Dr. Sapna Pithwa, DO

horrible rude woman. tried to have a telehealth visit, but she wouldn't allow me to talk, so I had to hang up.

On July 5th, 2022, I saw Dr. Pithwa through BCBSRI's Doctors Online portal. I came to her with one-sided pulsatile tinnitus and symptoms of an ear infection (warmth/redness/fullness). The one-sided pulsatile tinnitus, it turns out, is a very obvious symptom of vascular dysfunction, but she missed that, and just told me my symptoms were most likely related to allergies or possibly anxiety. When I pushed back, insisting on treatment for an ear infection (at least), she agreed to prescribe antibiotic ear drops. The ear infection symptoms improved with the drops. The pulsatile tinnitus did not, but because she never told me it was potentially serious or to seek care from a specialist like an ENT, neurologist, or vascular surgeon, I spent months assuming the pulse in my ear was allergies or anxiety. It turned out I actually had a dural AV fistula caused by a thrombosis in my left sigmoid sinus. I could've had a stroke or brain hemorrhage.

I had a bad experience with  Dr. Sapna Pithwa and I will never request her again. She had only 1 patient waiting but I ended up waiting over 50 minutes. She didn't want to help me just kept saying to go to the ER. I had bad stomach pain and I gave her my honest medical background. I asked her regarding a certain medication I have taken in the past for the same thing and she said that she didn't recommend that specific medication. I said, okay, no problem, but is there any other alternative? Can she just help with my symptoms and reduce the pain?She just kept saying that "she can not help me", "this is not what she is here for". She rudely interrupted me while I was describing my medical history. I wasted one hour on this call. She absolutely DID NOT UNDERSTAND what I was saying. She kept interrupting me and mumbled on about useless things. She didn't answer my questions.  She didn't help. She didn't offer any useful advice.  She only made me feel bad about being sick.

Uncaring, cold,TERRIBLE doctor!This is the 1st bad review I've ever written for anything but felt compelled to.She refused to treat a simple case of poison ivy of my little girl's AFTER I paid my $59 on AmWell online.I told her my dd had had poison ivy many times & responded well to liquid or cream prescriptions, but didn't responded to steroid pills we used for this outbreak & I needed a script for the liquid or cream bc they work for her.She refused to treat my little girl after being paid!!??

Shes the only dr i have faith in will alwas be her patient