Re: Anyone with experience with Dr. Gerald Schaffer in CA?

[Guest guest]

Hi Gayle,

 

I would be stressed out too!  Do you happen to know HOW MANY of the dilations

Dr. Schaffer has done on achalasia patients?  The balloon dilitations are

something that a really good expert should be doing.  Otherwise you could

rupture or it could not take at all....I don't know if I would risk it without

knowing how many he has done and the outcome of them.  Why did he say botox? 

Would that even help you???  I would be put off by that also. 

 

Maybe others in this group know of someone closer to your area??? 

 

I'm in southern Calif. and had great care at UCLA and others at Cedars and

USC....I just don't have an answer for you.  If you don't feel right, then keep

on searching until you speak with the RIGHT GI, one who gives you

confidence???  

 

Julee So. Calif.  

From: gayle <mrshmllw2001@...>

achalasia

Sent: Friday, July 22, 2011 9:04 AM

Subject: Anyone with experience with Dr. Gerald Schaffer in CA?

 

Hello everyone,

I was an active member of this group over 5 years ago but have " neglected " my

achalasia for about the same period of time. To recap:

Dr Patti performed a Heller in Sept 2004 while he was still at UCSF and Dr

Ostroff did 2 post op dilitations in 2005/06.

Well, most of you know the story. I'm having problems again. I had the barium

swallow last week to confirm the sticking. Unfortunately, I no longer live in

SF and my insurance is based out of Reno, NV so Ostroff is considered Out of

Network. I now live in Truckee, CA (in between Lake Tahoe and Reno) So, here's

the pickle that I'm in:

1) Do I start with someone new, ie Dr Gerald Schaffer? He now practices 2 days

a week here in Truckee and the rest of the time in the East Bay (San Pablo, CA)

I saw him at the beginning of the week and he was nice enough and easy to talk

with but I'm concerned because he mentioned BOTOX right out of the box. I don't

want that now or ever, if I can help it. I'm 48 years old and have researched

the heck out of this disorder and was very put off put his suggestion. This

made me feel uneasy overall. He said he is fine to do the dilitation but I know

he hasn't performed as many as Ostroff. However, he would be covered in network

at 90% vs 70% of 'usual & customary' for Ostroff. Should I take this kind of

risk? On the one hand, my experiences at the Truckee Hospital have been

favorable but for some reason, I'm feeling skittish about starting with someone

new.

Does anyone have any firsthand experience with Dr. Schaffer? One member of the

group back in 2003, Kirk, references him but the email that I sent to her

bounced back. I just looked on the member list and I see a phone # for her so I

will try to call her this weekend. I'm looking for any help that I can get.

Or:

2) Pay out of pocket for Ostroff (who is extremely caustic and whom I have to

'fight' to ensure that an intern doesn't perform the dilitation on me at UCSF, a

teaching hospital) Seriously, I have to cross out " And Associates " on the

consent form because I am put under to make certain that I'm not a teaching

subject. Extremely stressful.

I'm very overwhelmed by this situation as I now care for my elderly mother full

time. Part of me wants to keep denying that my " A " has returned with a

vengeance but I am feeling too unwell to stay in denial.

Thanking you in advance for your words of wisdom.

Gayle in Truckee CA

mrshmllw2001@...

[Guest guest]

My thanks to for her support and information as well as to and

Carolyn who reached out to me as well.

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> I was an active member of this group over 5 years ago but have " neglected " my

achalasia for about the same period of time. To recap:

> Dr Patti performed a Heller in Sept 2004 while he was still at UCSF and Dr

Ostroff did 2 post op dilitations in 2005/06.

