Re: VATS at Duke, etc. Beth where are you?

[Guest guest]

Beth is going to Duke so if she doesn't see your question here,

send her a private message. She can tell you all about it.

Which hospital is the pulmonologist you're going to for the second

opinion affiliated with? Be sure to ask how much experience, how many

patients he has with PF.

I absolutely love the area where you live. I spent so much of my

childhood and even college weekends and summers and then after

graduation on Lake Hickory, just miles away from you. I had excellent

doctors in Hickory. I wouldn't mind living in that area myself and

only think the best of Caldwell County. However, when it comes to

something like this, I'm just not real comfortable thinking of the

hospitals and the specialists around there.

I think of driving to Charlotte or further to Greensboro. But then, I

think if I'm going to do that why not just make the trip on to

Durham. Note: I also lived in Charlotte and grew up in Greensboro.

I'm sure both cities have excellent doctors and hospitals but if I'm

going an hour for excellent, i'm thinking I'm going three hours for

the best.

Doesn't mean you don't still need someone local. But, I can't imagine

any local doctor being offended that for a VATS or more advanced

consultation you'd like to go to Duke. It's not uncommon to have a

local pulmonologist but also to have one at a more distant teaching

and transplant facility.

For instance if I have a VATS, I want a surgeon who has done many

VATS, not a Thoracic Surgeon who primarily does heart and some lung

and every once in a while a VATS. While my surgeon has done lots of

VATS, I look back and wonder if I shouldn't have chosen a Thoracic

Surgeon who was lung only versus one who was more a heart surgeon.

A local pulmonologist is going to be one who does mostly asthma and

COPD. At Duke you can get one who is all PF. So, I think its quite

practical to have a local one you run to for a sudden infection or

something and a Duke one you go to for long term monitoring.

Now, the key is you don't even have a good diagnosis yet, so lets see

what the next pulmonologist says. Also, don't hesitate when he does

give you a diagnosis to ask him about Duke. If he's offended, he's

very narrow minded and not thinking of your best interests.

As to how long to see someone at Duke, ask Beth. Also, I bet

with a referral from your pulmonologist it may be a bit less even.

And, in the long run if you're ever considering clinical trials or

transplant, assuming you have PF, then Duke will be where you head.

>

> I know several of you mentioned that I should try to find a

University

> Medical facility, etc. Then, we talked about Duke being the

premier

> one in my area with NC Memorial being next. While I would like to

> connect with Duke, it scares me to think about being 3 hours away

from

> my doctor. How could I possibly do that.

>

> Since I have the appointment for the second opinion and a

discussion of

> VATS on 2/19 I am thinking of continuing with that and them make a

> decision on going to Duke, but how long does it normally take to

get an

> appointment at a hospital like that?

>

[Guest guest]

Maybe I inadvertantly misled you, I now live in the Charlotte area.

Thanks for answering all of my questions. You are the greatest.

> >

> > I know several of you mentioned that I should try to find a

> University

> > Medical facility, etc. Then, we talked about Duke being the

> premier

> > one in my area with NC Memorial being next. While I would like

to

> > connect with Duke, it scares me to think about being 3 hours away

> from

> > my doctor. How could I possibly do that.

> >

> > Since I have the appointment for the second opinion and a

> discussion of

> > VATS on 2/19 I am thinking of continuing with that and them make

a

> > decision on going to Duke, but how long does it normally take to

> get an

> > appointment at a hospital like that?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Maybe i'm oxygen deprived. Well, I'm sure you can find excellent

pulmonologist in Charlotte to get a diagnosis and then see where to

go. Just so long as its better than your first one.

I lived on Lake Norman then near South Park Mall. Cousin lived south

of Charlotte.

> > >

> > > I know several of you mentioned that I should try to find a

> > University

> > > Medical facility, etc. Then, we talked about Duke being the

> > premier

> > > one in my area with NC Memorial being next. While I would like

> to

> > > connect with Duke, it scares me to think about being 3 hours

away

> > from

> > > my doctor. How could I possibly do that.

> > >

> > > Since I have the appointment for the second opinion and a

> > discussion of

> > > VATS on 2/19 I am thinking of continuing with that and them

make

> a

> > > decision on going to Duke, but how long does it normally take

to

> > get an

> > > appointment at a hospital like that?

