Heather Behrens
5/5
Excellent experience with Dr Pia! I first met with Dr Pia in Sep-22 after 2 months of trying to find out a diagnosis with my primary care doctor. I had multiple symptoms from low grade fevers, fatigue, stomach upset, aches, chest pain, and was very stressed out. All blood tests from my primary doctor came back "normal" despite symptoms clearly being present. My doctor kept referring me to other departments which had multiple week wait times. I was highly frustrated and spent many hours with Dr Google online trying to research my symptoms and what they could be. Given the symptoms were so diverse and common with many illnesses, it was a struggle to say the least. I finally found some direction in some blogs mentioning how a functional medicine doctor searches for the root cause of the symptoms. It's the first I had heard of this type of doctor, but I was desperate for answers and searched for someone local. I knew I wanted someone I could speak face to face and not over a computer. I found Dr Pia through Google search, and after reviewing her credentials/website, her blog posts, and other Google reviews, I was interested to meet her.
My first appointment was not quite what I expected as the main thing Dr Pia did was she LISTENED. I had so much built up inside, so much stress and analysis and research I had done, that it all came out in a rush and I could barely stop myself. I talked for over an hour straight! It makes me smile to remember how amped up I was and how she had to tell me to stop talking, lol. I needed that shock to jolt me and recognize here was someone who could help... finally. After performing some lab work and tests, we were able to identify the source of my symptoms. It was such a relief to have an answer! I really needed it at the time as I was going crazy and felt directionless and ill. Dr Pia explained what it meant for me. She is knowledgeable about body processes and how they correlate together. I was able to follow and understand what was wrong and where we needed to work on fixing things. She was clear that it wasn't going to be a quick fix, which I was disappointed by since we all want things fast and now in our society these days. Knowing I was a researcher at heart, she provided me with book recommendations and resources to better learn about my condition as well as guidance on what I can start changing now to make progress.
Roughly 6 months later, it is night and day from that first time I walked into her office. I am amazed and very pleased with my progress! Nearly all of my symptoms are gone. I have established healthier routines and know which ones require more focused attention still. Dr Pia has truly been a partner in my journey and that has been key for me. I had done a lot of self-led research, but I needed support and direction for my energy. She also provided information for me to make my own decisions. Even today as a fork in the road appeared on my path, she thought critically about my options and how best she could support my decisions and where I want to move forward. We have met once a month and during that time, beyond supplement adjustments and health check-in's, she has helped me reach insights about myself and how I operate too… the biggest ones for me are registering when I am spiraling in my thoughts and need to calm down, recognizing my progress and being proud of that accomplishment. We've had a few emotional moments, to be honest, and I still have work to do, but I know I couldn't have reached this point so quickly without her.
As with any practitioner, yes, you will get supplement recommendations. Dr Pia is open to discussing what works best for you. She keeps your health in mind while catering to what you want to do. Appointment pricing is reasonable. You are in the drivers seat of how often you want to visit and when, so you ultimately control your investment. For me, it has been well worthwhile to have Dr Pia supporting my healing journey.
