I recently heard there is a surgeon in Germany who performs jugular decompression surgeries. His name is Andreas Schmitz and he is owner of the Clinic Bel Etage in Germany. He preforms surgery there, including abdominal compression stenting alongside Professor Sandmann. Anyone have any idea how good Professor Schmitz’s outcomes are or how practiced he is at ES surgery?
@BuckeyePrincess’s daughter had abdominal vascular decompression surgery w/ Prof. Sandmann (link below) that was helpful, but I don’t think anyone has mentioned Prof. Schmitz on our forum. It’s fantastic news if Prof Schmitz does IJV decompressions as that will be very helpful for our German members as several have traveled to the US for that surgery.
1 Like
Ok, I was pretty sure I was gathering that Germany patients were traveling to USA. Well, this patient travelled from USA to Germany for her IJV surgery!
I have no idea how Professor Schmitz goes about his surgeries nor what his success rates are. I don’t know how to go about finding out either. We aren’t scheduled for surgery till august 26 with Hepworth. That feels terribly far away, given her symptoms but a day at a time…and we will get there!
2 Likes
Where did you hear about the person who travelled to Germany for her IJV decompression surgery? You might want to have a private chat w/ @BuckeyePrincess to see what her travel experience was like for her/her daughter traveling to & having surgery in Germany. I sent a message to @TheDude who lives in Germany to see if he knows anything about Prof Schmitz. I think if he did, he would have mentioned it on here before now.
The wait does seem interminable once we know there is a path forward for our loved ones’ surgery/recovery, but I’m really glad your daughter has a surgery date now. Did you request for her to be put on Dr. Hepworth’s cancellation list? I’ve known of several people who had their surgery dates moved up that way. Another option is to call or message the office weekly to inquire about cancellations.
1 Like
Ok, yes, we’ve been back and forth a lot with buckeyeprincess a lot. 
I also have the phone number of the patient who had this surgery done in Germany, given by a friend of both her and myself. I plan to contact her, but like more than one person’s opinion. Thanks for the tip of checking for cancellation. We asked to be put on the cancellation list, but given our previous experiences with the staff, we’re not sure they will bother to reach out or not. Do I contact the front desk? Stephanie?
1 Like
Hi @Rosa, I have heard just a tad about Prof. Schmidt doing IJV compression and the little I heard sounds like he does IJV decompression when it is not so complicated. He removes the bony piece that is hindering the blood flow but seems he does not do anything more complicated as he would not do another of Prof. Sandmann’s patients because her IJV was too involving. So I understand he would not have touched our daughter’s either as she as vascular constrictions. And she is young and from what we understood when we were over there doing an IJV decompression was so new he really only had done one 30 year old patient yet at that time. And that was just one year ago, so in time I think we will have better reports? But like you will be curious what others have understood and the results!
2 Likes
@Rosa, Try to get through & ask the front desk ppl & also call Stephenie to ask her. You could send a message through the portal or email the office which could be better than calling. The form of communication that gets one through to the office staff has changed in Dr. Hepworth’s office since I first became a patient there so I’m not sure what is most effective anymore. I do know it’s important to make one or two “next appointments” before leaving the office or telehealth call as that will save you a lot of time & frustration vs having to try to make an appointment later. You can always cancel any appt. made in advance if you don’t need it.
1 Like
O, I could have just asked you, buckeyeprincess! I didn’t realize you had that much information. Doesn’t sound like a good option for us as I believe we have a complicated case on our hands. Thanks for the ideas, Isaiah. I will do that, or either have my daughter do it. Seems she gets a better response than I do. Now, I understand to make an appointment, they ask for payment in advance and it is not refundable. This is what Kristin told me, but Stephanie made several preop appointments and a post op one, but didn’t ask for payment. Plus, she was really surprised when she heard how much we paid for the one we had so far, and was fairly certain the 20 minute appointments she scheduled would not be so much. That was a happy surprise, as we are doing it all out of pocket!
2 Likes
I met 3 women on Instagram, who all had IJV Decompression/C1 PT Resection there at Bel Etage with Dr. A. Schmitz (but without styloidectomy). All 3 are very happy, you can surely contact them via there Instagram channels:
https://www.instagram.com/positively.full.life/ https://www.instagram.com/thattillyrose/ https://www.instagram.com/sophiekate.roberts/
1 Like
I believe there is a more experienced clinic in köln in germany but i cant remember the details from the top of my head.
1 Like
Its actually dr nils heim at bonn
But i have noticed this clinic has experience in dusseldorf
I talked to Nils Heim about 2 month ago. He does styloidectomy but no C1 PT resection.
Klinik am Kaiserteich is the new clinic where Dr. Nils Heim offers Styloidectomy (together with Dr. Warwas), but no C1 PT resection. It is in the same building like clinic Bel Etage, but so far, Dr. Heim and Dr. Schmitz do not work together. Maybe in the future? Means, if you need styloidectomy, you have to go to Dr. Heim, if you need IJV compression, you need to go to Dr. Schmitz.
1 Like
Thank you for the information you both shared @TinaSwitzerland & @Soph. We’ve had several members who’ve tried to consult w/ Dr. Heim but after initial communication & sharing imaging with him, he’s never followed up. Though we’ve heard good things about his surgical outcomes, he seems somewhat inconsistent in following through with remote consults.
Interesting that he’s now working close (in proximity) to Dr. Schmitz. It would be good if they could combine their surgical practices to create a “one & done” surgery for vES patients.
1 Like
Thanks for speaking up! I met Tilly Rose’s mom there at Clinic Bel Etage and she was so happy with what Dr. Shmitz did for her daughter’s IJV compression as she was feeling so much better finally and hoping to go home soon! I remember now she told me that the doctor shaved her C1 and of course had never heard of that before and wished I could have asked more questions. but now I know and understand a lot more about why the doctor would do a C1 shave.
2 Likes
I noticed she posted today about being back in the clinic with what looks like the ijv compression being very problematic. I do wonder if the surgeon had never done or heard of this sort of procedure and condition, how well it might work compared to a surgeon with a lot more experience. It concerns me slightly.
@Soph - I’m not sure which member you’re referring to nor which clinic. Do you mind clarifying both?
Dr schmitz at bel etage. I dont know if tilly is a member but she was mentioned in the comment above. Shes posts a lot on instagram and has posted today about being back at bel etage with what appears to be worsening ijv compression. She was the first person to get the ijv surgery there and posted about it being a world first surgery with shaving c1.
2 Likes
Thank you. That’s helpful. I don’t think Tilly is a member here but even so, I’m sorry she didn’t get good results from her surgery. I recall that Dr. Fargen did his first ES on one of our members several years ago & that member had to get a revision surgery by Dr. Hackman once he was healed. Dr. Fargen has much more experience w/ ES surgeries now & is provided good outcomes for his patients.
1 Like