Patient Testimonials

I am writing this to express my gratitude for the way I feel. I can't explain the incredible change I feel since I started with you just two months ago. I have been living with incessant headaches, and a hazing over my eyes every day for years. I had such a total lack of energy every day that all I could do is basically function and take care of things I had to take care of At 50 years old, I felt like 90!

Today, I feel absolutely incredible. In fact, l have lost 6 pounds, I sleep like a baby, and 1 have a great energy level as well as no hazing over my eyes. I went to the movies and realized how easy it was for me to watch a movie. I was actually talking to myself in the theater realizing how different I was feeling. When you have a lack of energy as I have, and start to feel human again, you realize that you have been taking the wrong medicines for years. Although menopause has started, I couldn't feel better on a daily basis. It actually doesn't bother me anymore. I feel as if I did when I was in my thirties. EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE notices the difference in my perky personality, and strong attitude. I am back to feeling the way I should have been feeling for years.

I can't thank you enough. Your patience and understanding has given back life. I always said, "I shouldn't have to feel this way." I was right, and now I feel incredible. I have referred three people to you, including my mother. I know that one of the people I referred, said they can't believe how great they feel too. I only wish I could have started seeing you years ago for my thyroid.

I am writing to express my sincerest gratitude to you and your team at the Hormone and Longevity Medical Centre.  

 Until I consulted you, my efforts in seeking a diagnosis and treatment for my ongoing fatigue and ill health from both conventional medical and alternate health practitioners had proved fruitless.  

 Although thyroid problems have been prevalent in my family I had constantly been told that I was "in the low normal range" when tested. Your diagnosis proved otherwise and your treatment has resulted in my fatigue being replaced by wonderful energy - I can actually run now!  I must have once had energy like this but it is so long ago I can't recall it.  

Further, my hot flashes, night sweats, 'cotton wool head' etc have virtually disappeared. I am so grateful to you for giving me the gift of good health - all you have done is very much appreciated!

I want to share how grateful I am for Dr. Holtorf's incredible care and support since I've been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease/adrenal insufficiency/CFIDS/Fibromyalgia.  I came to the Hormone & Longevity Center when I was two months pregnant and feared the fate of my baby considering my difficult-to-treat condition and inability to stabilize my thyroid levels.  Dr. Holtorf identified and addressed my situation immediately and within a month my thyroid levels were normalized for the first time in four years.  

The entire staff at the Hormone & Longevity Center was always very supportive and responsive to my needs; questions were answered and calls were returned.  It was most impressive when Dr. Holtorf called me himself to review lab results throughout my pregnancy and discuss any necessary adjustments/changes to my medications.  My high risk pregnancy was uneventful thanks to the sincere care of Dr. Holtorf and his staff - and I know our baby is here today because he is the type of doctor who listens to his patients, stays current with all the latest research, and takes the necessary time during appointments to discuss progress, concerns, options, etc.  

 Anyone diagnosed with CFIDS/Fibromyalgia should be encouraged to know that there are people who understand and know how to treat this debilitating condition.  I feel so blessed to be under the care of the Hormone and Longevity Center. 

As a 51 year old Registered Nurse, I was working in one of the major medical centers in Los Angeles. I was under the impression; I had access to the best physicians. In the span of one year, I saw a total of 11 physicians---3 internist, 1 gastrointestinal, 2 Rheumatologist, 2 neurologist, 2 psychiatrists, and 1 Endocrinologist/pituitary Specialist. These physicians put me through the battery of tests; sleep study, brain spec scan, brain MRI, EEG, neuro-cognitive testing, etc. My search for a medical diagnosis and cure was in desperation.

Even though, I was experiencing the classic symptoms of CFS and fibromyalgia, it was one of two rheumatologists who finally diagnosed me. The rheumatologist and internist offered their sympathy, along with the expectation; I would learn to live with this dreadful disease. Having this diagnosis was like a death sentence given to me.

I had to quit nursing. For the next year, I was confided to my apartment due to the symptoms and impairments of CFS. During this period, I developed severe shortness of breath. It became difficult for me to walk the length of my 600 sq foot apartment.

I started seeing Dr. Holtorf and his group. My treatment plan included a comprehensive program that included intravenous therapies such as hydrogen peroxide, colloidal silver and heparin injections subcutaneously. Being the compulsive nurse, I am I immediately began to research these treatments on the internet and discussed with my doctors. The doctors discouraged the treatments, some adamantly, but none had any hard evidence backing their reluctance.

After being bedridden for a year with no hope of recovery from my previous physicians, I knew Dr Holtorf was my only chance for regaining a life. I needed to place my trust in him and move forward with his recommendations. After each IV therapy, I started to slowly regain some of my stamina back. However, I still remained short of breath. Once I started the heparin injections, immediately my shortness of breath started to improve. Within 10 days, my shortness of breath was gone! For the first time in over a year, I could walk around the block!

I dramatically improved and am very grateful. The quality of life I have now would not have been possible without The Holtorf Medical Group.

The Holtorf Medical Group is amazing. Ever since I started hormone replacement therapy and their shots, I feel like a new woman. I went from feeling tired and having no energy to feeling energized and full of life. It is like a blanket of doom was lifted and I can see and feel like never before. They also have a wonderful caring staff, which is nice.

I have been seeing Dr. Wightman at the Holtorf Medical Group and I simply want to say that I have never been this happy in my adult life. I'm in the middle of a lot of change--and that can be confusing and stressful--but in general, I wake up every morning fulfilling the promise I had as a small child--"an engaging disposition that draws everyone to her"--only it took me until I was 57 to fulfill that original prediction. All these pills, potions and magic dust really work. I wish that I had had this available to me 20 years ago.. but I'm really glad I have it for the next 40 years.

So in April 2009, I flew to Torrance, California, to investigate my alternatives, or rather, a practitioner of alternative medicine: Kent Holtorf, MD, a high-octane hormone guru, board-certified in anti-aging medicine, who can answer your medical questions by instantly offering an informative handout or medical study as if pulling a rabbit from a hat (now located in El Segundo). After a gamut of tests, Holtorf determined that I was not metabolizing the synthetic thyroid hormones and that I was suffering from a deficiency of iodine, an element essential to thyroid production. And my estrogen level was zero. Was I having hot flashes? No, but I was enduring other discomforts, like dry eyeballs and a desperate case of arid female nether regions. Holtorf plied me with dietary supplements and bioidentical products—estrogen gel, progesterone pills, and thyroid hormone. All that was missing was a wheatgrass chaser.

