Paul Strodtbeck, MD – Saddleback Medical Group

My mom has been with this guy for years, she is 85 years old. The last two visits with him for routine stuff, he's been rude because she does not want to take the jab. She told me he becomes angry with her when she declines the injection. She told me he walked out both times without saying a word to her after the discussion. She told me she doesn't think he likes her anymore. Broke my heart that my 85 year old mom is worried that this creep doesn't like her because she doesn't want to take a non FDA approved injection. Doctor's should not be guilt tripping patients about this and definitely not the elderly who are sensitive at times. Very inappropriate, rude and unprofessional, in my opinion. I helped her look up other providers that hopefully will have a better bedside manner.

I am vulnerable, because l have a rare illness. Dr. Strodbeck listened to me discuss this horrific illness, Dercum’s Disease, w/​systemic Lymphedema. He is the worst kind of doctor, if your ‘Out Of the Box’ he was abusive to me. I explained that l had hundreds of Lipoma’s, that grow into nerves & cause really bad pain, people with this illness many times use lidocaine i’v’s a lot for pain. He waited till l got to the end. In the last 5 mins. he managed to tell me, l don’t feel lymphedema? l tried to explain l had just been treated with MLD therapy. I tried to explain that he needed to contact Karen.L.Herbst, MD, PhD, worlds expert, to learn how to palpate lipoma’s ! «I know how to do that he said arrogantly’ he hurt me, pressed too hard, they cannot be found that way. So in 5 minutes. he managed to demonstrate to me that its all in my head, did not contact my specialist as l had asked him prior to my appoint. This describes him. «The worst thing you can do to a person with an almost invisible illness is to make them feel they have to prove it», he was a MONSTER to me, l left office in tears !

I went to see Dr. Strodtbeck with my 87 year old mother last month. She has dementia and had been in and out of his office and the emergency room about 5 times in a month for stomach pain. He kept prescribing Nexium for her and it was not working. I went in with her for the visit and to help answer some questions. When he told her to continue taking antacids I spoke up and asked if there was anything other than Nexium that might work better for the pain. «Haven’t you been listening?», he yelled across the room to me. I explained that I was listening but she needed something different for the pain. He said there was something but it was very expensive. I asked him for a prescription for it and explained that her pain was so bad that it might be worth it, and the decision was up to her whether she wanted to spend the money, or maybe get just a small dose to see if it helped. He refused and told her to call his office if Nwxium didn’t work. The next day I had to take her back to the emergency room where they admited her and was diagnosed with Pancreatitus. She has now changed doctors. I also noticed that when my mother would ask a question he would answer in some long comparison explanation that left my mother confused. Should be teaching, not practicing medicine.

Dr. Strodbeck is a very good Doctor in every sense of the word. He is patient, attentive and provides the best possible care. He has a real interest in my overall well being. He heard from my wife that i was hospitalized and came to see me in the hospital. Not many Doctors do that these days. I would highly recommend him.

About one month ago or so, I had contacted Dr. Strodtbeck to ask him to refer me to an endocrinologic (a doctor specializing in thyroid conditions) because I have an HMO through my employer and because I was having increased symptoms of depression, weight gain, continued sleepless nights, etc. — all symptoms relating to someone with a thyroid condition. Despite the fact that I informed Dr. Strodtbeck that I have not seen one in over 15 years, and the increased symptoms related to my particular thyroid condition, he would not refer me to a specialist. Instead, Dr. Strodtbeck advised me that my TSH levels came back normal about 6 or 7 months ago and saw no need at this time to refer me. I then saw my gynocologist (Barrie May, M.D. at Saddleback Memorial Hospital) 2 weeks later for a check-​up, told him exactly what I told Dr. Strodtbeck and stated that for sure he would give me a referral and even had his nurse call my insurance company for an authorization ahead of time of which I received and was able to get an appointment with an endocrinologic. In the meantime, I had my lab work done that Dr. May had ordered, and long and behold, my thyroid was indeed way out of the normal range, and per Dr. May, because of the lab results, was ordered to get an appointment sooner than later to see the endocrinologic! I am so upset to say the least. Lesson be learned to all that we know our own bodies better than anybody and if you feel that your doctor is not listening to you, get a second opinion!