery. I wish I had some way of interviewing doctors but there but they make that really hard. Almost impossible. 

Any of you BPN folks have a recommendation for someone at the Oakland Kaiser gastro department who you loved?

Thanks!
 

Hello all,

I am seeking advice, reviews of Kaiser doctors (Oakland or Walnut Creek preferably (I'm in Berkeley) but I can drive further if needed), or even specialists in other HMOs/independent. I am looking for doctors who have a knack for difficult cases. I need a diagnosis detective! I'm willing to pay out-of-pocket for someone outside of Kaiser if I have to.

I'm 33. Eat healthy, have always tried to take good care of myself. But I have ongoing chronic health challenges that I have spent literally the past 13 years trying to understand and conquer. After many years, many doctors and many questions (and many lab tests), my doctors seem to have come to the end of the line. We do know a few things. I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, both wrists, moderate to severe. Had this since I was 19 with NO reasonable explanation as to WHY (No repetitive typing or clerical computer work, very diverse activities at work (nothing repetitive or overly strenuous on my wrists!), I'm very conscious of my health and activities). I now have permanent numbness and weakness in some of my fingers, and very bad weakness and pain in my wrists and hands. I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome years ago (I had Candida overgrowth that one of my previous doctors treated me for successfully) many years ago, I control this *mostly* effectively with a clean, mostly organic, mostly Paleo, dairy-free diet. Tested for Celiac but the tests came back negative. Tried Gluten-free diet anyway for many years. I have cysts in my hands (had an MRI, it came back "inconclusive"), calcification in my shoulders (causes pain and impingement in both sides), arthritic changes in my shoulders and hands. Eczema-like rashes on my fingers on both hands, with sores that get infected (no matter HOW HARD I try to keep them clean, and I do EVERYTHING including avoiding water, wearing gloves most of the day, etc.) and don't heal for days or weeks. Tried every cream, lotion, oil and ointment I can get my hands on from prescription steroids to natural/organic options (nothing works). I test with high blood phosphates and *almost* high calcium (at the highest end of normal for my age group), tested positive for a few antibodies including Anti Scl-70 and ANA. My weight fluctuates. I am constantly exhausted. My period is irregular, with WAY too heavy bleeding (I've had 2 kids). Low blood iron anemia even though I eat TONS of iron rich foods. Migraines, headaches. Rashes. Cystic acne. Chronic Dry Eye. Too many symptoms to list them all.

If you go here: http://hypothyroidmom.com/300-hypothyroidism-symptoms-yes-really/  ... I have many, many of them.

My doctors have considered various diagnoses including Hypothyroid, Sarcoidosis and Scleroderma. They say I don't fit all the criteria. My TSH and T4 test low to normal, and my T3 tests normal. I have asked them to test Reverse T3, but they say Kaiser will not order this test.

After years.. the answer I'm getting is basically different variations of, "well, you have some kind of autoimmune issue.. but we don't have enough to diagnose you."

I need answers. I want my life back. I'm considering going on the AIP (AutoImmune Protocol) diet. I want a diagnosis first, I want to know what is going on, and want to make sure I'm not missing something really serious.

I would appreciate any and all advice and recommendations. Thanks!