Five months later, I flew off to Florida for the Life Extension conference. I arrived on Friday night at Fort Lauderdale’s Westin Hotel on the aptly named Corporate Drive, and despite being a night owl, I made the 8 a.m. start time of the two-day program. But as the hours rolled by, my eyes glazed over, not merely from exhaustion but from sheer boredom. I wasn’t hearing anything new. That was when I knew that a lot had happened to me in the two and a half months since I had registered for this snooze fest. For starters, Holtorf’s hormonal goody bag was delivering on its promises. Having shed 10 pounds, I was feeling brighter and lighter.

Thanks to Dr. Laufer at the Holtorf Medical Group I have now been able to return to work with all of the therapies and treatments, especially the growth hormone injections, after no one else was able to help. Also, they are very patient and listen to all my problems. I am very grateful.

Holtorf medical doctors are truly caring about me and your other patients. I observed it all day in the clinic. Dr. Holtorf and Dr. Laufer are truly angels reaching out to people who are truly ill and have not been heard by other physicians for years. I also heard other patients speaking about the other doctors at the clinic and they spoke in the same manner of their respective physicians on the staff. It has truly been a blessing to meet all of you at the clinic and finally be on the road to making by body healthy again.....for anyone thinking about bio-identical therapy.....read Dr. Holtorf's study, do some of your own research and then decide for yourself. I know for me that it is the right decision for me as a breast cancer survivor from Premarin and my quality of life is improving as I go through this journey.

Dr. Laufer and the Holtorf Medical team have true compassion and understanding. I have only met one other physician in my life, so far, that has that same attitude toward their patients. I am now in my 4th month of treatment for CFS, Hashimoto's thyroid disease, fibromyalgia and totally unbalanced numerous other hormones and minerals. I recently made a trip to Southern California from Las Vegas, NV where I reside and the doctors were totally tuned in to me. I was really struggling that day with the CFS issues and the combination treatments made an instant change in my clarity and energy. They were tuned into my needs--I was completely unaware until the afternoon when I felt a burst of energy and relaxation that I have not felt in years; that I realized he was aware of my current struggle.

Amazing is probably the best description of my experience at Holtorf Medical Group. I almost forgot what it was like to feel this good each and every day. And to think my previous primary care physician just wanted me to take some Prozac. The nurse practitioner, who saw me and the entire staff at Holtorf are the most caring professionals anyone could hope to find in the medical industry. And most importantly, they all get it. I am always happy to give my highest recommendation to my family and friends on the "fountain of youth" I was blessed enough to find in Torrance (now located in El Segundo). I myself will be a patient here for remainder of my life.

I am very pleased with the results of my treatment by Dr. Wayne Wightman and the staff at Holtorf Medical Group. I came to Dr. Wightman after years of being unable to lose weight, declining energy levels, rising blood pressure and constant body pain. Other physicians told me that everything was normal. I had run out of hope! Dr. Wightman listened to my story, believed me and began to address the problems. Following their recommended treatment plan I have been able to lose over 50 pounds. I have energy, my body no longer aches and I have renewed enthusiasm for life. Today I feel great and continue to lose weight. I enthusiastically recommend Dr. Wightman and the Holtorf Medical Group. They gave my life back to me!

My daughter Sarah was very impressed with Dr. Laufer and all of the team members that helped her. She especially appreciated all the time they spent talking with her and explaining information. Those of us in the health profession only tend to listen and focus on the negative. They have created a very special place to help patients and I appreciate all their kindness.

I have been going to Holtorf Med group for a short period of time after trying over and over (begging) many doctors to help me. I’m on 25 mg T3 to treat the reverse T3. I will be bumping up to 37.5. I love Holtorf med group. I feel so much better already.

I am so lucky I found them. My younger sister has just been diagnosed with Graves' disease, and it reminds me of the TERRIBLE time I had finding a doctor who really cared, studied, and understood about the thyroid. I can't tell you the IDIOTS I went through before I found you. They have been a blessing in my life.

Holtorf improved the quality of my life by an incredible amount. I was 24when I suffered a medical emergency which resulted in a medical necessity to be on birth control. Long story short this was exacerbating another hormone imbalance, and my normal doctor's couldn't help me and I was having episodes of all out bawling and crying or depression for no reason. I also had periods of severe irritability. I couldn't live like that.

Luckily my step Father had been receiving treatment from Holtorf and said it saved his life (literally) and that maybe they could help.

They showed me the results of my blood tests that literally explained everything. I'm a scientist by profession and I was shocked at the direct correlation to my hormone imbalance and the symptoms I was experiencing (which are too many to list here).

I received treatment for about a year and a half, at which point my hormone levels became normal and I came off the supplements. I am so thankful that I went there because no other doctor could have helped me.

The big difference is that Holtorf uses very new scientific information about thyroid hormones (specifically T3, but others as well) that other hormone doctors don't utilize because they weren't trained to do that kind of treatment. I have had endocrinologists be shocked and alarmed that I was taking T3 supplements because if you get the dosing wrong it had strong side affects. However, the doctors at Holtorf work very closely with you based on both blood tests and how you feel and fine tune the dosing. This is actually the most direct and effective treatment for my imbalance, and it was like someone flipped a switch and I was a normal happy human being again. It also improved my focus and previous issues with fatigue.

This place is not a scam. I became a balanced individual and was able to come off the treatments. It has changed my life for the better.

The one thing I will say, is that since they are at the forefront of hormone medicine, they will try a few different things to see what is most effective for you. This is not because they don't know what they're doing. If you are communicative with them about your symptoms and feelings they'll find the best treatment for you.

I am in Oregon, and I could not find a doctor who knew what to do for me. I ended up driving down to the bay area and going to Holtorf Medical Group. I saw Dr. Camilleri and he was wonderful. It was the first time any doctor I've seen actually knew what to do with me.

