Helen Foundation

Predator Preying on Sick People

Hello, I wish to convey to you my experiences with Microdose Therapy from Dr. Virgil Stenberg at the Helens Foundation. They claim to reduce Chronic Pain for Arthritis, CFS, MS, RA, OA, Fibromyalgia, Back Pain, Neuropathy, Migraines and even Parkinson’s by using Hydrocortisone (Cortisol) tablets. You name the illness…they claim to “reduce it or eliminate it.” I bit the hook of the promises to “arrest Fibromyalgia in 21 days” with a program where “patients averaged 77% relief.” Yes, I am a fool but desperate people in much pain tend to do desperate & foolish things. The people at the Foundation wanted their money and a signed contract up front BEFORE determining if I was even qualified or able to safely take the Hydro-cortisone! Even if you are Medically Disqualified from entering the program by a local doctor due to a condition you will only get back a small portion of the $7495 you paid to enroll in the program!

During my 3 week $3,400.00 “Shower” loading dose of 100 mgs of Hydrocortisone (Cortisol), I experienced adverse reactions such as swelling and unbearable pain of the face, jaw, neck and armpits, a sore throat & minor chest pain. I was told Hydrocortisone was a more “natural” drug similar to the body’s own Cortisol but my body could not tolerate it and the side effects were unbearable even when I tapered the dosage down.

I am still kicking myself in the @#% for being such a fool for entering this program and paying all that money. I thought they would have a Helens Foundation Pain Management Clinic nearby where I could learn more about pain management. Instead I was sent to a regular neighborhood GP doctor who had many patients coming in and out of his office. I walked in. He wrote a prescription. There is NO “EDUCATION” TO PATIENTS in a classroom or a clinic. Their “Patient Education Manuals” are just stapled papers and really don’t have any useful information. All they care about are the daily diary numbers you have to record and phone/FAX/email in. They do not care how you feel while you are taking the medication or how you are reacting to it. They forward the scores to Dr. Stenberg and he would put them in his graphing computer program which would generate color graphs like the graphs you played with in grammar school only this one costs you $995. He calls it a "digital tracking system" but it is nothing but colored graphs. What is another kicker is that the food allergy testing they charged me $900 is from Spectrum labs which tests dogs, cats, horses for pet owners & vets.

In essence, IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE LESSON FOR ME to which the program cost me out of pocket $5545.00 out of $7495.00. Dr. Stenberg is taking advantage of the temporary high from the steroid medication which eventually wears off several months later and that is how long his program is. If you want to try cortisol/hydrocortisone for your condition ask your doctor. It is really no different that prednisone. You do not, not, not need to spend $7500.00.

The Foundation rambles on about “improvements,” “1,938 patients and "two university studies” but it is a bunch of baloney. As far as I see, there are 1,938 PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY A PREDATOR PREYING ON SICK PEOPLE. All the Foundation cares about is the money not your condition! THERE IS NO MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! I also understand that Dr. Michael Jon Kell MEDICAL LICENSE WAS REVOKED and that he was convicted in Georgia of one count of felony Conspiracy to Defraud the State, one count of FELONY MEDICAID FRAUD, one count of felony False Writings, and three counts of felony Tax Evasion. Dr. Michael Jon Kell endorses Dr. Stenberg’s program on the Foundation’s website! So beware! BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER!

There have been customer complaints and customer reviews listed on the BBB website which have been removed. I saw a complaint on the BBB from another person and it has been removed. THIS IS JUST A BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY OFF PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND IN A LOT OF PAIN! I am sure there are a number of people who had similar issues with the Helens Foundation but were too sick and disgusted to write a complaint. I WAS SO SICKENED & DISGUSTED WITH MY EXPERIENCE OF THE HELENS FOUNDATION! So beware. Dr. Stenberg is holding a lot of seminars targeting suffers of Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, RA, OA, Chronic Pain, Neuropathy, in addition to Arthritis & Fibro especially in Arizona. Thy do not give medical advice because NO ONE IN THEIR OFFICE IS A REGISTERED NURSE OR A REAL DOCTOR WHO IS QUALIFIED TO TREAT PATIENTS!

Now about the A-rating by the BBB. My BBB complaint was not "resolved." The BBB really does nothing in regards to a complaint. You send in a complaint. They forward the complaint to the company/doctor. You get a response back & the case is closed! Nothing was "resolved." I did get a response back from Dr. Stenberg via the BBB but it was useless rambling about medication dosing. Dr. Stenberg is not, not, not concerned about your health! THIS IS JUST A BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY OFF PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND IN A LOT OF PAIN! It took a lot of energy and time to post my experiences in hope of warning others so they don't get taken advantage of as I was.

I also wrote a customer review on the BBB site for the Helens Foundation. It was posted. I saw it & read it. THAT BBB CUSTOMER REVIEW ON THE HELENS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN REMOVED! In fact, there are no reviews listed. That seems rather odd for a business which has been around for many years. Yet, I am reading all sorts of complaints on other sites. I know there was another BBB complaint listed on the BBB website before I filed my complaint. It may have been from a Parkinson's patient of Dr. Stenberg. It too has been REMOVED FROM THE BBB WEBSITE! I don't know if this 2nd complaint review will remain on the BBB site. Please take care! This Foundation will only make you sicker! Check other msg boards with complaints from his own employees! (Edited November 15, 2015)