Alexis K Rieber, MD — Local services in Pasadena

I thought, long and hard, before sitting down to write this. But, honestly, I have had it with arrogant, dismissive and disrespectful ENT’s. This is, by far, the worst experience I have had with an ENT to date. I was referred by a phenomenal allergy/immunology doctor; Dr. Patel, and was assured that Dr. Reiber was intelligent and open-minded, so I felt I could entrust her to understand the conditions I had developed from a botched sinus surgery years ago; one such condition, Empty Nose Syndrome, is often dismissed by ENT’s, despite the burgeoning amount of research from countries around the world. I trusted this doctor to believe me, to care and to support me in my efforts to overcome both ENS and POTS. Not only did she not ask a single question about either condition, she didn’t seem to care, and when examining me with an endoscope, she just said “everything looks fine”. Thank you for that humiliating moment. If you had bothered to read anything about either condition, you would know both often result from nerve damage - something that can’t be seen. Kinda why I was hospitalized 30+ times. Let me tell you my credentials, doctor. I am (was) a Boston professor; 3 honors degrees, 4.0 in my MA in Critical Thinking. I collapsed at the end of a semester and in the ensuing years, sought out the most brilliant minds in the country, including a top 5% surgeon, to help save my life. I also saved many other lives; speaking to congress about ENS, working with doctors from around the world to help them better understand it, and counseling countless individuals who were suffocating and unable to warm or humidify inspired air. Many took their lives because of doctors like you, who gaslit them, dismissed them and told them “everything looked fine” after scoping them. Indeed, each time I tried to explain my situation, you would cut me off and tell me, “well none of that is important right now”. It’s not important that I tend to get more sinus infections than others with intact turbinates? It’s not important that POTS flares cause swelling and sinus infections? How about the proof that what I was telling you was true? Was that important? That I suffered horribly if/when I had a sinus infection, because I had difficulty regulating my breathing. I dutifully sent in both E.R. visits, which showed that I had been given Amoxecillen both times. I called your office after sending the information, and asked if I could be prescribed a stronger antibiotic. You said you had to see me. You had an opening in 3 months. 3 months… I stayed in abject pain and misery for 3 months, and by the time I saw you and let you know my infection was gone; this, after frantically trying to rid myself of it through multiple sinus rinses a day, which led to gushing nosebleeds, you quipped “oh good; problem solved.” Unbelievable. You saw that the Amoxicellen did not work on two occasions in October but you let me stay in horrible pain for 3 months!? I decided to give you one more try, and again, you brushed off any conditions contributing to my sinus issues, and “told me”… not asked, told… you were ordering a CT scan to see if there were any obstructions causing problems. You scribbled it down and left. Dr Reiber, I have had ten CT scans, the most recent was just a few months ago. Why? Because I have ENS, chronic sinusitis and POTS. Something I tried to explain multiple times to you, only to be dismissed again and again. There are no obstructions. There is ENS. ENS patients have turbinates that do not function properly and, as a result, they are more prone to infections, significant sinus swelling and neurological issues. I am writing this for any young person who was hurt in a sinus surgery and may work up the courage to ask about ENS. If you do not understand or won’t understand the condition, refer them to a doctor who will. We have lost too many young lives to s*I ide to be polite about...

Dr. Alexis Rieber was present, very personable and I appreciated the care she took when inserting a camera into my right nostril for imaging. Her explanation of my problem was clear and so were her solutions. I appreciated that Dr. Rieber made clear that the final decision, an operation, to handle my trouble was mine to make. I am sad to hear that she will leave this particular practice. It is such a treasure to find a physician who builds trust immediately and also works in a...

This was my first time meeting with Dr Rieber, as the other doctor I met with was no longer there. I like the fact that she reviewed my history before meeting with me. She listened attentively and answered all my questions as well as any concerns. She was pleasant and I did not feel rushed. I recommend her as well as the practice itself. The staff is great and easy to work with. I love the art that is displaced...