# Consult with Dr. Costantino **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [June 26, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699 "2023-06-26T01:37:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/101 "2023-10-05T19:03:11Z")
Very well said šŸ¤— ---
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/102 "2023-10-05T19:08:00Z")
If they want you to have a venogram, could you say that no procedure is without risk and that youā€™d rather not have it? Plus the radiation if youā€™ve had scans already? My surgeon mentioned the possibility of a lumbar puncture when considering IJV compression & intracranial hypertension symptoms, I wouldnā€™t have been happy to have had that done, but luckily he agreed that it wasnā€™t necessary. A few members have come round from surgery and noticed improvements straight away, but many donā€™tā€¦I hope that Dr C will take this on board and it would be good if he did some follow-up a year later like you say! ---
**Author:** ![Thans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/45deac/32.png) [@Thans](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Thans)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2023, 6:32am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/103 "2023-10-07T06:32:36Z")
Hi! Thanks so much for all these helpful posts! I join the two of you on this crazy journey. Iā€™ll be seeing dr costantino on Thursday and a more local surgeon (Dr. Paskhover) who takes my insurance, on Tuesday. I echo the obdurate struggles. I also for the first time got a blue cross nurse care manager. Iā€™ve been navigating my own health journey for 2.5 decades at this point. Sheā€™s been giving me wrong information so far. ā˜¹ Jules @dr Cā€™s office has been helpful. Maybe Iā€™ll see one of you there ar some point. I appreciate the info- if dr Paskhover feels dr C would he more adept at surgery, Iā€™ll ask to have that written. Invaluable information, thanks guys. Tracy ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/104 "2023-10-07T15:00:20Z")
Iā€™m really glad the information youā€™ve found here has been helpful @Thans. Please let us know how your appointments go both w/ Dr. C & Dr. P. šŸ¤— ---
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/105 "2023-10-07T19:09:32Z")
I hope you can get some help, such a long time to be having health issues for šŸ¤— ---
**Author:** ![lilwider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lilwider](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/lilwider)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 11:15am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/106 "2023-10-12T11:15:28Z")
How did you make out with your appointment ---
**Author:** ![lilwider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lilwider](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/lilwider)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2023, 11:16am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/107 "2023-10-12T11:16:34Z")
Did you get your appointment scheduled for Dr.C & Tobias? ---
**Author:** ![lilwider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lilwider](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/lilwider)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 8:11am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/108 "2023-10-20T08:11:24Z")
Checking in to see how you are making out with Dr Constantino? I had my appointment with him and Dr Tobias. What a great duo! They seem to get along very well and left me feeling very comfortable with them both. The Q collar that Dr C suggested me use as a trial to check to see if it made my symptoms any different was the deciding factor. Though things did get confusing for a bit with the wrong imaging being done- I had a ctva done but it was suppose to be dynamic and it was not. But between Q collar, symptoms, imaging to date and history -Dr Constantino &Tobias have agreed to get me into surgery. Yes they did tell me that they canā€™t guarantee full resolution of symptoms but they did say they are confident I will have relief and a good outcome. So fortunate to have them relatively close to home, Iā€™m comfortable with them and they are hoping they can figure out a plan so I donā€™t have to jump through insurance hoops. Hi excited I am to be one step closer to getting my life back! ---
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 4:20pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/109 "2023-10-20T16:20:07Z")
Thatā€™s good news! So pleased that they can help you, hope it gets sorted soonā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/110 "2023-10-20T23:20:55Z")
Thank you for the update, @lilwider! Super great news! I hope that surgery date is set very soon!! Itā€™s really nice to know Dr. C & his office staff will advocate for you w/ your health insurance co., too!! ---
**Author:** ![lilwider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lilwider](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/lilwider)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 2:33am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/111 "2023-10-21T02:33:28Z")
Dec 22 -yay! I am so grateful that they suggested they will fight the fight and work it out. Thank for all the support and guidance. šŸ˜€ ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 3:55am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/112 "2023-10-21T03:55:34Z")
An early Christmas present for you (or not!)! Iā€™m glad youā€™ll have the holidays for recovery. Hopefully youā€™ll have family around to wait on you hand & foot, @lilwider! ---
