Dr. Larry Thomas Balentine, MD

Seen by Dr. Ballentine for almost a full year. A terrible year! He would constantly be looking at his phone and answering text. He would ask me questions but not pay any heed to my answers then ask the same questions repeatedly on the next few visits. He would tell me to stop taking a medication then next visit ask why I wasn’t taking it (the one medication he actually put me on). First thing he stated when I saw him was he was “going to prove you don’t have MCTD” Now why would any Dr. who is legitimately trying to help you want to prove you don’t have a very serious fairly rare autoimmune disease. One that has taken other SPECIALISTS 7 yrs to PROVE you do have it and countless hours of testing and labs. One word EGO! Because of his ego and not wanting to listen to anything I had to say in regards to how I was feeling (all he would do was refer to his bloodwork results that stated there was no inflammation) HUH! He and the tests were wrong. Not everyone is a textbook case and I happen… to be one of those 1 of 1,000,000,000 who is not Textbook! But Ballentine would not listen to anything I had to say. He was right about everything. He proceeded to take me off my medications for my MCTD and my condition worsened. My pain levels increased to the point it was excruciating, it caused not only my condition to worsened but caused pulmonary issues to become almost extreme and caused my heart to start having issues it had never had before. All due do his incompetence and EGOTISTICAL course of action. The whole time I kept requesting to be put back on my IV medication that is specifically for my Lupus but he would ignore me. He knew and admitted I have Lupus but refused to treat it in any way. He just kept reducing/taking me off my medication for my MCTD which also helped keep my Lupus in check to an extent. The medication is what kept all the “issues” of the disease from becoming exacerbated. I finally had enough and left when he refused to listen when I told him how debilitating the pain had become because I was no longer on my medication. I could tell he did not like me telling him anything. He ignored me once again.

Horrific pill pusher. Put me on Klonopin a few years ago to “help me with my nightmares.” I took as prescribed over the course of 4-5 months and he “tapered” me over the course of just a few weeks and shortly after I was in the ER convulsing and diagnosed with “benzodiazepine withdrawal.” When I confronted Balentine about what happened he blamed me for the withdrawal symptoms and tried to claim I was like that before the klonopin and sounded like I just needed MORE KLONOPIN. Thankfully I had a good hospital doctor who switched me to an equivalent dose of Valium so I could taper slowly that way. Took the better part of a year to stop feeling horrific. Had horrific withdrawal symptoms for up to a year, with worse panic and insomnia than ever experienced before the klonopin. He’s all about representing big pharma and he’s never wrong and the drugs he prescribes are never harmful. What a load of bull. If you’re reading this Ballentine you’re doing a terrible job of upholding the oath you… took when you became a doctor.

I have never been treated so disgustingly in my entire life . Waited 2.5 hours for my appt , he then answers his phone through out my entire appt and kept checking text messages and answering them . He argued with me about everyone of my symptoms , kept referring to some lab results that I found out are 3 years old . Told me my diagnoised disability is all in my head , and because I’m “ fat “ I’ve created 15 years of issues . AVOID at all costs :(

I have been seeing Dr. Balentine for the past few years. He has improved my whole life as far as pain management. He always addresses thoroughly what every particular pain that I have whether it is back, knee, feet, hands, or any other body parts affected by RA and works out a satisfactory solution. He has prescribed medications or physical therapy or injections that alleviate pain. He is also very concerned about my overall health and does extensive reviews of my lab results with me every time.

I owe my continued health to Dr Ballantine. He has been a very strong advocate in my behalf. He gave me a medical plan to follow which gave some very positive results. When he sees me in his office it is not just a quicky face time visit, it is the most thorough visit I have found. He never is in a hurry to go on to the next patient until he has covered all bases and we have a workable plan until I see him again. He also tells me what I need to know, not what I want to hear. I feel I owe my life to his expertise!

Rushed through lab results, changed diagnosis within two weeks, confused regarding treatment options, didn't explain properly, wouldn't allow questions while he spoke, rude and insensitive.

Had he not wasted so much time arguing with me on every answer I was providing to his questions, we would have covered more ground. The entire time I felt he did not believe much of what I was saying as to my history. I have been to 6 rheumatologists in the past 12 years ... never had seen one that was this "reactive." Will go to see him one more time to hear results of the x-rays he ordered. I had multiple x-rays of hips, knees, lumbar spine that are only 2 years old ... why would he want to have more taken? My skeleton and joints have not improved because of the progression of the disease and my age ... I felt "belittled and humiliated" enduring the long consultation. My previous rheumatologist was an "angel" but he has moved too far for me to drive/ride. This one is experienced; but next visit will be my very last one. I am exhausted from the illness and from chasing after relief.

Dr. Balentine is very knowledgeable but lacks in bedside manner. He is very condescending to his staff and seems to be extremely fickle. He let the one good thing going for his practice go when he ran off his office manager recently. He needs to get her back.

Best of all the many I have needed help for RA.

Abhorrent behavior toward his staff, and resultant high staff turnover. Blames problems with his practice on his staff and berates them in front of patients. Shows a tad bit too much fondness for new, shiny treatments despite their having less time on the market. Canceled or rescheduled appointments with no notice. In my experience, he initially spent a great deal of time when I was diagnosed, then the care he provided and his bedside manner declined immeasurably in quality. He is a very skilled diagnostician and would probably do great work in research, away from people.