Lewis F Melba, MD

Most amazing experience getting my ears cleaned for the first time in 72 years. Comfortable with staff. Left feeling positive about life.

Had a very disconcerting experience at this practice today, August 7, 2013. I made an appointment with Dr. Lewis’ Ear Nose and Throat practice with complaints of a sore tonsil and a visual tonsil stone emerging from a crypt in the tonsil. Instead of booking me with the doctor, I was assigned to the physician’s assistant. He seemed like a very nice guy… but when it came to fixing my tonsil, he was totally and utterly lost.
First he skipped looking at my tonsil and started looking up my nose. He said I have a slightly deviated septum. Despite absolutely no history of any congestion, obstruction, or breathing problems, he starts asking me all sorts of questions about my nose. He ends by prescribing me a steroid nasal spary and tells me to double-​up with over-​the-​counter Afrin!
Then he looks at my tongue, and thinks it might be yellow because I have a yeast infection in my mouth. I was alarmed. He prescribed throat lozenges I was supposed to take five times a day.
Finally, he pulls out a bottle of probiotics. I had a feeling this was coming, because the waiting room of this head and neck surgeon has a huge display case of probiotcs. Promising me that «this stuff is much better than the crap at GNC» he sells me a $ 35 jar or probiotics.
As for that sore tonsil? Well, he barely looked, but claimed he couldn’t see what I was talking about. I left the office totally alarmed and with nothing to treat my symptoms and some medicine recommendations that might cause me harm (imagine doing double time on Afrin and steroid nasal spray when your nose is fine to begin with!). I was so worried, that I called all over town until I could find another ENT who could see me the same day. I found one at St. David’s Medical Center and drove across town to see him.
He took one look at my tonsil and knew what was up. It was, in his words, «a classic case of tonsillitis.» He prescribed me a 10-​day course of anti-​biotics and said I would be fine. I told him what happened at Dr. Melba Lewis’ practice, and he was alternately amused and alarmed. He thought sniffing powerful nasal sprays with no nose problems was very dangeous. He examined my tongue and found no evidence at all of any yeast or yeast infection and said I should literally rip up the prescription from the PA at Lewis’ office. Finally, he laughed that an ENT would be pushing probiotics, saying that is great if you have irritable bowels, but has little if anything to do with ear, nose, and throat infections.
I have written Dr. Melba Lewis all of the above information in a letter. I do not want to cast any aspersions on her personally or her abilities. I did not see her in this visit at all. However, Dr. Lewis must take responsibility when she is pushing off patients to a non-​physician working out of her office space, and that person is handing out prescriptions that do not address the problem and may be potentially harmful. I am very thankful I did not listen to any of the advice I received at her office, as it could have adversely affected my health. BEWARE!

Theoretically I could take off a star because the office runs a bit late. But… In a doctors office I just go expecting that the doctors that spend a lot of time with patients tend to run late. I’m cool with that and I tend to see it as a positive more than a negative.
So back to Dr. Lewis.
Here is what I love. She looks at the whole person. She is just as likely to prescribe a change in diet, a vitamin or acidophilus as she is to give a prescription for an antibiotic. Oh, and she’s a surgeon too.
One of the doctors that asks, «So why did you end up with an ear ache ?» instead of just simply saying, «Oh… you have an earache… here’s some drugs. «
Evidence? I got an earache. We figured it was since I was cheating on the eating of dairy. We cleared up my earache. I stopped cheating on the dairy. I haven’t had an earache for over 2 years now. You know, the last time I saw her!
She is the sort of doctor who not only GIVES good book recommendations, but is eager to hear about any good ones you know of as well. It is obvious she is truly passionate about her patients and continually learning about health. Love Her!

Dr Melba and her entire staff are AMAZING. They’re friendly, personable, always on top of whatever I need. They get to know you, and really take the time to sit down, answer your questions, and make sure you know what’s going on. Dr. Melba and Keith both explain the conditions and treatment options really well, and explain their reasons for doing certain medications, treatments, etc.
It’s so rare to find in a doctor these days.
I had sinus surgery 2 years ago with them, and despite having continuing issues (it’s Austin! the only thing that fixes it is moving away), it was a huge help, and every time I visit them is a pleasure.

Best ENT surgeon and doctor. She listens and does not rush you. There is a bit of a wait because she gives each patient outstanding care. You can call ahead to see if she is running late though. We have been seeing her since ⁶⁄₂₀₀₉. My daughter just had her adenoids and tonsils removed. Dr. Lewis and Keith did a great job preparing us for the surgery and recovery. We wanted to wait on surgery until after our vacation. It was clear Dr. Lewis thought we should not wait. Her staff was gracious when we came back and said «my daughter can’t breathe well at night.» We could not ask for a better doctor or office team!