I finally had had it with my current doctor when I asked him what treatments he used for other patients like me, and he said "I've never had a patient like you". That was NOT helpful and very frustrating. While I adore my hometown doctor, my issues were definitely way out of his league!

I just got bloodwork done yesterday for my next appt with Dr. Camilleri and the lady at the lab remarked at how different the bloodwork ordered was compared to what the local doctors order! Thanks to Dr. C, I now have a handle on my issues. Everything is not yet perfect, but is definitely an ENORMOUS improvement over how I was feeling before.

All and all--while it was not an easy or inexpensive endeavor to travel so far from home for treatment, it was most assuredly worth it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

About 4 years ago my body started changing and when I say changing, I mean, no matter how clean I would eat or how much I trained, I just didn’t see the results I had maintained in the past. The less I ate and the more I trained, the more weight my body started holding onto. I thought it had to do with the fact that at 36 years old, my body was starting the process of aging and starting that dreaded slower metabolism syndrome that we all fall into as we age.

I keep a detailed food and workout log and went to a local nutritionist. She determined through muscle testing that I had digestive issues and that I was “allergic” to wheat, dairy, and peanuts. So, I eliminated wheat, dairy, peanuts, coffee, and fake sugar i.e. Splenda. I bought all the supplements to fix my digestive issues, liver tonics, all kinds of stuff. My diet was super clean as usual especially after cutting out the fake sugar I used to put on my oatmeal, in my coffee, and in my protein shakes. I changed my workout routine and started running the stairs at Avenue C and running in the sand using life guard towers as my markers in Redondo Beach at 6 a.m. 3 times a week, added yoga, and continued lifting as usual. A year went by and zero! I was told that when I stopped worrying about it that my body would take care of the rest. Yeah, that worked...not! In total frustration I stopped going to the nutritionist and continued on without the very expensive supplements.

While still seeing this nutritionist and during my training down at the beach, I ended up joining a beach boot camp which I absolutely loved! Great workouts on the beach: pulling tires in the sand, med balls, resistance bands, and last man up runs down the strand. Basically, tons of cardio but I loved it!

In May of last year I went to a really great nutritionist, his name is David Allen at David Allen Nutrition. He’s the guy who takes Janet Jackson from fat to skinny. And, I’d seen first hand how he’d taken a girl I used to see at Gold’s Redondo from regular size to super skinny. I thought the super skinny look bordered on anorexic but figured I’d give him a shot. He did blood work and saliva testing. He told me my metabolism was shot, my adrenals were fried, and I was insulin resistant. I bought a whole new slew of supplements and protein powder from him and he modified my diet slightly. I started with 7 days of no carbs then I would alternate between hi-carb and lo-carb days throughout the week. The supplements were great but expensive. The diet program was easy for me to follow since I’d pretty much been eating that way all along. My body fat percentage decreased here and there but I just didn’t see the results I was hoping for. Yes, I realize that anorexic isn’t pretty but I always wonder when I see a Nicole Richie or some other overly thin actress or celebrity...how do you get like that? Clearly, not how I want to look but still...

In November ’08, I got laid off along with 999 of my other co-workers so, paying for a nutritionist wasn't going to cut it for me any more. I continued on with the nutritional aspects on my own as usual without the supplements. In March ’09, I decided to start taking a fat burner supplement I had sitting in my drawer at home called Stimerex in the hopes that maybe after years of not taking them that they would work like they used to when I was younger. The Stimerex gave me tons of energy and definitely curbed my appetite so I took them for about 6 weeks. Yes, these old pills still had ephedra in them...very old school. I’ll go into fat burners, ephedra, and other supplements in another blog post. Well, still nothing, body stayed the same.

In May ’09, I saw an ad that said, “Been Told Your Thyroid is Normal...But Still Feel Fatigued or Unable to Lose Weight?” The name of the place sounded familiar, Holtorf Medical Group, they were local so I figured what the hell, and gave them a call. Turns out that a photographer friend of mine had told me about this place about a year ago, she had gone to them for hormone issues and raved about them. After speaking to the receptionist and explaining my situation, she referred me to their nurse practitioner and I scheduled an appointment. I went to my first appointment and brought my old labs from my previous nutritionist. After looking over my labs and a lengthy discussion, she determined that I needed additional blood tests to check my reverse T3 and leptin levels. In the interim, she put me on 10 mcg of T3 for 10 days to start then bumped up to 20 mcg until my next appointment 3 weeks later. The T3 definitely changed my energy level, I didn’t even know I had a low energy level since I’m such an upbeat person all the time. But, even though I felt like I had more energy, I still didn’t lose a pound.

So, I went back after 3 weeks and my labs were back. My Free T3 was 2.9 (norm 2.3–4.2), CRP was 3.13 (should be under 1.5 but, I worked out that day so that may have caused the inflammation around my heart), Reverse T3 was 340 (norm 90–350 but should be under 150), and my Leptin level was 4.0 (norm <32.1) which meant that my leptin level was way too low. When the leptin level is that low, the body stores fat. Still no weight loss and I was really bummed. She told me that once the thyroid gets fixed the weight will drop off. Since I am insulin resistant, she prescribed injections of Byetta, which has been found to assist people like me with weight loss.

So I went back to Holtorf on July 31st and my labs showed great improvement! I dropped 8 pounds and my Free T3 went from 2.9 to 2.2 (a little low but o.k.), Reverse T3 went from 340 to 180, my Glucose was a little high at 96 (norm 65-99), my Vitamin D level was low at 38.5 (norm 32 to 100), my cholesterol was great but, my CRP level was even higher than the last time. It went from 3.13 to 6.94 (should be under 1.5) and this time, I didn’t work out for 48 hours prior to my blood test so I was a bit worried.

The doc took me off of Byetta injections and started me on GlucoSX. She also bumped up the T3 (triiodo liothyronine 40 mcg), and had me continue Adrenal Repair, Cardio H, Fish Oil (2,400 mg), and added Cortisol and Vitamin D (5,000 iu). She also ordered another blood test to check my Homocysteine level for additional information on my elevated CRP level. I should have the results of that test back next week. In the meantime, a childhood friend who is an Internist suggested I take 1 Baby Aspirin a day to help with the inflammation. So, that’s where I’m at as of mid-August.

