PARBIE- I am very impressed by your detective work on going and researching these doctors. I live in NY and have spoken to Dr. Brantigan and that is who I want to see for my diagnosis and possible surgery. I think I have ATOS or VTOS. My health insurance will not cover any doctor outside of NY. THey are trying to convince me to see the doctors at NYU but I know they are not nearly as experienced as the Denver doctors. I am so upset about this because its my life and well being and I even switched health insurances thinking it would cover out of network and it doesnt. I do not know what to do! I dont understand how people do it when their insurance doesnt cover it. I am getting new insurance soon but I dont know if they offer out of network. I am not too familiar with health insurance plans. Have you met Dr.Brantigan yet? I wish I were as lucky as you and could go to any doctor. I am devastated and concerned about my health over this.

I'm sorry to hear that you are having so many issues with your insurance. Luckily, both Brantigan and Annest are in network providers under my insurance plan, as I learned regardless whether I met my max and deductible if I chose out of network I might end up with some unexpected costs later. I have been meaning to post an update. I have not yet seen either doctor and because of conflicting schedules for Brantigan and Annest, and because Brantigan said he couldn't operate until at least the second week of September, I chose to go with Annest and have everything booked for the last week of August including the tentative date for surgery. However, I thought it worthwhile to check my options and see if I could see Annest and Brantigan just for consults and testing earlier and then book a surgery a couple weeks later. I just found out today I can see them both the week of August 13 but Brantigan's schedule for surgery is still up in the air (since he is moving practices). I am so confused right now whether I should just stick with my first choice and go with Annest, make one trip, save time, energy, time off work and money by traveling once (TOSers, I would love some input on this!). Or just make 2 trips to see them both before deciding. What made you decide on Brantigan? Did you also speak with Annest? By the way, try looking into United Healthcare, Brantigan is covered by that insurance, it's the one I have.

I think you can't go wrong with either of them. They were the most mentioned TOS surgeons for years, now there are many more top surgeons in other locations being mentioned.

This is just my personal opinion of what I would do (actually, what I almost did). I would make 2 trips. I would need some time between consulting with the surgeons and surgery. I would need a week or two to digest everything, ask additional questions, and mentally prepare myself for surgery. A trip to Denver is a short direct flight for me and not overly expensive, which may not be the case for you.

Parbie-
if it was me I would go see both of them when you can and schedule the surgery with Annest, but if you like Brantigan better then you can change your plans. i think you said that it was okay to cancel the surgery. Just give yourself a day or so after you see both of them to decide. You could also change your plans and go home and then decide. Or you can wait until they are both available for surgery. With such a big decision, you dont want to rush it even though I know you are anxious to get it done.

I forget are they both advocating the same surgery? I know Dr. Annest is a protege of Sanders and he beleives in scalenctomy only and pec minor tenomoty.

Of course this is just my opinion,but I would'nt schedule surgery with someone I had never met. You need to do what feels right for you!

Good Luck
JKL

Hello, I thought I'd chime in with my personal experience.

In December 2011, I had swelling in my left arm which turned out to be blood clots due to Paget-Schroeder Syndrome.

After reading various threads on here, I was extremely nervous about the surgery, but it all went extremely smooth.

I had a first rib resection surgery done in Feb 2012, in Philadelphia, PA.

I went with Dr. Ronald Fairman, who is the head Vascular Surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania.

He uses the Transaxillary approach.

If anyone has any specific questions feel free to ask.

Have a great day!

Sean

Thanks for the input JKL. I would have to make 2 trips for sure because otherwise I would end up having to stay in Denver for a month waiting to get the surgery. They are both saying different things. Dr. Annest is saying he can't tell me which procedure he will be doing until he does more tests and sees me in person. So regardless of not having met him, I would trust him after seeing him and if I don't feel right can still cancel the surgery. He said he would probably do the scalenectomy and remove my cervical rib. He would only remove the first rib if necessary and says according to further research he and Sanders have learned it is not necessary to always remove the first rib contrary to what Sanders published a while ago. I will have to do the MAC test with Sanders to see if I need a pec minor tenotemy. Dr. Brantigan said he would remove the cervical and first rib but he would leave a small stump. That was one thing I was unsure about since so much of the research I've read says it should be fully removed. He said he would only do a scalenectomy depending on where my brachial plexus is being compressed.

Anyway, I have done a lot of thinking and I think I am going to just stick with Annest especially because Sanders will be assisting in the case. I am scheduled to see Annest and Sanders the week of August 27th with a tentative date for surgery scheduled August 30th. Oh and I plan to see a therapist with Physioarts next week for a month who has a lot of TOS experience (or so she says). Jennifer Green doesn't see patients anymore, she just owns the place. Giving it one last shot before I go through with the surgery, although I saw a therapist a couple weeks ago and he put me in a lot of pain after. I have been doing Edgelow's Protocol as much as I can after work but it is helping only a little and its temporary since I am in extreme pain as soon as I am back at work the next day, well even before that during my commute to work. I feel good about doing surgery but maybe I can at least get relief from pt before then.

Hows it going Parbie? How is the PT going? Are you still on Schedule to fly to Denver next week?

Hey Jkl, thanks for asking. I did PT for 3 weeks in NY and although the therapist was great and I felt some temporary relief for an hour or 2 after each session, it didn't last. I continued to do Edgelow's protocol at home as well and am still continuing with it. I actually decided to leave work a week early and come to Cali, so right now I am in the Bay area and went to see Steve at Edgelow's practice the other day. He taught me better how to do some of the exercises in the protocol. I am still scheduled to go to Denver, surgery is scheduled one week from now. I see Sanders on Monday and Annest on Tuesday.

I am ready to go tomorrow after meeting with Sanders and Annest. I feel very reassured that I am making the best decision to go forward with surgery, especially having had additional positive testing done. Annest plans to do a pec minor tenetomy and use the supraclavicular approach to resect my c-rib and do the scalenectomy with first rib resection if necessary. I will be back to post as soon as I am able. Wish me luck!