If you are going to Denver, might as well see both Brantigan and Annest (I like Brantigan from my research).

Maybe you should consider St. Louis as well to see Dr. Robert Thompson - http://surgery.wustl.edu/tos/TOS.aspx

I can't see ALL those doctors. I'm wondering what anyone else would do or has done? If you had a possibility of have atos or vtos would you travel from new York to Denver to be in experienced hands ?? Switch insurances ? Here's the thing about my insurance. I've been paying out of pocket anyway so my new insurance is about 10-20 dollars more a month but I have a 1200 dollar deductible. That's the only difference. It's not like I was getting insurance from my job and decided to get out of it and pay for new insurance. My job doesn't offer health insurance until the end of this year. What would you do ?I'm curious.

Would you risk another Dr ? One that doesn't perform half as many surgeries as the Denver doctors ?

If I recall from past threads, Brantigan & maybe Annest also prefer to do their own testing, or have it done by someone they know nearby in Denver.

If you are thinking of going to either of the Denver docs or any of the big name TOS docs, you should contact them about testing etc, before getting a bunch of tests done at home and then having to redo them in Denver.

I think others have sent a packet of what testing, dx's & sx's etc, they have had so far for the doctors to review and they will contact you with what they think.
But contact them and find out more details on how they usually proceed with long distance possible surgical candidates.

You should add up the costs involved too - plane fare, hotel/motel, meals, taxi..
And ins may require a surgery like that to be authorized, unless a doc says something is serious/life threatening, it may be considered elective.

Hi everyone,
I have been suffering from chronic, painful, violent muscle spasms, that stem from TOS. I have been here a while now and have made a few friends. We have all seen the same Dr.'s in the L.A. area. I was one step away from a surgery and Dr. Sheldon Jordan saved me! I had seen him previously and had Botox injections, but that wore off on me rather quickly. Dr. Jordan has a new machine called Mc Rf. It's radio frequency, that penetrates the skin and stops the underlying muscle spasms! I have not felt this type of relief ever. Feels like my old self again.I was unsure about the procedure and was Dr. shopping. Even Dr. Hugh Gelabert at UCLA said that Dr. Jordan was a God at helping people who are suffering from TOS. I was trying to find a Dr in my network... Insurance has been absolutely horrible to me about this condition. They don't understand it. Please feel free to ask me anything about it or do yourself a favor if you are suffering from TOS. Go see Dr. Jordan!!!
Best, Mitsy

I have to disagree with nospam: going to Denver is TOTALLY worth it!!! One should never assume their health/body "isn't worth it". I have seen Dr Annest, traveled from Florida to have 3 surgeries with him and his associate Dr Nowak. FYI, Dr Brantigan is close by - you absolutely COULD see both Dr.'s. They are used to setting up/coordinating appointments for out of town patients.

Don't do yourself a dis-service Scaredsilly. You ARE "worth it"!!!

my 2 cents,
Anne

PM me or search my threads for more info.

I agree completely with nospam's comments. He/she was not in any way implying that Scaredsilly's health "is not worth it." He was simply advising that Scaredsilly take a measured and rational approach before flying halfway across the country, and spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars unneccessarily. He is absolutely correct--any local qualified vascular surgeon can prescribe an arteriogram and/or venogram (as I had done), which is then performed by a radiologist, in order to address Scaredsilly's fears of stroke.

Please understand--I am not crticizing Scaredsilly for being panicked, because I was the same way at one time. However, I agree with Nospam's comment about Scaredsilly posting and then not responding to follow-ups. To be perfectly frank, that is not the most courteous way in which to ask for advice in such a forum, where so many members are so generous with their time and jump in to give advice to anyone who requests it.

I understand that Scaredsilly is anxious and fearful, but I've seen her post new threads in this forum multiple times that are very similar. They usually say that she is scared to death that she will have a stroke and that there are "no good doctors in New York." I myself have responded with advice and comments, including my disagreement with the lack of any good TOS doctors in New York. We also have excellent TOS doctors here in the Washington, DC area. Then there's Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Washington University in St. Louis, the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Baylor University in Texas, and many others.

I know that in the case of Dr. Donahue, he has developed imaging techniques that are unique to his practice, so you would have to travel to have to see him to have these performed.

Jmax- Wow! That was out of left field. I don't even know what you're talking about and in regards to my posts that you seem to know too much about but hardly respond is that this was about Dr. sanders that i spoke with. Some posts are about health insurance, yes I do have an underlying fear (as do the rest of us or we wouldnt post on here ) however my theme of each thread is different. I and courteous to people who write me and respectful. If you have an issue with my threads then please take it up with me privately then blasting me publically on here. Please stay on topic. You have a choice to respond on my threads and to respond with a remark like that is a waste of time and out of line. Next time have a little more respect and try to understand my fears because I thought that is why we are all on a support group website and to be honest your not being very supportive so ignore my threads if they irritate you and keep your opinion to yourself regarding replies. I speak to a lot of people privately on here and respond that way.

I always thank people for their advice and take it into consideration. I've done tons of research and chose to pick specialists. I'm 26 years old and have a very hectic schedule and can't even get to a doctor right now. I am probably going to Denver because of their experience and I see nothing wrobg with that. I know too many people who had bad outcomes of their surgeries out of ny.

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