I am currently on 87.5 mcg of T3 (triiodo liothyronine) and 15 mg of phentermine. I was on the Byetta last year for about 2 months at that time, I weighed about 130 lbs and I’m 5’0′′. The only side effect I encountered was nausea but that only happened if I didn’t eat within about 10 minutes of the injection. It’s been a year now and my T3 has come back down to a normal range and I’m down to 115 lbs. My only issue now is that my leptin level dropped to from 4 to 0 and if I tried to up my calorie intake or add carbs, I started gaining again. So, I am now on 60 mcg 2x’s a day of Symlin and it’s working great! My weight stays between 112 to 116 lbs and I look and feel great! Hope this information helps.

I have suffered with severe fatigue for 4 years following a major surgery. I have consulted many doctors whether medical or holistic. I was told I was likely depressed or anxious and prescribed anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, or a host of natural supplements. Nothing got rid of the fatigue. I felt so tired some days all I could do was shower and then go back to bed. Being a very active, high energy person, I found this condition extremely frustrating.

In January I went online desperately seeking someone who specialized in fatigue and came across Holtorf. I liked what I read and especially appreciated the 27 page health questionnaire. I found Dr. Wightman to be very knowledgeable in his diagnosis - different than the guesswork I had experienced with previous doctors. He put me on T3 and progesterone as well as several supplements and minerals. Within two weeks I felt my energy returning and have continued to feel improvement over these past months.

I honestly feel I have gotten my life back. I am very appreciative and have recommended Holtorf to family members and friends, some of whom are also getting treatment and feeling better.

I visited the Torrance Holtorf Medical clinic (now located in El Segundo) a few years back—the protocol worked beautifully. When I moved back to my home base of San Francisco, I went off the program and I paid dearly for that for a long miserable year, remembering what I felt like. I then found the clinic in Foster City (now closed) and made the trek there to start my protocol once again. Back again--the work they are doing is important.

I got a natural bioidentical serotonin (actual serotonin) shot and then driving home I noticed my eyes seemed “open" and a fog lifted from my brain. But the biggest miracle is that all the pain in the left side of my neck was gone and as of today it is still gone. I have been suffering with a much worse pain than normal in neck for the past several months. It is truly debilitating to the point that I can hardly function. I don't know what the serotonin did to make that better but it is the only thing I did different that day. And I had a 5 1/2 hour drive in horrible traffic; I missed lunch and wore a collared jacket that day. Any one of those things normally would have sent me to bed. I have been seeing a chiropractor, massage therapist, taken muscle relaxants and nothing worked like this. I also have been sleeping better.

I was talking to my husband on my cell phone on the way home that day and was laughing about something and realized I haven't heard myself laugh in a very long time. My depression was gone (and still is).

I have been working with Dr. Camilleri at the Holtorf Medical Group for almost a year now, and I am writing to tell you that he is the best doctor I have worked with by far. In particular, I think he is the perfect doctor for women who have been through the school of hard knocks to finally discover and understand their thyroid, adrenal and sex hormone problems and want to be treated as partners with significant input into their treatment plans. He has the right knowledge and personality to work effectively with those of us who believe that we need to take responsibility for our health and manage our own care, tapping into the right experts for support along the way. Those of us who want to put two heads together to problem solve and experiment to find solutions that work-particularly when things digress from clear-cut textbook, which is certainly the case with me and almost all of the women I've run into via the Yahoo! groups for those with adrenal and rt3 issues, along with hypothyroidism.

I am 43 years old and have been sub-clinical hypo for perhaps most of my life (decades undiagnosed) with a pretty severe case of adrenal insufficiency that went over the edge in my late thirties. Like so many, I spent years searching for answers from doc to doc, therapy to therapy, only getting worse until I discovered, through my own research and reading, what was wrong with me and learned what would likely help. Thing is, I was having quite a time finding someone who agreed with me, never mind someone who would help me with appropriate treatment! I was told I was fine and to stop worrying a countless number of times; I was offered anti-depressants; I was told to see a psychiatrist; I was treated for all kinds of symptoms springing from the real problem, some of them making things worse. Finally, shortly after I crossed over into "alternative" medicine, I found someone who recognized and would treat my thyroid problem, but I did not respond well to treatment, and no one seemed to understand why. Again, I was seen as the problem.

I would feel great for a few days on Armour and then get worse and worse due to what I later learned (again, on my own) was completely drained adrenals, high rt3 and low ferritin. I finally got myself to a doc who would prescribe cortisol, and it helped considerably (although not "the" answer for me due to other problems like leaky gut, toxicity, nutritional deficiencies, etc.), but she didn't really listen to me, or at least I never felt truly heard; I could tell she was frustrated by my constant reports of reactions that were not typical or expected; and she did not want to work with my knowledge, intuition and preferences as part of the equation for treatment-she took this as a challenge to her expertise, I think, which was certainly not my intention.

Although on the right treatment path, I was so strung out and exhausted by the time I found Dr. Camilleri, and I was discouraged and frustrated at not having someone who understands all these issues to work WITH. Dealing with healthcare professionals had become another stressor for me that was seriously impacting the overall picture and my ability to "pull it together" to work productively toward better health.

Long story short, per our conversation, I could tell at my first appointment that Dr. Camilleri "got" Adrenal Insufficiency. When discussing my lack of success and strange reactions to things one would think would help, he used an analogy about tugging on the branches of a tree that is not rooted strongly in the ground. Boy did that resonate. I was literally walking around light-headed most of the time - supplements, any stress, even social interactions, would just throw me completely off so easily.

I had become a recluse, and I was hanging on by my fingernails, although you probably wouldn't know it to look at me. I hadn't been able to work at that point for 2 years, and I was seriously wondering if I was dying. I NEEDED someone to "get" me; give me credit for all I had learned through the school or hard knocks, as well as my own research; and work WITH me based on his clinical experience and deeper understanding of physiology and biochemistry. I got that from Dr. Camilleri, and it has been terrific.

