While Lucas Terry helped with my original condition, my experience became increasingly frustrating over time. I was a patient at Schweiger for nearly two years, which makes the overall experience especially disappointing.
After developing a second condition, I was passed between Lucas Terry, Shelby Massett, and Dr. Mikailov. These providers prescribed several different medications, none of which worked. One of my biggest concerns was being put through three rounds of antibiotics without any biopsy or proper testing while still being mainly under Lucas's care to figure out what the condition actually was. During that time, I started having joint pain, and an MRI later showed a partial meniscal tear in my left knee while I was still on antibiotics. There was also pain in my knee during antibiotics that was fully gone by about 36 hours off of the drug. The office shrugged it off, and seemingly considered it as coincidental, not causational.
I also felt that many of my concerns and questions were dismissed. After doing my own research, I requested topical Ketoconazole, but during the visit where Lucas Terry had brought in Shelby Massett they refused to prescribe it and insisted it would not help. Instead, they decided to move forward with Terbinafine, Prednisone, Hydroxyzine and Ciclopirox. This was a waste of Prednisone, and the Terbinafine only made me have stomach discomfort, with no benefit. None of the clinical information they had at this time pointed to what Terbinafine treats as a good answer. I later got a second opinion from another office, where I was treated much better and prescribed the Ketoconazole, which actually did help. That office also took a more straightforward approach and focused on using as little medication as necessary. At Schwieger, I was prescribed and recommended over 17 different topicals & 9 different oral meds.
When I made a full transition to Dr. Mikailov, he came across as arrogant and dismissive. He often wore Harvard-branded clothing, and while that alone is not an issue, his attitude made it feel like he viewed patients as beneath him. He regularly brushed off my questions and made me feel like I was failing to follow his complicated treatment routines correctly. I will give him a compliment in the one sebhorric dermatitis cream does help a tiny bit in concurrence with the topical ketoconazole he also did not want to prescribe.
One routine involved covering my scalp and chest with three different creams at the same time, which was uncomfortable and unrealistic to maintain. He also repeatedly insisted that my hair products were causing the issue, even though I had the same condition on my chest where those products were not being used.
Communication overall was poor, and I felt that criticism was not handled professionally. After leaving honest feedback through an internal review form, I was ambushed at my next appointment with Dr. Mikailov and scolded for not including more positive comments about my earlier treatment experience. That interaction is what ultimately led me to leave this public review.
I appreciate the help I initially received, but the overall experience left me disappointed with the communication, lack of clear diagnosis, and dismissive approach to patient concerns.
Updates:
- I have nearly completed 30 days of Ketoconazole shampoo from Barrington Park Dermatology as recommended, and all bumps on my chest/shoulders are gone. My scalp has seen a ~80% reduction.
- When I told Schweiger I wouldn't be coming anymore, they felt the need to send me a letter in the mail telling me I was no longer permitted to be seen by any provider at their office. They spent $11 on mailing a letter that was so petty. read more