I am not sure whether you can help me. How can I find out?
We often see people who are desperate and have given up on seeking help because they have seen a lot of people in the past, and have, in the end felt let down by their approach. They have often had a lot of tests done and these have either been “normal” or the person treating them has not known how to treat abnormal results.
Do you feel you have not been heard, and you have been fobbed off with some made up story that doesn’t make sense.
It is frustrating to have an illness where all your tests are normal or point to some untreatable condition when you know that there is something wrong. We specialise in getting successful outcomes for these types of problems where no one else has been able to provide a solution.
Rather than looking for enough symptoms to make a diagnosis we try and make sense of every symptom that you have, because they all mean something. We feel that the more we can make sense of your symptoms the better picture we have of what is going on, so that our treatment is more successful.
We drill down to the biochemistry that is behind your symptoms and look at nutrients that you might be lacking, toxins that are affecting you, hormonal imbalances (that are too subtle for normal blood tests to pick up), food intolerances, and how your brain processes things.
We often see things that other providers do not know about and are not picked up on conventional testing, like mould related illness, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), pyrrole disorder, porphyria. These problems often lead to body wide issues that are sometimes seen in isolation and be put down to individual unconnected problems (eg chest pain might be thought to be heart related, gut ache might be thought of as a gut issue, depression may be thought to be due to psychological issues) when all of them could be related to underlying inflammation due to mould exposure.
How do I make an appointment with you?
Please use the new patient enquiry form. We will then reach out to you either by phone or email with the latest available appointments and prices.
Are you taking on new patients?
Spaces are limited and very sought after for new patients. I do not have "registered patients" as such because my practice is not structured to see urgent problems. You still need a GP for more urgent matters. My time with you will be limited to solving your problems and making you healthy, and you should be healthy enough after that not to need ongoing care. Many people however like to check in at regular intervals to make sure that they are on track. I continue to see people with more complex problems to ensure that their management is optimised.
What happens at the first appointment?
Before your first appointment we will get you to fill on some questionnaires so that we know what we are in for.
The first appointment is a fact finding exercise, examination treatment plan and nutritional assessment and plan. It helps if you bring as much information as possible. It is helpful if you can provide a one page summary of your problems. Any specialist letters and investigations are also helpful as it can cut down on further investigations that you may need. At the end of the first appointment a treatment plan will be formulated and either given to you before you leave, or in more complex problems, one will be sent to you.
What happens at subsequent appointments?
Subsequent appointments are used to review and if necessary modify the treatment according to the plan that has been given to you. Often treatment plans will evolve depending on your response to treatment. Follow up appointments are usually for 20 minutes.
What problems do you treat?
Dr Steve Joe brings a unique perspective to all types of health problems. If you're unsure whether he can help, please contact us using the new patient enquiry form.
What is Applied Kinesiology? Is it recognised by conventional doctors?
Please see the information on this website and https://icaka.org.au/about-icaka/. Applied kinesiology is not recognised by conventional doctors, but it is practiced worldwide by doctors, dentists, chiropractors and osteopaths who have undertaken post-graduate training in this field. I view it as treatment that doctors would use if they did not have access to medication. It is a drug free method of treatment that is often successful in difficult to treat conditions.
Do I have informed consent?
Coming to see me implies that you are open to unconventional treatments. No treatment will be undertaken unless you are comfortable in with it.
When should I expect improvement?
We aim to get significant improvements within 3-6 months. Sometimes it can take longer. For example cases of chronic fatigue syndrome can take months to years before slow steady improvements occur. Sometimes we cannot make any progress because of the chronicity of the condition, but we will let you know if we think that this point has been reached rather than continue unnecessarily.
Can I claim under a Disability or other WINZ benefit?
Dr Steve Joe is registered as a GP with the Medical Council. Claims for supplement and consultation costs are very limited and must be made by your General Practitioner.
How long does it take to get the results of special lab tests?
We do not usually order specialised tests anymore, preferring to use a good history and examination to diagnose and treat you. However we can access tests for problems related to methylation, faecal analysis, disease risk profiles, hormone, vitamin and mineral profiles. The tests are sent to either Australia or US for analysis and typically take 4-6 weeks. If we are planning long term treatment, then sometimes it is important to do the specialised test
What payment options are there?
Payment is required in full on the day of the appointment. We accept cash, EFTPOS, and credit cards (we do not accept American Express).
Does medical insurance cover the costs of treatment?
Medical insurance will only cover the cost of consultations up to the limit allowable for a General Practice visit.
How do I cancel my appointment?
To cancel an appointment, please call (07 8558592) or email the office (reception@drstevejoe.co.nz). As the appointments tend to be long, we require a minimum of 48 hours notice. Normal consultation charges may apply if you cancel too late.
I'm not sure what to do between appointments. Where can I find help?
Feel free to email us at reception@drstevejoe.co.nz. Alternatively please consult with your usual health provider in emergencies. We are not available Friday - Sunday.
I would like to keep my usual doctor in the loop about what I'm doing. Do you communicate with them?
Some patients feel embarrassed about telling their GP or specialist that they are seeking alternative treatment. However, it is common to look for complementary treatments and we encourage you to keep them fully informed. Our aim is to get the best outcome out of conventional and alternative treatments for you. Please let us know whether you would like to communicate with your doctor. We would prefer to keep them informed if possible.
Will the alternative treaments interfere with my usual treatments?
Every care is taken to make sure that your treatment does not interfere with what you are already on. Where there may be a concern, we encourage you to discuss this with your usual doctor.
How much does it cost?
This depends on the urgency that you want your appointment, Please email or phone for enquiries. Please note that our fees are higher than other practices, but 99% of any testing in house at no extra cost so you will save in the long run.
