Re: Re: New to Group--Scared about Costs...need advice!

[Guest guest]

,

I know it's frustrating to get started finding a good qualified surgeon.  I'm

not sure what is in Colorado, I did notice the Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis and it

has achalasia listed and their is also Dr. Rice at the Cleveland Clinic, who

many have gone to for this surgery.  I can also recommend my surgeon Dr.

Maish of UCLA in Calif., many travel to see her.  I also think that once you

can

" get to " a top doctor, you will know it, and that will end the quest!!!  I have

email for my doctors assistant, if you need it let me know! 

Julee, So Calif.

________________________________

From: pestanac3 <pestanac3@...>

achalasia

Sent: Mon, March 14, 2011 8:55:18 PM

Subject: Re: New to Group--Scared about Costs...need advice!

 

Thank you Sandy and . I appreciate your insight and advice.

How do I go about finding the best doctors? I live in Denver. I have no clue how

to even start locating a doctor who is experienced with Achalasia here. And how

do I rate what makes a doctor the " best " ? What criteria do I use and what

process do I go through to find these doctors to rate them? Do I just start

calling hospitals and ask for the GI department? And then who should I speak

with--I can't imagine the doctor him/herself would be available to speak with on

the phone, would they? I cannot imagine it would make sense to have appointments

with each doctor I find in the directory to interview them... I don't even know

how to begin!!

If there are better doctors outside of the Denver area, would you recommend

going to them instead of staying local? That sounds like what you are inferring

in the emails below. And how do I find those doctors?

Any help that anyone can shed on this topic of starting at ground zero on this

process would be helpful!

Thank you all SO much---this forum has been a Godsend!

> > >

> > > Hi Everyone,

> > > I'm new to this group and I'm so glad I found it. I am a 39 year old

female

>and live in Denver, CO.

>

> > >

> > > I started noticing some difficulty swallowing in Nov 2006. Got a diagnosis

>of " Achalasia " in April 2008 and a Botox treatment, which is what the doc

>advised. I was basically told nothing about Achalasia except that it gets

worse.

>The botox worked very well, so that combined with lack of understanding of

truly

>what the implications were and being in denial left me pretty much untreated

>except that one Botox injection. I thought maybe it was going away!

> > >

> > > Well, the swallowing problems started getting bad again a little over a

>year ago and the choking started in about May of 2010. It hit me with a

>vengence. I lost my job the prior year and was without health insurance, so I

>just sort of dealt with it. Ended up in the public hospital urgent care in June

>2010 because I couldn't get but a tiny bit of food or water down for nearly 3

>days.

>

> > >

> > > They did another Botox injection and sent me on my way. It seemed to take

>for about 2 weeks and then I was back to nighttime and day time choking, not

>being able to swallow foods, etc. The doctor who did the treatment himself said

>that he would NOT get surgery for it at that hospital, so that ended that deal.

>Well,I found a temp position a month later and was finally offered full time

>with benefits which kicked in this January.

>

> > >

> > > Unfortunately I had accumulated debt during the year of being unemployed

>(plus before the A started I was very ill with some mysterious immune-related

>illness, thought it was Lyme--put me in a major hole financially). Anyway, when

>I was signing up for health insurance, I have been so backed up on bills that I

>felt I could not afford to pay the monthly cost for the better-coverage health

>care option--which would have prevented me from paying other monthly bills. I

am

>KICKING myself now over this decision. But at the time it was just so much

>pressure and no one to process this with. Anyway, I'm in a situation now where

I

>realize that I cannot ignore this A issue any longer. I'm getting educated in

>this forum and now I need to move forward with getting some expert help.

> > >

> > > My question is this: How have you all dealt with the financial burden of

>having A and all of its treatments? I'm single and do not have a 2nd income to

>fall back on.

>

> > >

> > > Sorry for the long story, but I want to share where I'm coming from. I

feel

>terribly stuck between a rock and a hard place and am fearful of the financial

>hole that this will continue to put me in. I feel like I have no future because

>of the financial burdens and now I just see more of that coming my way...

> > >

> > > Any thoughts or stories you can share that may help me here?

