Re: EUS assisted Celiac Nerve block

[Guest guest]

Hi:

Very few, if any, doctors are performing the EUS blocks.

I've had them at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, NY which is a Long

Island suburb of New York City.

The physician is Gress, MD, who is the Chief of Endoscopy. His office

number is 516 633-2066.

I have referred others whom I've met online and they were very happy with his

care and the results. He's gotten used to meeting people who tell him that

Ellen Grove sent them!

-E

[Guest guest]

The procedure is ambulatory. It's done in the endoscopy lab.

You go home a few hours later.

There is no way of knowing how long it will last or even if it will work.

There's been a 70% success rate of some or full pain relief for an average of

14 weeks. In many cases, the nausea abates along with the pain.

I've had mixed results from no effect to the last one which is just now

wearing off after two years.

He's been teaching the procedure to doctors from other cities.

I've met a few of them each time.

I will fax him to inquire about someone closer to you. I'll get back to you

as soon as I hear from him.

-E(llen)

[Guest guest]

I have been fully covered by my HMO each and every time.

-E

[Guest guest]

I have been fully covered by my HMO each and every time.

-E

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the information.How involved is the procedure,overnight

hospitalstay or longer?Did your insurance pay and how often does it have to

be repeated?.i wish Long island was a little closer to Virginia Beach where

I am living the traveling would be cumbersome especially being in pain

allthe time and unable to eat. Thanks again for responding Birgit.

>From: esquare726@...

>Reply-To: pancreatitis

>To: pancreatitis

>Subject: Re: EUS assisted Celiac Nerve block

>Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 19:16:05 EST

>

>Hi:

>

>Very few, if any, doctors are performing the EUS blocks.

>

>I've had them at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, NY which is a

>Long

>Island suburb of New York City.

>

>The physician is Gress, MD, who is the Chief of Endoscopy. His

>office

>number is 516 633-2066.

>

>I have referred others whom I've met online and they were very happy with

>his

>care and the results. He's gotten used to meeting people who tell him that

>Ellen Grove sent them!

>

>

>-E

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi:

This is Ellen. I've had TEN of the EUS assisted celiac plexus blocks.

The first one did fail. So I went right back and had another that did,

thankfully, work.

You must understand that the blocks do not guarantee complete pain relief.

Each person's nervous system responds differently.

I've gotten anywhere from three months to now *two years* relief from some or

all pain. And the accompanying nausea was also lessened.

When they've worn off, my pain has not been any more intense than prior to

the procedures. It just returned to its awful self.

The studies that I've seen that came out or Indianapolis indicated a 70%

success rate.

All I can tell you is the fact that since undergoing the blocks, I've not

needed any narcotic analgesics.

I am about to schedule my next one.

-E

[Guest guest]

E;

So, in your mind, you clearly recommend, or at least BELIEVE, in them.

When I first saw the only pain mngmnt. doc. that I've seen, that was the

first question she asked me: How I felt about the cpblocks. The

experiences from folks on this group were mostly negative, so that is what I

relayed, exactly like that. It was dismissed.

Is it something you believe I should consider? Obviously it's worthwhile

for you.. Is that because it allows you to live without narcotics? Something

altogether different? I'd love to know why, for you, it seems like a good

idea, if you'd be willing to share. I want all the options possible. Right

now I feel as though I have none. Also, for you at least, is it a standard

insurance procedure?

Thank you, Dr. info.

Oh, and... Thank you Ellen.

Peace,

T

[Guest guest]

Terry, and all:

Please make sure that we are talking about the same type of celiac blocks.

There are different methods.

Again, mine are not performed by pain management.

Entry is not from the outside of the body.

They're done by a GI specialist who uses an upper endoscope just like the

ones used for the ERCP. They enter through your mouth.

It entails an ultrasound unit that guides the doctor all the way into the

stomach. An injection of a tiny amount of Bupivicaine is made right into a

nerve bundle of the gut wall/plexus. That's the whole process.

It is done while under IV sedation, not general anesthesia.

Is that the same procedure that you've investigated?

BTW, none of my organs have been compromised. And the only side effect that

I've experienced has been some diarrhea that goes away.

Again, very few doctors are doing it around the country.

My physician is constantly training more of them.

-E

-E