I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel it's important to share my experience in hopes that it…read morehelps others.
I initially went to Sonterra Dermatology because I was suffering from severe, persistent hives and an extremely itchy rash that had become unbearable. At my first visit, the physician assistant performed a skin biopsy and diagnosed me with contact dermatitis.
When my symptoms continued, I returned and saw Dr. Matthew Malan. The appointment was very brief, and he recommended patch testing. I scheduled the test, but when I arrived for my appointment, I sat in the office for 30-40 minutes before being told they had accidentally used the patch test that had been set aside for me on another patient. They apologized and told me they would have to order another one, delaying my testing by another week. When you're dealing with relentless itching, hives, and sleepless nights, that kind of delay feels overwhelming.
The following week, I returned for the patch test. Before applying the patches, the nurse commented that my back was already very inflamed. Despite that, the test was still administered. When I returned for my final reading, Dr. Malan immediately said the results were difficult to interpret because my back was so irritated. Then, almost as an afterthought, he said he thought I was allergic to nickel.
He told me that a nickel allergy was "the worst thing in the world" because nickel is everywhere and compared living with it to "walking through a jungle of poison ivy" for the rest of my life. When I asked if there was any treatment or medication that could help, I was told there really wasn't anything I could do other than buy a nickel test online and check everything around me.
I left that appointment feeling discouraged and hopeless. Thankfully, I sought a second opinion.
My concierge physician performed a thorough medical evaluation, including blood work to rule out underlying conditions. Everything came back normal, and she diagnosed me with urticaria and referred me to an allergist. The allergist ultimately diagnosed me with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU), confirming that my hives were not caused by a nickel allergy.
What disappointed me most wasn't simply that the initial diagnosis turned out to be incorrect--medicine isn't perfect, and diagnoses can evolve. It was the overall experience: the scheduling mistake, performing a patch test despite my back already being significantly inflamed, the lack of discussion about the limitations of the test under those conditions, and leaving the appointment feeling frightened rather than supported.
I hope this feedback encourages greater attention to patient care, communication, and ensuring diagnostic testing is performed under appropriate conditions. Patients who are suffering deserve to feel heard, informed, and given confidence that every effort is being made to reach the correct diagnosis.