> > >

> > > Thank you!

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

You are starting your research!  Yay!  I had many setbacks myself, last year I

was so frustrated because I could barely swallow a thing, and I HAVE to work,

long hours on my feet.  It will work out, just keep focused on the goal.  It's

amazing that the actual surgery in the hands of an expert is so simple, yet

changes our whole life!!! 

Julee So Calif.

________________________________

From: pestanac3 <pestanac3@...>

achalasia

Sent: Mon, March 14, 2011 9:37:44 PM

Subject: Re: New to Group--Scared about Costs...need advice!

 

Thanks a bunch, ! I wrote that name down and have been going through

previous posts to search for other doctor's names and have found a few. I also

just found the list of questions to ask the doctors to pick which one to go

with.

Thank you! I'll let you all know how it's going as I make more progress.

> > > >

> > > > Hi Everyone,

> > > > I'm new to this group and I'm so glad I found it. I am a 39 year old

>female

>

> >and live in Denver, CO.

> >

> > > >

> > > > I started noticing some difficulty swallowing in Nov 2006. Got a

>diagnosis

>

> >of " Achalasia " in April 2008 and a Botox treatment, which is what the doc

> >advised. I was basically told nothing about Achalasia except that it gets

>worse.

>

> >The botox worked very well, so that combined with lack of understanding of

>truly

>

> >what the implications were and being in denial left me pretty much untreated

> >except that one Botox injection. I thought maybe it was going away!

> > > >

> > > > Well, the swallowing problems started getting bad again a little over a

> >year ago and the choking started in about May of 2010. It hit me with a

> >vengence. I lost my job the prior year and was without health insurance, so I

> >just sort of dealt with it. Ended up in the public hospital urgent care in

>June

>

> >2010 because I couldn't get but a tiny bit of food or water down for nearly 3

> >days.

> >

> > > >

> > > > They did another Botox injection and sent me on my way. It seemed to

take

>

> >for about 2 weeks and then I was back to nighttime and day time choking, not

> >being able to swallow foods, etc. The doctor who did the treatment himself

>said

>

> >that he would NOT get surgery for it at that hospital, so that ended that

>deal.

>

> >Well,I found a temp position a month later and was finally offered full time

> >with benefits which kicked in this January.

> >

> > > >

> > > > Unfortunately I had accumulated debt during the year of being unemployed

> >(plus before the A started I was very ill with some mysterious immune-related

> >illness, thought it was Lyme--put me in a major hole financially). Anyway,

>when

>

> >I was signing up for health insurance, I have been so backed up on bills that

>I

>

> >felt I could not afford to pay the monthly cost for the better-coverage

health

>

> >care option--which would have prevented me from paying other monthly bills. I

>am

>

> >KICKING myself now over this decision. But at the time it was just so much

> >pressure and no one to process this with. Anyway, I'm in a situation now

where

>I

>

> >realize that I cannot ignore this A issue any longer. I'm getting educated in

> >this forum and now I need to move forward with getting some expert help.

> > > >

> > > > My question is this: How have you all dealt with the financial burden of

> >having A and all of its treatments? I'm single and do not have a 2nd income

to

>

> >fall back on.

> >

> > > >

> > > > Sorry for the long story, but I want to share where I'm coming from. I

>feel

>

> >terribly stuck between a rock and a hard place and am fearful of the

financial

>

> >hole that this will continue to put me in. I feel like I have no future

>because

>

> >of the financial burdens and now I just see more of that coming my way...

> > > >

> > > > Any thoughts or stories you can share that may help me here?

> > > >

> > > > Thank you!

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

When I was doing my search for a surgeon, I interviewed Reginald Bell at

Presbyterian in Denver.  He came highly recommended.  I went to the Cleveland

Clinic with Dr. Rice to be closer to my daughter, but Bell seemed competent and

has the experience.

Santa Fe

________________________________

From: Montoya <medhelpinfo@...>

achalasia

Sent: Mon, March 14, 2011 10:18:13 PM

Subject: Re: Re: New to Group--Scared about Costs...need advice!

