Originally Posted by parbie

My symptoms are getting worse and worse on both sides. I really did not react well to those injections. Anyway here is the summary of what has been going on:
-I was not hearing back from any surgeons and every office stated the surgeons do not do phone consults and I would have to see them in person
-On Monday, I called Dr. Pearl's and Dr. Donahue's office because they are at the top of my list.
-Dr. Pearl's office said he won't do a phone consult but he took a quick look at my history and immediately told his assistant I definitely need a redo surgery, he said "her surgeon didn't do what he said he would do"; so I decided right then and there to book a consult and surgery next day with him and was all ready for June 12 surgery
-Dr. Donahue's assistant Pat said he also would not do a phone consult, but I explained my entire situation and that I had spoken to him last year. On Tuesday he called me. I was caught off guard because I was not expecting it and I had written him off because he was not able to see me til mid July at least and I could not wait that long. But he spoke to me that day for about 45 mins, said he went over all my history, asked me my symptoms in detailed, even apologized for calling so late and asked if it was a good time. He is SO NICE! Definitely understand why everyone on the forum absolutely loves him because I also do now. He asked me how he could help and I asked him his thoughts. He said he is conservative and only operates on 20% of the neurogenic patients he sees and he says he usually does not make a decision on whether I would be a candidate for surgery via phone but he said it sounds like I would be. He also said I need to realize this is a redo surgery and if he does it he is 100% taking out the extra rib + first rib and because it is a redo it will be a longer surgery. I explained my whole visa/insurance situation to him and he actually opened up his calender (this was past 5pm his time by the way) and scheduled me in for a day he does surgeries and said he would make time to see me once he is finished operating. Again, this man is the kindest, warmhearted, considerate and caring surgeon I have ever had the pleasure of speaking to and I have not even met him yet!
-I rethought my whole Dallas surgery and this is the plan: I fly to Boston June 5 to see him June 6 and do a CT scan June 7. I will then schedule surgery with Dr. Donahue depending on how everything goes. Boston just works out much much better for me distance and convenience wise but also I could not ask for a better surgeon. I have a flight still scheduled to Dallas from Boston to see Dr. Pearl but it is very likely I won't be going. Especially because I do not have any family members available to come care for me mid-June. I will have surgery end of June or mid-July hopefully with Dr. Donahue. The left side who knows, because Dr. Donahue says my recovery will be even longer than before and he does not want to rush it. That works for me! I then unfortunately have to fly back to NYC after to get my things from storage moved to Toronto and then finally I can fly home. This is a lot of travelling and I am not looking fwd to the flights and pain involved but I have to do it.

-Also want to add: every negative thing I read before about Dr. Lee at Stanford....omg so right. DO NOT GO TO HIM! I saw him today and I do want to bash but man, he is not a nice person. He also is very arrogant and he was trying to cover his *** because he knows Annest and Sanders and said very frankly "I don't do redo's". Ok then why the hell did you waste my time and money to come see you if you already knew I had surgery before? UGH! But on a positive note, I found something else out. Well actually it is not positive but I am trying to look at the trip to see him as not a waste because I had a Doppler test done and found out I also have arterial TOS on the right side. Dr. Lee did scare me he said he has never had a redo go successfully because there is too much scar tissue and that if I have it done, I will get more nerves injured and may lose all use of my right arm! I honestly was scared but then I thought about it, and I only went to see him out of convenience I never would have let him cut into me anyway just like I chose not to the first time, and I do not even value his opinion vs Dr. Pearl and Dr. Donahue who are much much much more experienced and have much better success rates.

So, that's my plan! .....will keep updating as I go. I feel it in my gut that I am making the right decision.