Re: Digest Number 2653

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 05/15/2003 4:45:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, NF2_Crew writes:

6 surgeries on one side june????????

Hi Cindy, yup 6 on the right side of my head! Do I get a trophy? :-) Heehee. I have "FAT" from my belly in my head to make up for whatever they had to remove. Oh, when I went to Mass General recently, Dr. MacCollin said that she could see some growth on the tumor at the top of my head. :-( But, right now, I'm more concerned with the changes/problems with my right hand and my right foot. JUNE

[Guest guest]

General rule of thumb with MRI's: The smaller the tunnel, the sharper and

more detailed the image

Pete

Now ya tell me :-( Well, I've been having CAT scans and MRIs for almost 20 years. I can tell you that I've gotten pretty claustrophobic about the MRI machine. BUT, I will continue with the teenie tube ones. I guess. Just need to load up on the drugs :-) JUNE

[Guest guest]

The last MRI that I had, although on my back, rather than my brain, was great. They put eye goggles on me that had a tv in them. I could lay there and watch and hear TV. I've had many MRI's on my back, but this one was the best, as far are being in a tunnel goes.

Doloras

[Guest guest]

I agree 100% with all of 's comments regarding the criteria for choosing

the best surgeon. Recognizing that your own criteria may differ from mine, or

that insurance or other financial considerations may influence your decision,

ALL of my own criteria were met by Dr West. I couldn't have asked for more.

There might be a slight misunderstanding that some Dr's, including Dr West, do

not accept insurance. He may not participate (which I believe means he would

agree to accept whatever the insurance company's std pmt would be), but my

insurance did cover a certain amount of his fee, as well as an amount of the

hospital charges. This fact should be considered in evaluating your total

out-of-pkt cost for the procedure.

As regards Dr West's patients perhaps recuperating quicker than those of other

doctors...it does seem that others who have posted here following surgery by

this Dr did recuperate quickly. In my own case, I spent Tues night in the

hospital following surgery, returned to the hotel Wed evening, walked around

inside and outside the hotel on Thurs evening then went out for a sit down

dinner with my husband. On Friday, I walked at least 15 blocks to brunch and

then later to dinner. Today, I walked at least 12 blocks to the meet-up after

brunch, then went to dinner again this evening. I basically have a hipbone to

hipbone bikini incision. I have taken NO pain medication whatsoever, including

aspirin or Tylenol, following this surgery. I am by no means fully recovered of

course, but I think I'm doing quite well, and I think anyone who saw me at the

meet-up today would agree. Please understand that this has been my own

experience; I recognize that every individual's experience is

unique.

Marie from MI (PS - my husband Jeff is also the wonderful!)

Message: 6

Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 17:43:07 -0700 (PDT)

From: Rosen

Subject: Best Surgeons

One last point, which there are several other women here who seem to be

supporting my declaration of Dr. West's excellence. I believe that women who go

to the 'best surgeons' tend to recuperate more quickly than others. Not an

absolute rule, there are lots of reasons for easier and more difficult

recoveries. But on average, that's what I see.