He listens; he gives me relevant and helpful perspective based on his experience; he offers suggestions when needed that open up possibilities/paths for me; and he factors in what I think based on knowing my body and my history better than anyone, as well as knowing that I do my homework, and I have a brain - there is no ego getting in the way ever. This is relieving and refreshing.

He's also willing to try things based on what's actually happening with me symptom-wise vs. being married to lab results that simply don't cut it for optimal treatment sometimes. I've been to "top-notch" endocrinologists who would not prescribe glandular thyroid hormone for me base on my labs, never mind t3! I've been to a Stanford Hematologist who told me taking iron would be dangerous based on my labs - my ferritin at that point was 16, and I had many symptoms of iron deficiency, including intolerance to t3 with adrenals fully supported.

It's a scary, scary medical world out there for those of us with these issues that are relatively new to even "alternative" medicine and not even on the radar for conventional. Without self-education and taking charge of our own cases, we would be destined to live pitiful, sad, depressed lives in the gray area between the world of the living and the dead until we finally wither into non-existence. And that is not overly-dramatic.

I went from a high-achieving, social, productive person to someone barely able to function who often wished she'd just not wake up because there was no joy, and it was just too damn hard to get through the day. As much as the right diagnosis and treatment, women in my boat need a doctor who can connect with empathy and compassion as a human being, as well as someone with openness to new knowledge, respect for individuality and the ability to weave symptoms and even personal characteristics with the labs. I came in with the right diagnosis and core treatment, but Dr. Camilleri came through with the other things on the list, and it has made all the difference for me.

I do not have my life back on my own terms yet, but I am a world better than I was this time last year, and I see improvements sneaking up on me little by little. Today, I am happy to be alive and look forward (albeit impatiently) to being fully engaged in a productive, fulfilling life. I am grateful to have a partner to work with in turning things around, as the process is slow and often painful, with so many ups and downs along the way. I have enough to manage and worry about on this path without worrying about whether my doctor will understand what I'm talking about; how to get what I think I need in terms of treatment; if my doc will support me in trying new things, etc. Dr. Camilleri is a rare find, and I am grateful to be working with him.

I thank them for what they do on the front lines to pave the way for good medicine. They are ahead of their time, and that's always risky in the medical profession.

Dr. Holtorf, isn't my doctor but I am seeing someone in his practice. I've seen him twice so far and I am feeling 1000% better. He didn't bat an eye about doing all the right tests and ignoring TSH. I'm on slow release T3 and some supplements. I now....

…happily get through my day with energy left in the evening. I unpacked the last box form my move over a year ago last week.

...am down to wearing a normal amount of clothing, not three layers at least because I am cold all the time. Even if I do have a placebo effect, my husband has noticed that I am even warmer to the touch on the outside. I felt like an ice cube before.

...am losing a normal amount of weight on a regular LC diet.

…don't look like a Persian cat walked all over me before work because of the hair loss.

I feel like I got my life back. Anyone reading this, please don't give up. Don't stop looking and don't let them make you feel like you're crazy.

Been going to the Holtorf Medical Group in Torrance (now located in El Segundo) for about a year. They look deep to find reasons for inability to lose weight, which I had many that were never checked before coming here. I don’t think this is even known by most doctors. They all have just told me to exercise more and eat less and never bothered to check. The natural hormones have also been a blessing for me--I have never felt so good! Thank you, thank you.

No other facility has helped me as much as this clinic for FM and CFS. I went from doctor to doctor and was always disappointed until I found someone who understands and wants to treat these illnesses. It was the first time I did not know more than the physician. I wish I found them 10 years ago.

I flew down to L.A. to go to the Holtorf Medical Group in Torrance (now located in El Segundo), coming all the way from Everett, Washington, to consult about my severe CFIDS case, one that I could find no help with in my (Seattle) area. I was in the office for over 4 hours, and left with meds & supplements. I felt 1000% better in only a few months. I want to thank the Holtorf Medical Group from the bottom of my heart for understanding and treating me and others with CFIDS! There is just such limited understanding of this life-sapping illness. They gave me my life back again. There's just no way to express how I felt re-joining the human race!

I have been going to Holtorf Medical Group for a year now. I was able to return to work. I am up now 6 out of 7 days a week. They listen and do extensive lab work. They are very encouraging and have been able to prescribe the proper treatment. I was very, very sick when I went to Holtorf, needing a miracle. What you read on their website is true.

I went to several specialists before finding the Holtorf Medical Group and my symptoms were dismissed as simply “getting older”, “it’s due to stress” or “you must be depressed”. I was made to feel I was crazy and offered little more than an antidepressant and sent on my way. The doctor here listened to my story and I could tell was really interested in finding the problem (what a difference). The doctor ordered extensive testing that no one ever considered and found multiple hormone deficiencies including low thyroid not detected by the other doctors. I have never felt better. What a difference between the Holtorf Medical Group and all those other doctors I have been to, including the so-called specialists in endocrinology that couldn’t find the problem that was found by them the second visit. We need more of these clinics. A little closer would be nice but I am so HAPPY I FOUND THEM!

I am a 40 year old man, but when I met Dr. Holtorf I had the growth hormone level of a 90 year old man and was among the sickest 2.5% of the population with multiple bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. I also had pituitary dysfunction, hypothyroidism, testosterone deficiency, and adrenal fatigue. Getting my 4 year old dressed for school was all the physical exertion I could manage for a day. Sleep disturbances and brain fog brought on by a coagulation defect made me feel like a zombie. I could concentrate for only an hour a day and had daily sore throats and low fevers. My health forced me from my executive position as the top non-owner executive for an international security service firm which employs over 30,000 people.

In just seven months Dr. Holtorf restored my health and vitality. Each day I grow stronger and more vibrant. Dr. Holtorf didn't just give my life back, he gave me the life of my dreams. I enjoy restorative sleep and thrive on 30 minutes a day of vigorous weight training. I have returned to work 50 hours a week. I am a loving husband, have an active social life and am an involved parent to a 6-year old daughter and 4 1/2 year old son.

Dr. Holtorf's aggressive multifaceted treatment protocol for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome works. While some may label aspects of his approach as "alternative" or even "experimental" medicine, as a cured patient, I would simply call it effective medicine.