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

No, you aren't. You're remembering me telling you that i grew up in

Caldwell County. I started another little post to you and forgot to

send it. Duh! What I said was that I have a large piece of property

in Caldwell County that has an interesting history. My step dad left

it to me (he had no biological children and I took care of him for 16

years, so he left it to me. He inherited it from his great-

grandfather and he (my step Dad) was 92 years old.I had the original

hand-written deed to it which was written around 1750 or so as I

recall. It is the largest piece of land in that little town, and I'd

like to sell it, but of course, there isn't a lot of market for RE

right now. I do have it on the market though as Google just

relocated a new headquarters near there so who knows.

Maybe I can remember to post it this time. ;-)

> > > >

> > > > I know several of you mentioned that I should try to find a

> > > University

> > > > Medical facility, etc. Then, we talked about Duke being the

> > > premier

> > > > one in my area with NC Memorial being next. While I would

like

> > to

> > > > connect with Duke, it scares me to think about being 3 hours

> away

> > > from

> > > > my doctor. How could I possibly do that.

> > > >

> > > > Since I have the appointment for the second opinion and a

> > > discussion of

> > > > VATS on 2/19 I am thinking of continuing with that and them

> make

> > a

> > > > decision on going to Duke, but how long does it normally take

> to

> > > get an

> > > > appointment at a hospital like that?

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Well, either near Caldwell County or near Charlotte, I know the areas

well. Got to plan my trip to NC soon. Its going to be a long one. Got

a lot of the state to cover. Cousins and Aunts and Uncles and Neices

and Nephews are all further east now even though one cousin still

owns home in Monroe (her daughter living there but its where she

intends to retire) and other cousins grew up in Hickory.

> > > > >

> > > > > I know several of you mentioned that I should try to find a

> > > > University

> > > > > Medical facility, etc. Then, we talked about Duke being

the

> > > > premier

> > > > > one in my area with NC Memorial being next. While I would

> like

> > > to

> > > > > connect with Duke, it scares me to think about being 3

hours

> > away

> > > > from

> > > > > my doctor. How could I possibly do that.

> > > > >

> > > > > Since I have the appointment for the second opinion and a

> > > > discussion of

> > > > > VATS on 2/19 I am thinking of continuing with that and them

> > make

> > > a

> > > > > decision on going to Duke, but how long does it normally

take

> > to

> > > > get an

> > > > > appointment at a hospital like that?

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Then you'll have to let us know and we'll be 'family' too and you can

stop and see us.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I know several of you mentioned that I should try to find

a

> > > > > University

> > > > > > Medical facility, etc. Then, we talked about Duke being

> the

> > > > > premier

> > > > > > one in my area with NC Memorial being next. While I

would

> > like

> > > > to

> > > > > > connect with Duke, it scares me to think about being 3

> hours

> > > away

> > > > > from

> > > > > > my doctor. How could I possibly do that.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Since I have the appointment for the second opinion and a

> > > > > discussion of

> > > > > > VATS on 2/19 I am thinking of continuing with that and

them

> > > make

> > > > a

> > > > > > decision on going to Duke, but how long does it normally

> take

> > > to

> > > > > get an

> > > > > > appointment at a hospital like that?

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Bruce,

Just wanted to chime in on one point that you made. It's not unusual at all to consult a specialist at a distant hospital and have a local specialist that you can actually call on a day to day basis if you need things.

When I lived in NY I had a local pulmonologist whom I adored who implemented the treatment plan of Dr Simonelli at Columbia in NYC. I saw Dr. Simonelli every three months or so and saw my local guy if I needed anything at all in between. They worked together on my care and it worked beautifully!

Beth in NC age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06

"For as long as I shall live, I will testify to Love."

Re: VATS at Duke, etc. Beth where are you?

