@Bmmac - I don’t know if Dr. Nakaji considers arterial compressions, but I think he’s pretty thorough in removing soft tissue compressors as well as styloid/C1. Have you found you have occipital artery compression that he missed?
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I saw the same video from Dr. Costantino.
Anyone with VES looking for corrective surgery should watch this video.
I did not specifically ask Dr. Nakaji about the preoccipital artery but I plan to during my pre-op visit.
That video from Costantino almost had me second-guessing my procedure with Dr. Nakaji but too many things are in motion for me already to switch and I still think Dr. Nakaji is one of the best in the world for VES.
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@Tusker You are in excellent hands with Dr. Nakaji. He is in communication with all the main surgeons doing this surgery and they are all sharing information of other possible sources of compression. Once he is actually looking at your surgical field, he will make an expert decision about what exactly needs to be done specifically for you. Best of luck.
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@Tusker both surgeons have done successful surgeries, you’re in good hands! And it’s good to know that the VES doctors are sharing their experience as @Chrickychricky says…
If you’ve not seen it already there’s a good post-surgery update here:
Surgery with Dr. Nakaji Post op report - General - Living with Eagle
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I really appreciate the reassurance @Chrickychricky and @Jules .
I’m a little more than a week out.
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@Tusker Very exciting…and nerve-wracking. I look forward to hearing how you are doing when you feel up to posting. I’m one week out from getting a new hip, also exciting and nerve-wracking!
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I hope you heal well @Chrickychricky , and that the surgery helps you significantly 
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Thanks for thinking of me!
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Just a quick update. I traveled here to Phoenix with my family on Wednesday, June 10th. Due to some insurance shenanigans, the procedure was canceled.
I didn’t find out there was any issues with the insurance until I was almost to Phoenix on Wednesday. I joined the effort along with Dr. Nakaji’s office as soon as I learned what was going on.
Despite the request being sent in early May, it was still not approved. I am happy to name and shame United Healthcare here. They made a mistake reading the authorization request and denied it.
We waited until the last moment on Thursday for the authorization to go through and it did not so the procedure was canceled.
Early Friday morning, United Healthcare authorized the procedure. About 3 hours too late. 
Luckily, Dr. Nakaji’s office was able to reschedule me for this upcoming Wednesday.
This issue was 95% on United Healthcare but I was little frustrated that Dr. Nakaji’s office didn’t tell me there was an issue until I was already in Phoenix. I had made reservations that were refundable until the day before I left. As did my parents who traveled separately. I had been in contact with Dr. Nakaji’s office the previous Friday, Monday, and Tuesday (the day before I left) about a respiratory infection so it was a little disappointing they failed to mention this during any of those calls.
To their credit, Dr. Nakaji’s team took full responsibility for their part and apologized. They had fantastic communication the whole time except initially letting me know what was going on.
Meanwhile, United Healthcare called me a little later in the day on Friday to tell me the same news. They were happy to share that the authorization I had been calling about the last two days was finally approved and I was cleared to have the surgery. When I let the person know that it was about 6 hours too late and my surgery had already been canceled after traveling a long way with my family, they were surprised and basically said better luck next time.
The entire time, United Healthcare kept trying to shift blame to Dr. Nakaji’s office.
At one point, a random United Healthcare rep said not only were they not going to help push the authorization through any faster but they were, in fact, going to deescalate the authorization because they didn’t see any need for the urgency. This was the day before the procedure. I won’t go as far as to say I approve of what Luigi Mangione did to the CEO of United Healthcare but I certainly understand it a bit better now.
In the end, it was only an inconvenience instead of a disaster. Not only were they able to reschedule me so soon but Dr. Nakaji even agreed to do the post-op on Friday so I could head home. A little earlier than he normally likes to do a post-op.
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What a frustrating situation you had to deal with @Tusker!! I’m so glad it worked out well in the end in spite of one rep threatening to deescalate the authorization. Sounds like someone else superseded that order to your benefit. Most excellent you were able to get your surgery back on the books so quickly. I’ll change your surgery date to next Wed. so I can pray for you then. 
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What a pain, and so stressful! But good it’s been rescheduled so quickly, hope all goes well
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@Tusker Sheesh, so frustrating! I’m glad you got it all worked out so that you can proceed. So close now!
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