I literally owe my life to Dr. Holtorf.

I just had my second visit with them and am already feeling much better so I am very happy. I was referred by a friend who was really helped by them. I have suffered for over 10 years going from Dr. to Dr. and put on the typical antidepressants and Lyrica, which made me feel worse. They do LOTS of testing and not just the usual stuff. I was found to have so many abnormalities including low thyroid (had numerous tests that said I was normal), herpes 6 and my blood was clotting too much. I started on T3 and felt about 30% better after a few weeks, which was the first thing that has helped in years. I was given a globulin shot, which really helped and then I was put on a very small dose of heparin a few weeks ago. My brain is now working! Yea. Its been great for me. They explained everything. I haven't even got to some of the issues yet but I have improved so much already.

I have to thank the Holtorf Medical Group for turning my health around. They correctly found the causes of weight and health issues that had existed for 15 years. For years, I spent a lot of time and money on care that left me a 315 lb hormone wreck. I was tired of taking thyroid medicine that seemed to make my weight worse and not better, I was tired all the time, and not getting the answers from all the different doctors and specialists I had seen. I was close to giving up, but someone recommended the Holtorf Medical Group and I read the site and said “Hey, that’s me too.” It’s been just over 12 months since and I dropped to 190 lbs and never felt better.

The symptoms of thyroid and adrenal problems cleared up enough that people don’t recognize me, and even my driver’s license and passport photos get me in trouble “Hey this huge guy in this photo does not look like you, etc..” I went from 4X shirts to medium, and have a 36” waist that was a huge bulge one year ago. I spent 15 years chasing weight and medical problems that were linked to even more trouble before that.

I tried hard to exercise it off, with no luck. I ate a low fat diet and was very active, and grew anyway to 245, then 260, then 280. No diet ever seemed to work. I saw a specialist and he found my triglycerides to be way off the chart high, but had no explanation since I was so active. I then developed most of the symptoms of hypothyroid, and this was confirmed with a very high TSH.

For years, I took Synthroid but the weight stayed on and got worse. I wasn’t happy with it and suspicious that something was missing. I would always ask endocrinologists why the high triglycerides and aren’t we missing something? They never had a good answer. At my first visit to Holtorf Medical they pretty much figured out my case just from listening to my story and checking what medicine I was on. I was on a lot of Synthroid and huge in size, so he suspected (and later confirmed) reverse T3 syndrome. This was complicated by adrenal failure that I am pretty sure dates back even farther than the thyroid, but no one knew.

I started hormones, including pure T3, and things really cleared up. I lost 10 pounds a month until I got to 190. I could write a whole page on the problems that went away when the weight did. It’s just been remarkable.

My first appointment and not so long ago, I weighed 213.....as of today I’m now at 181.5. It is wonderful help they have offered me. I am very very happy with them.

Broken, Exhausted, in pain, and untrusting of doctors, I have finally found doctors that truly care about healthcare not just medicine. Since I was a teen I have had severe fatigue and weight problems; I remember telling my doctor when I was young that I did not feel good. I had severe pain in my joints, fatigue, weight gain, extreme temperature changes, hormonal fluctuations, I had several of the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction, but not one doctor that my mom took me to could help me. “Oh it is just growing pains and normal teenage hormonal fluctuations, you will outgrow this,” doctors would say. Western doctors would give me several prescriptions for medications that would not make any difference in the way I felt and in fact could adversely affect me in many other ways. Western medicine treats the symptoms, not the cause.

So, my disease began to progress, worsening day by day leaving my muscles in pain, my body exhausted and my mind so foggy that words that once so easily flowed from my mind seemingly ceased to exist from my vocabulary. This terrible monster of a disease completely robbed me of life as I knew it; I just became a shell of a person; the inner me wanted to bound out of bed as I used to, and go for a jog with my dog or to the beach with my friends, but sleeping more than 18 hours a day was all I could hope for.

I have never had so much hope and promise as I had on the day where I found Dr. Holtorf’s website; I read all of the information, research, and his treatment protocol. I could not believe that I had finally found a doctor that could treat all of my symptoms by getting down to the root cause. When I began seeing Dr. Wightman my mind and body were immediately put at ease just knowing that he was really listening and cared about how I felt. Most doctors spend five minutes with you and then they prescribe a pain medication and/or antibiotic and send you on your way worse off than when you came in. Dr. Wightman read every aspect of my blood test with incredible attention to detail; while he was reading the test he was asking me question after question about my body, the way I felt, and even how long it takes me to recover after workouts. The questions he asked me, no other doctors have ever cared to ask. Dr. Wightman and Dr. Holtorf are more than just doctors; their goal is to actually make patients healthy again. They have turned my life around and I am forever grateful to them. The only wish I have is that all Americans could be treated by doctors as brilliant, caring, and detailed as Dr. Holtorf and Dr. Wightman.

I see Dr. Wightman – a doctor at Holtorf’s practice. He is treating me for PCOS, Hashimoto’s, Lyme disease, and type 2 diabetes.

I had been to countless doctors who offered substandard treatment. I was in constant pain and gaining weight very rapidly. My blood sugars were crazy and all I ever got was Levoxyl and lectures about lifestyle changes.

After running the right tests – Dr. Wightman discovered my Lyme (contracted 15 years ago) was back in full swing (5 other doctors refused to test me for Lyme saying my arthritis was untreatable anyhow.) I had adrenal insufficiency, high reverse T3 levels (so high he took me totally off Levoxyl and put me on pure T3), and he also found I had dangerously low levels of several very important hormones and vitamin D. My A1c was only 5.1 so he was the first doctor to believe me I was not stuffing my face with bad food.

I have been following his new regime for 2 months now (the right medications and supplements.) I have lost 20 lbs (no change in diet – my diet was fine) and am virtually pain free. Before, I could not pick up a coffee cup without extreme pain. Now I am back to lifting weights. Plus, my huge goiter of 20 years from Hashimoto's is now totally gone – normal sized again – I can swallow!

I say out the window with “Gold Standard” testing – which we all know is run by the insurance companies. And hear hear to doctors that actually do not blame the patient for their problems but who look outside the box for answers and for treatment.

