My situation

[Guest guest]

Awhile back I introduced myself to the group. I live in Arkansas. I have A and have not had any dilitations or a myotomy. I'm 35 years old with 2 kids that depend on me. So here is my situation. I really have two realistic options. I want to have a myotomy. The only doctor who is currently "in-network" on my insurance is at UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences). Her name is Diane Rhoden. She has done about 20-30 lap myotomies with Fundoplication, and she does 2-5 a year now. She says she will not do any proceedures without students working on me too. She does have one publication on Achalasia. I think she would likely do a good job.

I could switch insurance in October and go to Vanderbilt, Mayo, or Cleveland Clinic - a major center. The catch is I could not have surgery until January 2009 at the earliest. The wait seems forever since I've already been waiting since November 2007 when I was diagnosed trying to get all the information I need to make a decision (e.g., finding a surgeon, scheduling surgeons appointments, researching proceedures, etc).

My preliminary decision is to wait until I can go to Cleveland or Mayo, but I'm really unsure. Dr. Rhoden suggested I could wait awhile to have surgery, but I am concerned about my E. The travel part seems like it would be really tough after surgery. What advise do you have? I'd really like to hear experiences of those who traveled long distances to have the surgery done. The cost differential betwen the two options is trivial.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Guest guest]

Jeff,

I encourage you to weigh the pros and cons of your options

carefully. There are many here that would say that 20-30 isn’t enough

experience to operate on them or their love ones. And if you can hold out

for a better facility such as Mayo or Cleveland, try.

I can’t tell you what will be the best choice for you, but

I waited before rushing into surgery again with another doctor that wasn’t

an Achalasia specialist. And I saw 2 GIs and 3 surgeons before picking

one. I researched hospitals and doctors. Then weighed what was best for

me and my family. And if I had to travel, I would have to get the kind of

treatment I felt I needed.

And although I didn’t travel for surgery, I did need to

travel to heal and distract me from doing too much at home. I stayed

almost two months in So Cal. I had friends and family there to help me.

And when I returned home, completely able to do all the things I needed to. That

is until I blew-out my knee from doing too much and needed knee surgery. OOPPS.

I wish you the best,

in SF

From:

achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of Jeff

Quinn

Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 3:55 PM

achalasia

Subject: My situation

Awhile back I introduced myself to the group. I live in

Arkansas. I have A and have not had any dilitations or a myotomy.

I'm 35 years old with 2 kids that depend on me. So here is my

situation. I really have two realistic options. I want to have a

myotomy. The only doctor who is currently " in-network " on

my insurance is at UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences).

Her name is Diane Rhoden. She has done about 20-30 lap myotomies with

Fundoplication, and she does 2-5 a year now. She says she will not do any

proceedures without students working on me too. She does have one publication on

Achalasia. I think she would likely do a good job. I could

switch insurance in October and go to Vanderbilt, Mayo, or Cleveland

Clinic - a major center. The catch is I could not have surgery until

January 2009 at the earliest. The wait seems forever since I've already

been waiting since November 2007 when I was diagnosed trying to get all the

information I need to make a decision (e.g., finding a surgeon, scheduling surgeons

appointments, researching proceedures, etc).

My preliminary decision is to wait until I can go to Cleveland or Mayo, but

I'm really unsure. Dr. Rhoden suggested I could wait awhile to have

surgery, but I am concerned about my E. The travel part seems like

it would be really tough after surgery. What advise do you

have? I'd really like to hear experiences of those who traveled long

distances to have the surgery done. The cost differential betwen the two

options is trivial.

Thanks,

Jeff