@preciousrrose - Dr. Samji is not the doctor for you. He doesn’t acknowledge that IJV compression can be a component of ES. Though he did both of my styloidectomies (2014/2015), he missed/ignored that I had IJV compression on the left, & I have permanent hearing loss as a result. If you want to go to CA for a consult, Dr. Damrose at Stanford Hospital is the person to see as he does styloidectomies & IJV decompression surgeries. He is in the Naval Reserve so is out of his office for several months a year thus sometimes an appointment with him is some months away. I don’t believe he does telehealth appts either.
Interesting that Dr. Srinivasan wants an MRI as that isn’t typically the type of imaging vES doctors prefer. Usually it’s a CTA/CTV or catheter angio/venogram. I wonder why that is his imaging of choice?
As far as Dr. Arjun goes, you’ll most likely need to provide a CT w/ contrast at the very least so he has an idea of what’s going on in your neck. From there he may refer you for a CTA/CTV or a catheter angio/venogram.
Thanks for the heads up, I will not be seeing him if that is the case. I tried to put in a referral for Dr. Damrose, but my PCP is being stubborn, they are only putting in for one referral and then if that fails, they will put in for another, so I have to choose which one I can, which is all very frustrating. I do have a CT/CTA, and am waiting on my CTV to be approved by insurance.
I agree, I was like you want an MRI? The lady on the phone said, yes we need an MRI to be done before we can schedule you, she didnt even really ask more than that when I said I have eagles syndrome. It was a bit weird. Dr. Arjun does not do telehealth at all they said, even aknowleding I would be coming in from across the country.
Dr. Liu’s assistant Emily emailed me back later yesterday asking questions about insurance and exams I sent, but still hasnt offered anything else yet, so hopefully I can get in touch with her soon.
I’m glad you got an email back from Emily. I think it will just take time/patience to get an appointment w/ Dr. Liu but those two things will pay off.
I’m sorry your insurance is being a pain to work with. I hope you’re able to get a referral to Dr. Damrose before too long as he is a very skilled ES surgeon & is even more valuable for our members now that he’s added IJV decompressions to the surgeries he does.
I also got an email for scheduling my consult with Dr Liu in January. I did not get a response after I confirmed, and I am not sure how we will meet via telehealth as there wasn’t any instruction given (including directions on how/when to pay). Hopefully that will come? I sent a separate email today inquiring.
Usually links for telehealth appts are sent out an hour or two before the appt. We recently had a member who waited close to 6 hrs online for her appt because Dr. Liu got caught in an unexpected/extended surgery so be prepared w/ a good book in case he’s running late for your appt as well.