Dr. Akther Jahan Kotha, MD

Dr. Kotha is a great doctor. I started seeing her when I moved to San Diego around six years ago. She's been able to confirm that I have Lupus and she put me on the proper medication. The doctor that I was seeing before refused to believe it could be Lupus and he dismissed my symptoms, altogether. Dr Kotha took the time to give me the proper tests and although Lupus is hard to diagnose, she was able to and now I'm doing much better.

This does not reflect on the Doctor but her staff. After 4 phone calls to try and get an appointment I gave up. When I called they had a paperwork request from my regular doctor, but was told 5-7 days to process the fax. . I hung up and had that faxed right away. No call back that they had received the fax or for a appointment schedule. Second phone call there was another request for additional paperwork and again the 5-7 day processing time for the fax. Faxed right away, Still no callback from the Doctors staff on receiving the fax and/or an appointment, 3rd and 4th phone calls went the same way. Needed more paperwork, 5-7 days to process the fax. Then we could work on an appointment. And moving on to another Doc!

This may be a little lengthy because I have a lot to say. First, I want to start off by please, please do your research in looking for a Rheumatologist. They are hard to get appointments with and can end up being a waste of time like what happened with me- It took two months to get an appointment here and when I finally did, I was disappointed that I was only able to see the NP and not the actual doctor. Turned out I really liked the NP, Kim. She's young and at first was very thorough with me and seemed like she cared. It took months of blood work, different medications and imaging to rule out conditions and I was finally diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis at 29 years old. The NP put me out of work for a bit because the medications made me extremely sick. While I was glad to have a diagnosis, I wasn't getting anywhere physically. I am in extreme pain constantly and she refused to address it. I kept being told that the medication I'm on will help in about 5-6 months and there's no… other options but to basically suffer. I was even told to not go to physical therapy so they know it's the medication working and not the therapy. Each appointment seemed to get shorter. I was being basically brushed off in a 5 minute appointment. None of my concerns were addressed. I could hardly get any words out without her trying to end the visit. I was the one who had to push for more imaging. I even mentioned how exhausted I had been and she told me "we think you have fibromyalgia," and walked out the door with no other explanation. The last straw came when I had an appointment with the NP, I asked if she could extend my work note for a couple more weeks due to having migraines almost daily from the medications and still being in pain and she told me she cannot do that and compared me to her 29 year old patient who has deformities that is still working and shouldn't be. What that had to do with me I have no idea but I was baffled and completely offended. I then told her that never mind the work note but that I feel like we aren't getting anywhere and that my concerns aren't be addressed, she told me maybe she isn't the one for me. Long story short, I fired her and have an appointment with a new doctor at the end of this month. PLEASE be aware. I guess I'm too young to be taken seriously even though there's proof and that to me is negligent. Don't waste your time and your health. (PS- The girls up front have major, major attitudes. They have absolutely zero compassion. If you get an attitude back with them they tend to shape up. Sad but true.)

Able to relieve my pain which another specialist failed to treat . Highly recommended!! Thanks Dr. Kotha . God bless you !

I was seen. By Dr. Kotha. Today I came out feeling. So bad that my questions where. Not ansered. And she did not care i was in pain and could not stand i wad my apt and my last no bed side manner

I rarely have to wait long, the staff are friendly, always smiling and helpful. I have been seeing Dr. Kotha for two years now, she is always so caring and so kind. I have been receiving my twice yearly shot for Osteoporsis plus I have steroid injections which are even more painful then the Osteo shot - but Dr. Kotha is just so kind, and she always tries to soothe the pain away, she rubs the spot and says that she knows that this is painful, just her kind words help. She always looks at my records, talks directly TO me, not AT me. She helps guide me in a direction to further help in my health care. She seems very genuine and caring to me and always voices her concerns about me to me. I pray that I NEVER have to see another Rheumatologist. Thank you so much Dr. Kotha !!!

worst Dr. experience of my life and I am 71.

I have to agree with other reviewers that she is an awful doctor. The first time I saw her, I explained why I was not seeing a Pain Management doctor. I had seen one at UCSD; that doctor told me " I can not help you until your arm problems are resolved." I was currently trying to get a referral to another Pain Management doctor. She ordered blood work, and I was scheduled a follow-up appointment. On that appointment, I waited over an hour in the waiting room, and then over half an hour in the exam room, just to be told " go to Pain Management honey". I recently have seen other doctors, and I have been diagnosed with Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome, and other auto-immune diseases. So...thanks for literally NOTHING Dr. Kohta. It is amazing to me that you actually have some good reviews...if you have a choice in the doctors you get referred to, then avoid this supposed doctor. You will be saving yourself some time and aggravation.

I feel that Dr Kotha should not be practicing medicine, ever. She didn't listen to what I was telling her, I felt that badgered when I told her what my previous doctor did to help me. She said no she would not prescribe the medicine I needed for lupus that I've been taking for six years. I cried through the entire appointment. She's the worst Dr I've ever been to. Will not go back.

Horrible doctor! Has no bedside manners and is very rude. She makes you feel like crap and doesn't have time to listen to your needs or your concerns. You feel worse then when you came in. Stay away from this heartless doctor. Find someone who actually cares.