>

> Well, most of you know the story. I'm having problems again. I had the barium

swallow last week to confirm the sticking. Unfortunately, I no longer live in

SF and my insurance is based out of Reno, NV so Ostroff is considered Out of

Network. I now live in Truckee, CA (in between Lake Tahoe and Reno) So, here's

the pickle that I'm in:

>

> 1) Do I start with someone new, ie Dr Gerald Schaffer? He now practices 2

days a week here in Truckee and the rest of the time in the East Bay (San Pablo,

CA) I saw him at the beginning of the week and he was nice enough and easy to

talk with but I'm concerned because he mentioned BOTOX right out of the box. I

don't want that now or ever, if I can help it. I'm 48 years old and have

researched the heck out of this disorder and was very put off put his

suggestion. This made me feel uneasy overall. He said he is fine to do the

dilitation but I know he hasn't performed as many as Ostroff. However, he would

be covered in network at 90% vs 70% of 'usual & customary' for Ostroff. Should

I take this kind of risk? On the one hand, my experiences at the Truckee

Hospital have been favorable but for some reason, I'm feeling skittish about

starting with someone new.

>

> Does anyone have any firsthand experience with Dr. Schaffer? One member of

the group back in 2003, Kirk, references him but the email that I sent to

her bounced back. I just looked on the member list and I see a phone # for her

so I will try to call her this weekend. I'm looking for any help that I can

get.

>

> Or:

> 2) Pay out of pocket for Ostroff (who is extremely caustic and whom I have to

'fight' to ensure that an intern doesn't perform the dilitation on me at UCSF, a

teaching hospital) Seriously, I have to cross out " And Associates " on the

consent form because I am put under to make certain that I'm not a teaching

subject. Extremely stressful.

>

> I'm very overwhelmed by this situation as I now care for my elderly mother

full time. Part of me wants to keep denying that my " A " has returned with a

vengeance but I am feeling too unwell to stay in denial.

>

> Thanking you in advance for your words of wisdom.

>

> Gayle in Truckee CA

> mrshmllw2001@...

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Gayle,

Sorry you are having trouble again. I'd go for the one with the most

experience. No matter what the cost. Do you think w/ persistence you could

get which ever doctor to take whatever amount your insurance will pay. They all

love to have us as patients and might be willing to lower thier rate to get us.

Sandy in So Cal.

> >

> > Hello everyone,

> >

> > I was an active member of this group over 5 years ago but have " neglected "

my achalasia for about the same period of time. To recap:

> > Dr Patti performed a Heller in Sept 2004 while he was still at UCSF and Dr

Ostroff did 2 post op dilitations in 2005/06.

> >

> > Well, most of you know the story. I'm having problems again. I had the

barium swallow last week to confirm the sticking. Unfortunately, I no longer

live in SF and my insurance is based out of Reno, NV so Ostroff is considered

Out of Network. I now live in Truckee, CA (in between Lake Tahoe and Reno) So,

here's the pickle that I'm in:

> >

> > 1) Do I start with someone new, ie Dr Gerald Schaffer? He now practices 2

days a week here in Truckee and the rest of the time in the East Bay (San Pablo,

CA) I saw him at the beginning of the week and he was nice enough and easy to

talk with but I'm concerned because he mentioned BOTOX right out of the box. I

don't want that now or ever, if I can help it. I'm 48 years old and have

researched the heck out of this disorder and was very put off put his

suggestion. This made me feel uneasy overall. He said he is fine to do the

dilitation but I know he hasn't performed as many as Ostroff. However, he would

be covered in network at 90% vs 70% of 'usual & customary' for Ostroff. Should

I take this kind of risk? On the one hand, my experiences at the Truckee

Hospital have been favorable but for some reason, I'm feeling skittish about

starting with someone new.

> >

> > Does anyone have any firsthand experience with Dr. Schaffer? One member of

the group back in 2003, Kirk, references him but the email that I sent to

her bounced back. I just looked on the member list and I see a phone # for her

so I will try to call her this weekend. I'm looking for any help that I can

get.

> >

> > Or:

> > 2) Pay out of pocket for Ostroff (who is extremely caustic and whom I have

to 'fight' to ensure that an intern doesn't perform the dilitation on me at

UCSF, a teaching hospital) Seriously, I have to cross out " And Associates " on

the consent form because I am put under to make certain that I'm not a teaching

subject. Extremely stressful.

> >

> > I'm very overwhelmed by this situation as I now care for my elderly mother

full time. Part of me wants to keep denying that my " A " has returned with a

vengeance but I am feeling too unwell to stay in denial.

> >

> > Thanking you in advance for your words of wisdom.

> >

> > Gayle in Truckee CA

> > mrshmllw2001@

> >

>