In May Dr. Seaver was operating two "Hemmorhoid Relief Center" clinics in the Phoenix metro area - one in Glendale and one in Tempe. As of this date, the location in Glendale has been closed (good news!).
Following dental surgery and the use of narcotic pain relief medicine, I experienced constipation that led to severe rectal pain, which I attributed to the possibility of hemmorhoids. I had never had them before, but it is fairly common to experience this problem after becoming constipated - or so I learned on the internet.
I visited Dr. Seaver at her Tempe location, and before even being examined I was asked to sign a document showing the "usua amount" of treatments to be 5 or 6, along with my "out-of-pocket" cost associated with each treatment - $200 was my deductible for each treatment. I was immediately concerned about being given a treatment plan PRIOR to being examined, but I was in such agony that I went ahead and saw the doctor. She examined me and seemed fairly convinced that her method of treatment, which is infra-red coagulation (IRC) would be succesful and give me relief. I asked what the expectation was, and she replied that I more than likely would need "at least three visits", with up to 5 or 6 being a possibility.
To make a long story short, the condition I actually had was an "anal fissure", which is also a common occurence of constipation. My symptoms, whcih I described to Dr. Seaver numerous times, were classic for an anal fissure. The initial treatment for an anal fissure is conservative (topical ointments), which is not nearly as lucrative for the clinic as giving and billing these IR treatments. This doctor examined me three (3) times and administered three (3) IR treatments, whch were EXTREMELY PAINFUL and did virtually nothing to ease my pain or cure my ailment. This doctor not only failed to properly diagnose my condition, but also failed to prescribe or even tell me about a topical ointment that is commonly used to treat an acute anal fissure. She also billed my insurance EXCESSIVE amounts for these exams and treatments - $860, $680 and $680, respectively. She also NEVER called to check on me, but did return my call when I left a message for her. This was after three treatments, and I was still in absolute agony and looking for any other option that might help cure me and relieve the pain. She told me to see another doctor.
After living in absolute agony for about 60 days and finally coming to the conclusing that this doctor and her treatements were completly worthless, I made an appointment with a reputable colorectal specialist. The second doctor IMMEDIATELY AND EASILY diagnosed my anal fissure, which by now had become a chronic condition and was beyond conservative treatment. I had surgery a week later, and am now almost completely recovered and starting to enjoy life again. I am also out of pocket almost $4,000.
Conclusion - These "Relief Centers" or clinics seem to be in the business of doing only what they do, as many times as you will pay for it, regardless of what you really may need. If you have the type of issue I describe above, I recommend you see a reputable colorectal specialist and stay far away from any clinic. If Dr. Linda Seaver is still in business as you read this, I suggest that you don't walk, but run away from any clinic she may be operating.
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