Dr. Wise- Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol

[Joe Russo]

Just spoke to Dr. Wise and asked him about my condition. What a nice guy!!! He actually called me back and spent about twenty minutes talking to me about my condition. I couldn;t thank him enough....he even told me to call him back if I ever had any questions. I am seriously considering a visit to his office for treatment. Has anyone ever isited him from out of town? If so, what was the overall experience like, aside from the treatment....length of stay, time frame, etc?????

[HuckFinn]

I participated in the six-day protocol last summer, and I've very glad I did. I've improved markedly as a result of what I learned there. But like you, I had some trepidations initially about what I might be getting myself into. I needn't have worried. It was actually a very positive, empowering experience, and I would encourage others to strongly consider doing it.

In terms of what the trip is like, first you go to Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto for a medical examination and evaluation from Dr. Rodney Anderson. He's a nice guy, and I really felt like I had finally found a urologist who knew his stuff. He will tell you whether you'd be a good candidate for the six-day protocol. If he gives you the go-ahead, you'll then drive north to Sebastopol--about 100 miles. So if you're flying in, you'll need a rental car. And you'll need to line up a motel room both in Palo Alto and in Sebastopol. Dr. Wise's office can supply you with a list of motel options in Sebastopol. There are plenty of cheap motels in the Stanford area.

The traffic between Palo Alto and Sebastopol was heavy. Since I wasn't feeling well, I was glad I had brought my wife along to help with the driving. Sebastopol itself is a charming town with a smattering of motels, antique stores, restaurants, and grocery. In the heart of downtown, a grocery store--I think it was Wild Oats--had an excellent salad bar that I stopped at every evening for dinner.

The days are spent at Dr. Wise's place--stunningly beautiful woodsy acreage with sequoias and great views of nature. There, he has a building devoted to paradoxical-relaxation classes and another building devoted to physical therapy. His place is located an easy 10 minute drive from downtown Sebastopol. The sessions usually started around nine a.m. and ended in mid-afternoon. Dr. Wise supplied the lunches--very tasty. If you have a significant other, do bring that person. It's invaluable if you're partner can learn to perform trigger point on you, so you can continue the therapy back at home. Also, my wife really benefited from the experience herself. By getting to meet other patients and their spouses, and by talking with Dr. Wise, she gained an added depth of understanding about what I'm going through with this disease and how best she could help me and also help herself get through it.