I have been lucky enough to finally find a great thyroid doctor in Torrance, CA (now located in El Segundo) at the Holtorf Medical Group who knows about T3. After a year of taking increasing amounts of Westhroid which is like Armour, I wasn't getting better. Still gaining weight (40 pounds total), dragging through the day, no libido, all kinds of problems. I was desperate, so I found a new doctor. Now I've been onT3 for about 8 months and I'm finally getting close to my correct dose. We had to work our way up and finally for the first time in over 2 years my weight has started to go down. I lost 10 pounds almost instantly, I feel more energy. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. He monitors my RT3 with every blood test. He said when it fell below 100 (I think that was the target) that I would start to feel a lot better, and he was right. I just reached that number and that's when things started to change for the better. I think RT3 is especially a problem in people who have never dieted strictly because it is the mechanism that prevents humans from dying during a famine. If you are able to come to Torrance (now in El Segundo), these guys really know what they're doing.

I am so grateful to Dr. Holtorf! I have received such exceptional care am so much improved after being through the ringer with so many physicians saying they cannot help me. I can never say enough and recommend them to everyone I meet.

Relief Finally:

I had my thyroid irradiated due to hyperthyroidism (Grave’s disease). I was told that I would have to take a thyroid pill substitute for the rest of my life. I had hoped the endocrinologists I spoke with and who afterwards became my doctors for the next 5 years knew what they were doing, but I learned that he and subsequent doctors really know very little and cared even less. Before my thyroid was zapped, I weighed 145-150 pounds (5’10”) and had a 30/32”waist. I was lean and young and full of energy.

I was placed on a daily dose of Synthroid--soon after which I began to drastically gain weight. No matter how much I stuck to the healthy regimen I had always lived by, my body was changing in a very uncomfortable and unattractive way, increasing in size pound by pound, month to month, year by year. At each visit, I mentioned my anguish because I had at some point gained a gruesome total of 63 pounds, but my doctor replied it was all fine and “that’s the way it is.”

I could not comprehend nor believe that this was just “the way it is’ so, I chose to do even more delving--I discovered The Holtorf Medical Group, Inc. located in Torrance, California (now located in El Segundo) on the internet and drove there. After reading all of the well referenced articles on the site, I felt confident that I had found the answer and remedy to my personal thyroid nightmare....what a relief!

I met with the nurse practitioner and explained my dilemma as to how I got to this frustrating, disastrous, physical and emotional point; she assured me that with the correct management of thyroid medicines, which Holtorf Medical Group specializes in, I would start feeling better and looking better and be better right away. She ran specialized lab tests that no one had ever sent me for prior and started me on a T4/T3 combination.

Before I embarked on this new system I was gaining weight even when eating minimally, and today I can state with great happiness and joy that in the two months that I have been following the Holtorf Medical Group guidelines, I have lost 21 pounds... and I expect to continue, with the hopes of possibly getting back to the shape I had before this all happened.

I am very proud to know of Kent Holtorf and his Medical Group, and his diligence in discovering how to truly manage a problem many people in my situation suffer with no thyroid or hypothyroid. I say with much appreciation that he is truly a masterful and wonderful man because he and his caring staff are the only ones I have found to have discovered a system that truly works and helps. I am finally relieved and on the road to being the person I used to be. Bravo!

P.S. And please note that they help people with so many other medical issues, not only thyroid problems. I say make an appointment, you will be more than pleased with what they know and how they help you on your road to recovery. They certainly are helping me.

Dr. Koftan at the Holtorf Medical Group was able to diagnosis my problem when no one else would dig deep enough. I can’t recommend them highly enough. Unfortunately, I had to travel from New York for help, but it was so worth it. We need more doctors like Dr. Koftan.

Before becoming a patient of Dr. Holtorf, I was very frustrated. The doctor I was seeing for my yearly physicals wanted me to start taking statins. I was already on medication for high blood pressure, and didn't want to take more drugs unless they were necessary. I was also aware that statins often caused side effects. I was confused about what to do. I had another problem that had never been addressed. I have exercised strenuously and regularly my whole adult life, while eating a healthy diet, yet have never been able to lose weight below a certain threshold.

At my first appointment Dr. Holtorf ordered extensive tests to find out where I was at. No doctor had ever tested me this thoroughly. I learned that my metabolism was slow, which didn't surprise me, given that it has been impossible for me to lose weight. I remember asking Dr. Holtorf why my previous doctor was so insistent about statins. Dr. Holtorf said: "That's all they got." That really hit home. I realized that I had been subjected to only the most rudimentary tests on a yearly basis, with predictable "solutions." I was also very impressed with Dr. Holtorf's ability to communicate directly and articulately. He doesn't talk down to you, but brings you up by respecting your own ability to understand what is happening with your body.

Dr. Holtorf approached treating my problems from different directions. He prescribed T3 for my slow metabolism and balanced my other hormone levels. I really value Dr. Holtorf's approach to practicing medicine. Unlike most doctors, he has an open mind, and listens. He is both progressive and conservative. He is way ahead of the curve in terms of the latest treatments and technology, yet is careful and knows that not everything works in all cases.

My health has improved considerably and dramatically since seeing Dr. Holtorf. I have lost 10 pounds, which I was convinced would never happen. I am just under 5 feet 6 inches tall, and since the age of 30, my weight has stayed around 170. I now weigh 160, and feel a world of difference. When I exercise I can tell that I have more strength. My thinking is clearer. I have not been sick once since seeing Dr. Holtorf. Previously I would get at least a cold every few months. In fact, I've never felt better in my life. I am just thrilled and thankful for my progress, and grateful for all that Dr. Holtorf has done for me.

Being a long-term patient and having referred my friends and associates to the Holtorf Medical Center, I have seen first hand how they have helped people and can not emphasize enough how much people have appreciated what they have done for them. Typically I hear “life changing” “Saved my marriage” “Wish I had seen him sooner”. They have a gift and have created something. I guarantee it will be one of the best decisions you will make.