**Author:** ![CoHDa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9e8a1a/32.png) [@CoHDa](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/CoHDa)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 5:04am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/113 "2023-10-21T05:04:30Z")
Well, Iā€™m sitting here in tears. Tired of the constant fighting and struggling to get nowhere. Since Kelsey and Claudia have left Dr. Costantinoā€™s office, for one reason or another, I have been completely forgotten!!! At my last appointment on OCTOBER 4, I was told that I should schedule a follow-up for the very next week to meet with Dr. Costantino and Dr. Tobias to discuss surgery. Whatā€™s happened since then? NOTHING. Nothing other than some daft staff person who says the office doesnā€™t have my CT scans. Then she says the office doesnā€™t have the reports. Then she finds the reports, but still insists the office doesnā€™t have my CT scans, despite the fact that they were reviewed during one of my earlier appointments with Dr. Costantino and Kelsey. So, I pick up the phone on Monday and call Jules, a different staff members, who confirms the office has my scans and the reports. He says he will have the new office manager call me to schedule the appointment that shouldā€™ve been scheduled the week of the 9th. Did I hear from her? NO. All I wanted was to have surgery before the end of the year, and for whatever reason, now Iā€™m being treated as if I donā€™t exist and donā€™t matter. I have ZERO access to Dr. Costantino to ask what the HELL is going on, because there is no Claudia and no Kelsey. Iā€™m done. Iā€™m tired of fighting. Iā€™m done. ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 5:12am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/114 "2023-10-21T05:12:52Z")
Oh, @CoHDa. Iā€™m SO SORRY!! Youā€™re so close to having a surgery date, but it feels so far away! I know youā€™re battle weary, but if you can either muster the strength or lean on a friend to call the office several times a day until you get Shantel on the phone & your appointment made then the final step will have been achieved. @lilwider just got her surgery date set. Perhaps she can give you some guidance as to what worked for her. ---
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/115 "2023-10-21T19:24:09Z")
So, so frustrating for you, I hope that you can get the strength to keep pushing, donā€™t give upā€¦ šŸ¤— šŸ™ ---
**Author:** ![lilwider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lilwider](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/lilwider)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/116 "2023-10-21T20:28:35Z")
Jamie from Dr C scheduling was worried about the holidays as well. Lucky for me Iā€™m not a holidays type person- but it will be a great present for me. Yes I have hubby and friends all in line to help. Iā€™m blessed. ---
**Author:** ![lilwider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/97f17d/32.png) [@lilwider](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/lilwider)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/117 "2023-10-21T20:40:19Z")
Sending a hug, Iā€™m sorry youā€™re going through this. I am fortunate I am somewhat local. I had imaging done, though it was done wrong, across the street and as soon as I had it done I dropped it off at Dr C office. Maybe you can get a copy of the disc and report from imaging and overnight it to his office with a note so you know they have it? Kelsey is away on maternity leave, I have only talked with Claudia never met her so Iā€™m not sure if she is there or not. Please donā€™t give up. I know itā€™s frustrating. Dr. Cognetti office has never returned my calls or acknowledged me after sending imaging reports and numerous calls. I had given up with them so I know your frustrations. Same with 2 other Drs that my insurance recommended. So I am taking it as this is the way it is suppose to be. Keep trying, I feel confident in Dr C. and Tobias. Hopefully you can get over the hump and things can work out. ---
**Author:** ![CoHDa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9e8a1a/32.png) [@CoHDa](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/CoHDa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/118 "2023-10-25T21:09:46Z")
After my last post about being forgotten and passed over by Dr. Costantinoā€™s office, I have quite a bit of information to share with the forum. So, to recap, I last saw Dr. Costantino on October 4 and was told to schedule an appointment the following week with him and Dr. Tobias to discuss surgery. His new office manager confirmed the same day that sheā€™d been instructed to schedule the appointment for the week of October 9. Fast forward to today, still no appointment has been scheduled. Sadly, itā€™s true. Claudia, who was a dependable advocate for this community is gone. Her replacement is completely incompetent. Despite being instructed on October 4 to schedule the follow-up for the next week with Dr. Tobias, she did not make any attempt to do so until October 16. Her explanation? She didnā€™t know who Dr. Tobiasā€™s assistant was until then. Thatā€™s what she actually told me yesterday when I again questioned her. Apparently, because she has only been the office manager for 4 weeks, she didnā€™t know how to ask anyone else on staff how to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tobias, whose office is in the same building? Sure. Okay. What it boils down to is that I got left in limbo, because she didnā€™t do her job and Dr. Costantino has no idea what the hell his staff is and isnā€™t doing. Shantel said sheā€™d take the blame, like she was doing something magnanimous. To try to make amends for her snafu, she scheduled an appointment for me to speak with Dr. Costantino (minus Dr. Tobias) today at 2:30, because after today heā€™s out of the office for 3 weeks!!! I intended to tell him what was on my mind, but yesterday afternoon, I found Dr. Costantinoā€™s email address included in an earlier email from Claudia - thank you, Claudia! - and wrote a long email voicing my utter displeasure with the disruption of my care due to his staffā€™s inability to manage his office. I also reminded him that in our last conversation he spoke to me about how sad it is the way patients living with Eagle syndrome are misunderstood and mistreated by less experienced providers. How ironic then that I was writing to inform him that as of October 24 I was still waiting for the appointment that we discussed on October 4 to be scheduled. At 12:42 PM today, I received a call from Alma, the NP filling in for Kelsey, whoā€™s out on maternity leave. She told me that my 2:30 appointment today was cancelled, because Dr. Costantino was overscheduled. I hate to say it, but I burst out in tears, again. If you see me crying, take cover, because, more often than not, it means Iā€™m MAD AS HELL!!! Iā€™ll try to quickly summarize what Alma said: - Dr. Costantino has a number of patients who need immediate care. - Itā€™s incredibly difficult to schedule appointments with Dr. Tobias. - The office is doing itā€™s best and is in transition. My response: - VES patients need immediate care as well. For some, itā€™s a daily fight to want to live. - Patients have posted about their recent appointments