Dear DS Hue,

I'm happy to share whatever information I can. Alaska49 helped me out with info when I was planning to go, too - he's been going there for a while and loves Getson.

Where did you grow up? I'm from Haddonfield. One of my brothers lives 10 miles down RTE 73 from Getson's office in Erial, NJ. The whole area around his office is so different I didn't recognize much. The circles are now huge intersections instead the old wild free for alls...I can't remember if the one by his ofice was the old Marlton Circle or the old Ellisburg Circle. Probably Marlton... We came in from the shore off of the AC Espressway instead of the way I would have come if coming from my old house.

Anyway, I prepared my own package of medical documents to submit to his office in early October. It included all the records from my doctors since I was diagnosed with RSD, starting with the surgeon, the PM, the a new PM I switched to in Boston, my PT, a rheum consult I had, a neurology consult, my PCP papers, and lab and MRI results. I also took the time to summarize on a month by month basis the changes that had been occurring to my body over time and with changes in weather, meds, treatments, etc. I prepared a timeline, at his office's request. I sent him the $400 check required, I am hoping it might be reimbursed from my insurance company.

I met with him for one and a half hours. His observations regarding my posture, the slant that is starting to develop on one side of my face, and the areas of my pain and spasming were just so interesting. I feel like I have wasted a year of my life slepping around RI and Boston with amateurs because this guy REALLY cares about what he does and he's passionate about discovering exactly what's wrong with each patient, and everything he said just made so much sense! It's like somebody finally CARES and FIGURED it out!! It's so wonderful to finally find out what's really wrong, but devastating at the same time because the consequences of what went wrong are so tramatic for me.

Anyway, Getson's report for my WC lawyer was in my hands in a week. It's in extremely good shape, a few typos, nothing bad. It's hand's down the best report that I have gotten from any practictioner to date in regards to its completeness, the depth of it's analytic data, etc. He did a really good job.

Getson's ketamine infusions are performed in his office. His office is in an office building next to a full service hospital - I think its called Ventura. I know my grandmother was in that hopsital once a long time ago, it had a different name then. The room the infusions are performed in has lounge chairs all set up so the patients (maybe 4 or 5) are together, instead of all separated in rooms and by themselves alone. I'm a little concerned about the chairs since I can't lean back against my head, I can only lay on my side...anyway, he has infusions nurses to take care of you. It costs $1200-$1500 a day, in advance.

I need WC to pay for my ketamine. I arranged for his report to be faxed late Friday afternoon to my attorney's office. I am assuming there will be a court date. I understand that my WC carrier has denied all everything so far for me case, but I've gotten my meds, my docs, my treatments anyway because my lawyer has been able to succeed on my behalf for me in court. But this is new, and ketamine is still deemed experimental despite Dr. S.'s latest reports, so who knows what is going to happen. I am very very terrified of what may be decided.

I can start getting ketamine in Febr according to his schedule if the courts order the insurance company to pay.

Getson's report stated that I have an 80% of getting better on ketamine, and in his opinion, it is the only treatment option for my RSD, follow by occupational therapy, that he recommends at this time. He is also stated that without ketamine I will be completely incapacitated, disabled and unable to return to work for the rest of my life.

I've had a tough time with that one.... I have worked since I was 14 years old, often at 2 jobs. During busy season as a CPA I have worked 40 straight days, logging over 300 hours of OT. I am only 49 now, and I think I deserve a chance to get better. In the long run, despite the cost of ketamine, I think the numbers would still make sense. My meds are really expensive on a monthly basis.

If I think of anything else I will let you know.

XOXOXO Sandy