@dreamliner great to hear that there are some good improvements for you overall, so pleased & thanks for sharing, it’s good for members to hear that things can still improve months after surgery 
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If your insurance will pay, he accepts insurance payments. Noelle will work with people to get special approval. Really the main issue is he’s not joined to the insurance industry, so you need the special approval. Which, for me because of lack of options, and they said due to Dr. Osborne’s excellent reputation, it was an easy process to get approved. They did require a statement from Dr. Osboorne of what I needed and why, which was made available quickly. They transferred the money to him the day before each surgery from what I understand. But once I had approval and connected them I really wasn’t involved again. They took care of it between the two of them but I was told that’s how it would work. Did you try for insurance coverage? If not, I wonder if you could be reimbursed by insurance??? We are covered through Christian Healthcare Ministries (chm), so that’s who paid for mine. But I confirmed with Noelle that they are willing to work with insurance companies if needed. There’s no guarantee what an insurance company will approve though, so it’s worth trying. I don’t know if this was the case in December or not.
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I think a couple of other members have successfully appealed when their insurance company didn’t want to pay. I wonder if because yours is a Christian insurance group that they’re more honest and less financially motivated than most insurance companies, so more likely to approve a surgery like this?
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@LisaMaria My experience was quite different.
Yes, I am on the cancellation list. I informed them, I only need 3 hours notice and I’ll be there. Unfortunately, they will post on Jefferson my chart. First come, first serve. I do have my sister watching all day long, since I am with patients. I am a dental hygienist. My career is tough to deal with since my symptoms of ES showed up. I pray every night for that cancellation.
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That’s very possible. I think your right though about people on more mainstream insurance plans are getting approved also but yeah some have had to fight hard for those approvals. It shouldn’t be so hard 
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Sounds like you have a good helpful sister! I hope it comes through for you!
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You can ask the staff at Christian Healthcare Ministries. Can they help with the cost of surgery for a foreign citizen (I have Russian and Moldovan citizenship)? For example, can they help me with surgery in the United States, with neurosurgeon Peter Nakaji
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So good that your sister is helping, and I imagine it would be tough working with your ES symptoms…praying you get an appointment sooner
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I’ll also pray for you to get a cancellation spot that is much sooner than your scheduled surgery date, @Taptap123.
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Those are some STYLOIDS!!! yikes
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I can share that I had styloidectomies in 2020 and unfortunately that surgeon did not consider IJV compression or look for it. He made the assumption when the styloids are removed, then it decompresses automatically…well 5 years later and worsening symptoms such as hearing loss, headaches, etc, I did have IJV decompression and a C1 shave about 12 weeks ago on one side. ON the other side, my surgeon also removed an enlarged lymph node that was compressing IJV, carotid and vagus nerve. Compared to the other side, that one was a piece of cake.
My headaches have practically went away (about 98%) and I believe my hearing has improved in right side but the tinnitus on R is still there and driving me crazy. Doc says Im still having compression on right at base of neck from muscles. We will evaluate further for TOS which I already had DX on other side. I can’t say with having one side done if that worked because my first styloidectomy didn’t do all that was needed. I had those 9 months apart. Whether it improves for you is hard to predict and depends on your findings on the other side. All you can do is wait & see.
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Yeah there’s a lot of factors to consider! That’s really cool the doctor know to look for other means of compression like a lymph node!!! I’m glad your doing so much better and hope for even more healing 
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Hi, it’s not actually a charity. It works as an insurance. We pay monthly for coverage. I do wish for you to get treatment and healing though. It’s not good what you are enduring.
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I was told my first consultation with Dr. Cognetti would be more than 8 months away. He does have a cancellation list and even though I still had to wait awhile, it wasn’t nearly as long as first thought. I hope you have gotten an appointment with a doctor. Once you have the appointment, the surgery can happen pretty quickly. Best of luck to you.
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