Dr. Kate Michelle Essad, MD

I'll preface this by saying Dr. Essad always takes her time with me at my appointments. I've had to wait over 30 minutes past our scheduled time I think because she's still in with other patients. When I first saw her after my other doctors were failing me she commiserated with me and gave her evaluation and plan of attack. I definitely needed that as my other concussion doctor was at a loss and said I had PTSD and to check myself into psychiatric care facility. Instead, Dr. Essad arranged me to have physical therapy which greatly improved my symptoms of migraines and panic attacks and seizures, although did not eliminate them. I know she speaks with other doctors and attends further trainings as she has discussed what other doctors think I have (although she has also fallen back to PTSD which is not helpful nor accurate as my therapist has eliminated that diagnosis since I only have panic attacks, none of the other check boxes.) I am now on my second round of physical therapy to see… if they can help eliminate or look into things more, although Dr. Essad has said she has no clue what to do anymore. She has offered to "order me any test" that I'd like, which is not very helpful, because I am not a doctor in neurology. I feel at this point I have to overly advocate for myself after my brain injury. At one point one of her nurses (they're both named Deb) called me with test results and downplayed the seizures I was experiencing, likening to how her husband had that once before. This same nurse has also made other comments in this same vein, but really would be best if she just kept quiet.