with Dr. Tobias, so obviously it isnā€™t all that difficult to schedule an appointment with him. Someone knows how to do it. - Patients who were sent for CTs and Q-collars at nearly the same time or just after me managed to see Dr. Tobias and ultimately have surgery scheduled. - Being new and office transition arenā€™t justifiable reasons for impeding patient care. Having said that, Alma replied that she now understood but didnā€™t have any explanation about how/why other patients managed to get scheduled with Dr. Tobias or even get scheduled ahead of me. I did not give her any names when she asked, but assured her that a great deal of information is shared about providers, good and bad, on the forum by its members. She also said that she understood how devastating ES is given its rarity and broad constellation of symptoms. Before she stopped short, she started to say something about a patient whoā€™s struggling. And yet knowing this, I was left hanging by the office with no explanation or future appointment in sight. My care just came to an abrupt halt. Alma said that Dr. Costantino was going through some things of his own and that his scheduled 3-week leave was in flux. Sheā€™d personally let me know if his schedule changed. I told her I was done with Shantelā€™s ineptitude and had no desire to speak with her again. Alma said she would be the one to contact me. That was the end of the call. But at this juncture, Iā€™m done. Nothing Alma said excuses how I was treated or the fact that Dr. Costantino has allowed his office to go to hell, because I know if itā€™s happened to me, itā€™s happened to others. And I did say as much to Alma, along with the fact that I am not the first person to post about my displeasure with the office. That caught her attention. I understood with both Kelsey and Claudia gone that the transition might cause a few hiccups, but that entire ordeal was absolutely beyond ridiculous. It was neglectful. If Dr. Costantino is going through something and is inundated with patients to the point of neglect (intentional or not), then he should not accept any new patients until he treats the ones already scheduled for surgery, assuming heā€™s capable of doing that. Sadly, that means I will not have the surgery I was hoping to have before yearā€™s end. I really didnā€™t want to walk into 2024 with this compressed vein and all that comes with it. But at this point, I donā€™t know when Iā€™ll ever get the surgery, IF I get it at all. I am glad that I was able, however, to help others get to the point of having their procedures scheduled with Drs. Costantino and Tobias. But no matter what happens to me, I know that it will all work out for good in the end. Iā€™ve made it this far by the grace of God, and pray for Dr. Costantino and his staff, because clearly they need it far more than I do. Honestly, I really canā€™t recall the last time that I cried about anything, at all. Itā€™s been that long. So, for a medical providerā€™s office to bring me to tears, twice in the short span of 1 week, that calls for some serious prayer, reflection, and ultimately for me to shake the dust from my shoes. This is where my months-long encounter with that provider ends. Itā€™s time to move onā€¦ Peace and Wellness ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/119 "2023-10-26T01:34:13Z")
My heart is sad for what youā€™ve gone through & the frustration & angst it has caused, @CoHDa. We have to remember that doctors are people, too, & just like us, they have personal challenges, health challenges, mental & emotional challenges that can disrupt their practices & thus the level of & consistency of care provided to their patients. That sounds to be the bigger issue w/ Dr. Costantino than his current staff situation. As youā€™ve experience, this is heartbreaking for patients who are relying on them for assistance in getting their health & lives back, but a battle-weary doctor makes mistakes & canā€™t provide good quality of care either. Remember, there is no guarantee that those who are scheduled for surgery later this year wonā€™t have their appointments cancelled depending on whatā€™s going on w/ Dr. Costantinoā€™s personal life & how much recovery time he needs. It is kind of you to pray for both Dr. C & Dr. T. It sounds like they can both use it. Iā€™m also glad you have a better point of contact for Dr. Cā€™s office should you decide to reconsider & check in with him later. ---
**Author:** ![CoHDa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9e8a1a/32.png) [@CoHDa](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/CoHDa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 6:01am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699/120 "2023-10-26T06:01:27Z")
It has indeed been frustrating, and even more so the unnecessary added stress has just done wonders for my tachycardia. Above all, the entire situation is an extremely sad indictment against our medical system. Absolutely, we have to remember doctors are people too. That said, doctors have a special responsibility not to abandon their patients. In addition, patients have a right to be informed about their treatment and anything that might disrupt it. If Dr. Costantino Is experiencing health, mental or emotional challenges, he has an obligation to provide reasonable notice to his patients and to make reasonable arrangements so as not to impair or disrupt the delivery of care. To act otherwise is very serious. I know this from having worked for medical providers, the office of the dean of medicine at the University of Rochester, and because I studied medical ethics in grad school. Whatever Dr. Costantino is going through, as his interim NP informed me, along with his office managerā€™s inability to perform basic administrative functions, is potentially disastrous for patients. Itā€™s clear to me that Kelsey and Claudia were the glue that made the office function efficiently. With both of them now out of the picture at virtually the same time, I donā€™t feel comfortable moving forward as a patient in that practice. I do pray they get things straightened out and back on track, because we all know that VES surgery is a very complicated proposition, and it is extremely stressful, for both patients and providers. [Previous page](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699.md?page=5) [Next page](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/consult-with-dr-costantino/13699.md?page=7)