Dr. Irina Taraban, MD

I saw Dr. Taraban in her office in Norwalk after having symptoms for over a week. I brought my scans from the ED, bloodwork, and discharge paperwork to the appointment. Before she saw me I explained my symptoms to the medical assistant in an exam room. Then after a little over 10 minutes of waiting (normal) Dr. Taraban poked her head in the room and said because of those symptoms she would like my husband and I to put masks on because it sounds infectious. Strange, because I have no fever, no congestion, pain, sore throat, etc that would make me think infectious disease but what do I know, I’m just a nurse who works in a hospital. She had surgical gloves on and a mask and she touched every surface of the hallways before bringing me into her office. She kept that same pair of gloves on for the entire visit with me. Dr. Taraban briefly asked me about my symptoms but rather than ask, she cut me off before being able to fully explain what was happening. I told her that my quick neuro… evals were all in tact during my ED and HCP visits prior in the week and that’s why I was seeing her. She still did her own brief check where she had me follow her finger, checked my leg reflexes, and had me walk around my chair. After that she deemed me totally fine and said “you don’t have dizziness because look, your eyes are fine.” Excuse me? On what planet does simply having a lack of nystagmus indicate that a person is not suffering from dizziness, extreme fatigue, brain fog, and numbness in fingers and toes? She never addressed the “infectious disease” that she insinuated I had. Her attitude changes when she saw my med list. I believe it’s because she saw that I do take lexapro and Wellbutrin and chalked it up to just another 40-something year old psych woman. This is exactly why women don’t go to the doctor and don’t get the help we need. She began only speaking to my husband and said “she’s fine just go home nothing is wrong.” I have NEVER been so insulted. I have real concerns. I’m an educated woman in the health care field and I know that I deserve more than a literal dirty surgical gloved finger in my face saying “See? Nothing wrong!” when I tell a doctor that I am experiencing real debilitating symptoms. Shame on this doctor.

The office did not seem sterile, with syringes overflowing out of the discard box. She asked me where she should inject the botox treatment, and what my issues were. So she clearly did not bother to glance at my file beforehand.

I can’t say enough about how horrible my experience has been with this neurologist. I suffer from chronic migraines and after a recent telehealth appt when I was getting daily migraine for weeks it took literally ten minutes of me explaining what I was going through for her to eventually say, “well it sounds like you have migraines!” And then she laughed. She’s also been treating me for over a year for Botox injections and is just now realizing I have migraine?? No patient follow up, terrible bedside manner, makes you feel unheard. She was smiling the whole time I was in tears asking for guidance. She prescribed me medication I told her my insurance wouldn’t cover and she said, “well let’s try anyway.” Needless to say I never got the medication because it would have cost thousands of dollars without insurance coverage and the whole thing was utterly useless and demoralizing. I will not be returning for treatment. Stay away is my recommendation.

Not knowing what she is talking about. What a waste of time :(

Not knowing what she is talking about. What a waste of time :(

Was tossing around all kinds of diagnoses, which was unsettling at best and downright scary at times. Did not let me complete a sentence. Had clearly not read anything in my chart. Was dismissive and condescending. DO NOT GO.

I visited The Norwalk Hospital ER 3 times over the weekend of Oct 13-15. I had severe facial pain that was so bad, I needed morphine 2 times. Dr. Taraban was the neurologist circulating at the hospital on Sunday. She visited me and did a quick evaluation. My CT scan and bloodwork previously done, came back perfect. Based on what I described she said I had Trigeminal Neuralgia - a disease called "the suicide disease " and recommended an anti seizure drug and anti inflammatory . Google this- it is a horrible condition!! When I told her I didn't want to go on the drugs without knowing more, she was totally dismissive. Keep in mind, she evaluated me for 3 minutes. Turns out I had a horrible TOOTH problem. A deep crack that went into a nerve that was causing this excruciating pain. I needed a ROOT canal- not a death sentence! Do not use her, or for that matter anyone in her practice. We've already seen one other person there for my husband and he did not explain my husband's… condition and was ill prepared for our recent visit. Follow up has been horrendous ! Run!

Quick not thorough... Ended with we will just do MRI with contrast to see what is going on with brain after car accident and concussion. Primary doctor, concussion specialist and ophthalmologist did more thorough review and tests. Terrible bedside manner and office is a disaster. It took office 8 days and 5 phone calls from me to get them to make call and fax info to get further medical treatment.. Find another office... Stamford much better results.