@JugularEagle - I just dealt with Dr. Hackman’s charges for a cash paying patient & even with all the discounts his cost for unilateral surgery was ~$35k & bilateral was ~$51k. If you’re looking for a less pricy option, Dr. Cognetti may be the one to see. He has a vast amount of ES surgery experience & has begun working w/ a neurosurgeon - Dr. Heller - so he can do IJV decompressions & shave C1 if needed. Dr. Cognetti is in Philadelphia & works at Thomas Jefferson Hospital.
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Thanks for the info. My aim is to go for the best surgeon for the issue and I will find a way to pay. I am in my 60s so I don’t think I can handle bilateral for a variety of reasons including pain meds just dont work on me. I was told by Clinical Pharmacology that Morphine and Fentanyl will work on me but but I think " good luck getting that prescription!"
I am just still looking at what everyone is saying after their surgery to see how the surgeon handles IJV at the C1 area. I am pretty terrified about all of it. 
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Me too, I have surgery on 10/21.
Terrified
Your symptoms are so much worse than mine. Once you are able to post I hope you fill us in on all the details.
I wish you all the luck for a good surgery and not a traumatic recovery.
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I certainly will. I am at the end of my rope, so I amnpraying that I can endure this and it helps.
I cant stand much more, and I know others feel the same.
Bless you all, and thanks forbthe prayers.
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This thread it very interesting and very encouraging!
I am convinced many of my symptoms are due to severe, and nearly constant, vagus nerve compression. I have many of the symptoms GrnyAny listed and I feel like I may have a similar resolution after surgery (at least I hope so).
The vagus nerve really can cause an incredible number of debilitating and bizarre symptoms.
The difference in my case is I also have confirmed severe jugular compression. I have surgery scheduled with Dr Hepworth on November 11th and I can’t wait!
Hoping for a similar success story to share afterwards.
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harrisonboy
While you are waiting I want you to take a look at something. I went down a rabbit hole on this site about MSK Neurology. One of the threads had a link but now it goes to a Domino Pizza ad and that is it.
So I tried to find the video but found the following link. The reason I hope you look at it is that I was in physical therapy for pain in my jaw before I knew the problem. They had me doing exactly what this guy is saying not to do and it very much caused me problems . So much so I told them I wouldn’t do it anymore. One of the things it did was crazy Cervicogenic Headache type sharp pain that had me wondering if I was having a stroke (and it might have been a stroke). I also think it might have messed with my vagus nerve.
You might find a little relief if you do what this guy is saying to do. He is so right just from my own story that I am probably going to do the consult with him if he is still doing them. Of course, it really depends on a person’s anatomy. What he is saying might make another person feel worse.
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Praying for your healing.
I have surgery on 10/21.
Praying I can handle it.
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Bless you. I will.
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We have referred many of our members to Kjetil Larsen over time, @JugularEagle, so you have definitely found a valuable resource in this video. He was in medical school in South America at last count but I recall is from Sweden. We’re anxiously awaiting the time he is a full fledged doctor because he’s helped so many people with very difficult to diagnose problems over the years. If he becomes a surgeon, he’ll be able to help at an even deeper level.
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Not too long now, hang in there 
Do you know Dr. Heller’s approximate fees if he needs to be involved? I am phoning Dr. Cognetti’s office tomorrow to try and secure a virtual appointment.
I phoned two today and they won’t do virtual. Than I got Dr. Constantino and Dr. Cognetti confused and accidentally confirmed with Constantino… whoops! Need to fix that in the AM.
Thanks as always!!
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@Val7426 - I recall Dr. Heller’s fee is ~ $24K - significantly higher than Dr. Cognetti’s which I understand also includes the anesthesiologist & OR costs plus pre & post op appts. You should check on that though.
Dr Costantino is good too!
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Great, thanks! I phoned Dr. Cognetti’s office this morning and they said we have to send JC’s medical records by mail before the doctor will consider a consult. I tried to explain the records are in Turkish but they want the CT images with a translated copy of the report.
Not the end of the world, but because they will only accept the images through certified mail it adds yet another obstacle and delay. I haven’t read anything on here about Dr. Cognetti requiring advance imaging via mail. Sigh. Do you know if that’s the case for others, or should I phone back and be a bit more persistent?
I really feel for everyone on here who is navigating this process while sick, in pain, and without an advocate.
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Unfortunately, this has long been Dr. Cognetti’s & many other doctors’ process for “pre-sorting” patients. It allows them to determine ahead of time whether they think they can help a patient or not. If not, a consult is not given, but if so, then a consult is scheduled.
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Hi, I have read your whole story. I have not seen the doctor yet. Where did you have your surgery? It was external, right? Thank you so much for your post🙏
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Dr. Hepworth in Denver.
He is an amazing doctor and person.
Praying for you that you find the right path.
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Thank you so much. How much would it cost now? approximately
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Since we have medical insurance that covers at least some part of our medical care here in the US, & you would be coming in as a cash paying patient. You will need to contact the medical offices of the doctors you’re interested in seeing to ask what the cash price is for surgery. For our CA members, we’ve found Dr. Cognetti in Philadelphia has the lowest surgical cost. We have a number of CA members who’ve gone to him for surgery.
•Dr David Cognetti, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia 215- 955- 6760 (Has done many successful surgeries on members). Only removes ligaments if calcified. https://hospitals.jefferson.edu/find-a-doctor/c/cognetti-david-m.html
There is one doctor listed for your province on our Doctors List:
•Dr. Norbert Viallet, Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Norbert Viallet - Otolayngologist - Head and Neck Surgical Oncologist at University of Manitoba | ZoomInfo
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