I was feeling horrible for many years and had been given many diagnoses, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Lupus, pre-lupus, depression and being told it was all psychosomatic. As it turns out, it was all due to Lyme that was never diagnosed until coming to the Holtorf Medical Group. Another doctor did think of it and tested for it but it was negative, but their test caught it. Now with treatment, including antibiotics and immune modulators and supplements, I am finally feeling good again. I don’t where I would be if a friend did not recommend this group. I hate to think.

The Holtorf Group is such a wonderful blessing. The ways in which they've shown their kindness, compassion and caring are beyond what I ever would have expected. I’m grateful that there are people like the Holtorf Medical clinic.

I first came to Holtorf Medical Group on the advice of a friend about 2 1/2 years ago. I had seen my regular physician 6 months prior, concerned with my weight and lack of energy. He had told me that at my age (42, at that time) that I would have to work out for an hour a day 5-7 days a week to lose it and I was only tired because I was overweight. After 7 months of 1 hour workouts 6 days a week, I lost 7 pounds. That was it! Dr. Holtorf and his Physician's Assistant, ran the tests needed to understand my problem. They worked with me to get the right treatment and I now feel like a normal me!! I haven't felt this good in years! Life is good.

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease approximately six years ago, had radiation and have been struggling with my health ever since. Kept seeing endocrinologist one after the other with no relief in symptoms. I found Dr. Holtorf's office and made a consult with them. They do not accept insurance but give you the paperwork to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. I have been seeing Dr. Laufer and have never felt better! They are an office that specializes in thyroid disease and many other metabolic and chronic disorders. They prescribe bioidentical hormones and have an on-site compounding pharmacy. Their pharmacy is wonderful. They deliver your medications free of charge next day delivery. They do tests conventional doctors will not do because of insurance restrictions and believe in total body wellness, not just treating the symptoms. I am so thankful I found Dr. Holtorf's office and more importantly Dr. Moses Laufer! He has changed my life, my health and my outlook

When I first started seeing Dr. Holtorf (about six years ago), I was in rather desperate shape. I was getting sick nearly twice a month. I was also developing Bronchitis two to three times per year. At least once per year my Bronchitis would develop into walking pneumonia which would sometimes linger on for months at a time. From the beginning, Dr. Holtorf tried many different therapies and several different prescription medications to boost my immune system to keep me healthy. Then, a little over a year ago, Dr. Holtorf told me to try a new drug called "naltrexone". He told me that he had read studies suggesting that at "low doses" it had immune boosting effects.("Immune Boosting" ended up being an unexpected side effect of naltrexone's intended use which was to help alcoholic's stop drinking). When I first started taking naltrexone, I only experienced one negative side effect (which was some insomnia) but that was easily corrected by taking it in the morning, instead of at night. The next thing I found out was that I WASN'T GETTING SICK ANYMORE! Believe it or not, I went from being sick one or two times per month and having Pneumonia one or two times per year to now not being sick with anything for over a year! If going from being sick for almost a decade to now staying completely healthy for the last year isn't considered to be a miracle, I don't know what is! My miracle was definitely naltrexone. I think Dr. Holtorf saved my life because the more times you get Pneumonia, the easier it is to get in the future. My continuing respiratory illnesses would likely have developed into Emphysema which can be fatal. I keep trying to spread information about naltrexone and its effect on me in hopes that I can help others suffering from immune deficiencies. My Hematologist, Internist and Urologist all seemed skeptical about my claims at first but have recently had to acknowledged that "something" must be attributed to my recent run of unexplainable good health so they are all now investigating naltrexone too. I must thank Dr. Holtorf again for doing what he seems to do best, which is "thinking outside the box". I hate to imagine what my life would be like without naltrexone. I stated earlier that I "think" Dr. Holtorf saved my life but in actuality, I "know" Dr. Holtorf saved my life. Dr. Holtorf wouldn't give up on trying to find something that would improve my health and thankfully, he finally found naltrexone!

I am a patient of Holtorf Medical Group’s Dr. Laufer for several months now. I have had tremendous progress in my health, for the better, which I had experienced thanks to Dr. Laufer. What I can say are only very positive things about the group. I thank God to have met such a special person like Dr. Laufer; and I mean as a true professional, as well as a great human being. His knowledge is enormous and more so the care which he tends to his patients. I am a changed person since I first stepped into the office.

Excellent doctor. I had been to numerous CFIDS/FM "experts" with no relief whatsoever, but after 3 visits with Dr. Holtorf, I have had significant improvement with the multi-system approach. I feel I have turned the corner.

Dr. Holtorf is a Godsend; his multi-system approach to fibromyalgia is coupled with his compassionate demeanor have made a huge difference in my life. I am so grateful that I found him; I know that under his guidance I will be able to conquer the disabling effects of Fibromyalgia.

I see Dr. Wayne Wightman (Holtorf Medical Group) for chronic fatigue - and then diagnosed to have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism. Personally, I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Wightman and the Holtorf staff. They are extremely thorough, each appointment is satisfying (I never have felt rushed).They don't accept any insurance however, the staff will provide you with all the paperwork you need in order to fill a claim. So far, I have had no problems obtaining my reimbursement from Anthem PPO.

This is a long overdue note of thanks for everything you, and Dr. Wayne Wightman in particular, have done for me over the years.

I started with Dr. Wightman in 2012, after seeing many different health care providers over a 20 year period who could not figure out what was wrong with me or how to help me. Dr. Wightman determined I had issues with multiple body systems and he implemented a treatment plan that started me back on the path to wellness and feeling alive again.

Several events have occurred in my life over these years since starting with Dr. Wightman - a Lyme disease diagnosis, a contentious divorce, Covid vaccine injury, and long Covid among
others - and Dr. Wightman has been with me every step of the way. He has always known how to navigate complex medical issues and tweak my treatment to get me back on the path of vibrant health.

One of the biggest things I am thankful for is Dr. Wightman's care has enabled me to exercise again, which I had not been able to do in over 20 years. It has been a welcome change to have a doctor who makes me feel heard and supported, instead of like my issues must be in my head since they can't figure them out or how to treat them.

I cannot imagine where I would be if I had not found Dr. Wightman and Holtorf Med, and I will forever be grateful for the compassion I have been shown and the excellent care I have been given.