 

,

I know it's frustrating to get started finding a good qualified surgeon.  I'm

not sure what is in Colorado, I did notice the Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis and it

has achalasia listed and their is also Dr. Rice at the Cleveland Clinic, who

many have gone to for this surgery.  I can also recommend my surgeon Dr.

Maish of UCLA in Calif., many travel to see her.  I also think that once you

can

" get to " a top doctor, you will know it, and that will end the quest!!!  I have

email for my doctors assistant, if you need it let me know! 

Julee, So Calif.

________________________________

From: pestanac3 <pestanac3@...>

achalasia

Sent: Mon, March 14, 2011 8:55:18 PM

Subject: Re: New to Group--Scared about Costs...need advice!

 

Thank you Sandy and . I appreciate your insight and advice.

How do I go about finding the best doctors? I live in Denver. I have no clue how

to even start locating a doctor who is experienced with Achalasia here. And how

do I rate what makes a doctor the " best " ? What criteria do I use and what

process do I go through to find these doctors to rate them? Do I just start

calling hospitals and ask for the GI department? And then who should I speak

with--I can't imagine the doctor him/herself would be available to speak with on

the phone, would they? I cannot imagine it would make sense to have appointments

with each doctor I find in the directory to interview them... I don't even know

how to begin!!

If there are better doctors outside of the Denver area, would you recommend

going to them instead of staying local? That sounds like what you are inferring

in the emails below. And how do I find those doctors?

Any help that anyone can shed on this topic of starting at ground zero on this

process would be helpful!

Thank you all SO much---this forum has been a Godsend!

> > >

> > > Hi Everyone,

> > > I'm new to this group and I'm so glad I found it. I am a 39 year old

female

>

>and live in Denver, CO.

>

> > >

> > > I started noticing some difficulty swallowing in Nov 2006. Got a diagnosis

>of " Achalasia " in April 2008 and a Botox treatment, which is what the doc

>advised. I was basically told nothing about Achalasia except that it gets

worse.

>

>The botox worked very well, so that combined with lack of understanding of

truly

>

>what the implications were and being in denial left me pretty much untreated

>except that one Botox injection. I thought maybe it was going away!

> > >

> > > Well, the swallowing problems started getting bad again a little over a

>year ago and the choking started in about May of 2010. It hit me with a

>vengence. I lost my job the prior year and was without health insurance, so I

>just sort of dealt with it. Ended up in the public hospital urgent care in June

>2010 because I couldn't get but a tiny bit of food or water down for nearly 3

>days.

>

> > >

> > > They did another Botox injection and sent me on my way. It seemed to take

>for about 2 weeks and then I was back to nighttime and day time choking, not

>being able to swallow foods, etc. The doctor who did the treatment himself said

>that he would NOT get surgery for it at that hospital, so that ended that deal.

>Well,I found a temp position a month later and was finally offered full time

>with benefits which kicked in this January.

>

> > >

> > > Unfortunately I had accumulated debt during the year of being unemployed

>(plus before the A started I was very ill with some mysterious immune-related

>illness, thought it was Lyme--put me in a major hole financially). Anyway, when

>I was signing up for health insurance, I have been so backed up on bills that I

>felt I could not afford to pay the monthly cost for the better-coverage health

>care option--which would have prevented me from paying other monthly bills. I

am

>

>KICKING myself now over this decision. But at the time it was just so much

>pressure and no one to process this with. Anyway, I'm in a situation now where

I

>

>realize that I cannot ignore this A issue any longer. I'm getting educated in

>this forum and now I need to move forward with getting some expert help.

> > >

> > > My question is this: How have you all dealt with the financial burden of

>having A and all of its treatments? I'm single and do not have a 2nd income to

>fall back on.

>

> > >

> > > Sorry for the long story, but I want to share where I'm coming from. I

feel

>

>terribly stuck between a rock and a hard place and am fearful of the financial

>hole that this will continue to put me in. I feel like I have no future because

>of the financial burdens and now I just see more of that coming my way...

> > >

> > > Any thoughts or stories you can share that may help me here?

> > >

> > > Thank you!

> > >

> > >

> >

>