Beth is going to Duke so if she doesn't see your question here, send her a private message. She can tell you all about it.Which hospital is the pulmonologist you're going to for the second opinion affiliated with? Be sure to ask how much experience, how many patients he has with PF.I absolutely love the area where you live. I spent so much of my childhood and even college weekends and summers and then after graduation on Lake Hickory, just miles away from you. I had excellent doctors in Hickory. I wouldn't mind living in that area myself and only think the best of Caldwell County. However, when it comes to something like this, I'm just not real comfortable thinking of the hospitals and the specialists around there. I think of driving to Charlotte or further to Greensboro. But then, I think if I'm going to do that why not just make the trip on to Durham. Note: I also lived in

Charlotte and grew up in Greensboro. I'm sure both cities have excellent doctors and hospitals but if I'm going an hour for excellent, i'm thinking I'm going three hours for the best. Doesn't mean you don't still need someone local. But, I can't imagine any local doctor being offended that for a VATS or more advanced consultation you'd like to go to Duke. It's not uncommon to have a local pulmonologist but also to have one at a more distant teaching and transplant facility.For instance if I have a VATS, I want a surgeon who has done many VATS, not a Thoracic Surgeon who primarily does heart and some lung and every once in a while a VATS. While my surgeon has done lots of VATS, I look back and wonder if I shouldn't have chosen a Thoracic Surgeon who was lung only versus one who was more a heart surgeon. A local pulmonologist is going to be one who does mostly asthma and COPD. At Duke

you can get one who is all PF. So, I think its quite practical to have a local one you run to for a sudden infection or something and a Duke one you go to for long term monitoring.Now, the key is you don't even have a good diagnosis yet, so lets see what the next pulmonologist says. Also, don't hesitate when he does give you a diagnosis to ask him about Duke. If he's offended, he's very narrow minded and not thinking of your best interests. As to how long to see someone at Duke, ask Beth. Also, I bet with a referral from your pulmonologist it may be a bit less even. And, in the long run if you're ever considering clinical trials or transplant, assuming you have PF, then Duke will be where you head. >> I know several of you mentioned that I should try to find a University > Medical facility, etc. Then, we talked about Duke being the premier > one in my area with NC Memorial being next. While I would like to > connect with Duke, it scares me to think about being 3 hours away from > my doctor. How could I possibly do that.> > Since I have the appointment for the second opinion and a discussion of > VATS on 2/19 I am thinking of continuing with that and them make a > decision on going to Duke, but how long does it normally take to get an > appointment at a hospital like that?>

[Guest guest]

Can't imagine any good pulmonologist in NC who wouldn't be

comfortable with you going to Duke as well. In fact, I would think

they would make the referrals. They understand there are just

resources there beyond those available to them. And, I'm sure the

Duke Pulmonologists are just fine not having to deal with the interim

visits that don't require those resources.

Much like my neurologist referred me to UTSW at one time because he

could only run about 1/3 of the tests they could. Now, they wouldn't

actually become your primary neurologist even if you wanted.

> >

> > I know several of you mentioned that I should try to find a

> University

> > Medical facility, etc. Then, we talked about Duke being the

> premier

> > one in my area with NC Memorial being next. While I would like to

> > connect with Duke, it scares me to think about being 3 hours away

> from

> > my doctor. How could I possibly do that.

> >

> > Since I have the appointment for the second opinion and a

> discussion of

> > VATS on 2/19 I am thinking of continuing with that and them make

a

> > decision on going to Duke, but how long does it normally take to

> get an

> > appointment at a hospital like that?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Precisely!!

Beth in NC age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06

"For as long as I shall live, I will testify to Love."

Re: VATS at Duke, etc. Beth where are you?

Can't imagine any good pulmonologist in NC who wouldn't be comfortable with you going to Duke as well. In fact, I would think they would make the referrals. They understand there are just resources there beyond those available to them. And, I'm sure the Duke Pulmonologists are just fine not having to deal with the interim visits that don't require those resources.Much like my neurologist referred me to UTSW at one time because he could only run about 1/3 of the tests they could. Now, they wouldn't actually become your primary neurologist even if you wanted.> >> > I know several of you mentioned that I should try to find a > University > > Medical facility, etc. Then, we talked about Duke being the > premier > > one in my area with NC Memorial being next. While I would like to > > connect with Duke, it scares me to think about being 3 hours away > from > > my doctor. How could I possibly do that.> > > > Since I have the appointment for the second opinion and a > discussion of > > VATS on 2/19 I am thinking of continuing with that and them make a > > decision on going to Duke, but how long does it normally take to

> get an > > appointment at a hospital like that?> >>