LIST OF ?'S FOR THE NS~

Below is a compilation of comments from other posts on what questions to ask the NS....if ne were forgotten please feel free to add them.....sorry if there r dups answers too : )

Well.....until he gives u his dx and suggestions it can be diff to have all the questions ready u will want to ask....so,

I suggest u have someone go along to take notes...bcuz we can become like a deer in headlights and forget to write things down....

Ask how to contact the dr afterward in regards to questions u thinks of after u get home. Some may offer an e-mail addy for this type of communication.

U want to know how they do surgery if it is suggested....endoscopy.... bony decompression or PFD...w/ duraplasty...and what kind of patch. Bovine, cadaver, synthetic or own skin.

Will he check u for tethered cord...Ehlers Danlos....and other related conditions.

What % of benefits does he feel this will offer.

If no surgery then what treatment options r available..... pain management.....will he monitor u...how often.....

After surgery...how often will he monitor u.....

Is everyone in the OR covered by ur insurance and do they get all the info when u sign up w/ the drs office.....how much do u need to do extra?

How long after surgery do u need to remain in the area?


Some other things you can ask is if he does not recommend surgery what qualifications have to be met to be considered a candidate and what type of treatments would help to alleviate or make some of your symptoms manageable? some doctors will vary on that....

ask him how many surgery's he has done per week/month for Chiari ....Ask him what his success rate is and ask how he handles complications from surgery if any.

Do some background research on the Dr. I found my Dr's name here before I even knew I had my appointment with him. Some websites will give patient survey ratings back to you. If he does recommend surgery ask what type of pain management regimen he uses. I will let you know of anything else I can think of.

What I did for my consult too was found a list of all chiari symptoms and highlighted all the symptoms I have experienced and marked down how often I had that....we do have a symptoms  list on the Health Pages here on MH..

..When I gave it to my NS he was surprised and it will help you too cus I got so excited to see him I forgot to tell him some things I was thinking of

U may need a list C...in case he gives u another dx....that happened to me...I was not prepared for that.

Be as open minded going in.....I was shocked and forgot to even ask the questions I had prepared.
Take someone with u to keep u on task.

If ur dr suggests decompression is for u...ask how many he has done...what benefits he feels u will get from having it...does he feel it can wait/or should u schedule right away....does he do endoscopic decompressions......what material patches does he use....does everyone in the OR subscribe to the same insurance as the one u have....I did not ask this to the NS, but did when I scheduled, and even then I was told yes and that was not the case.....ask for everyone involved and check with ur insurance on all of them upfront.

If no surgery- u may want to know what he feels would help, and how they will be monitoring ur chiari.

Depending on what other condition u may get dx'd with, u may want to know what kind of dr u will need to see for it.

Sorry for ne duplication of suggestions.....or if I left ne out...as I said this is a compilation of several members suggestions.

[pr1nsis]

thank you so much for posting these questions!  I have my appointment on Wednesday and don't think I've slept in about three days thinking over everything I need to ask!

This group has been a such a relief to have!  I'm still a nervous wreck - however, I don't know where I'd be without the relief you guys have given me!

thank you!

~jb

[selmaS]

U r welcome....we need to stick together....we r the only ones that really understand what each other is going thru.

Good luck at ur appointment!

"selma"

[selmaS]

bumping for Shannon....  : )

[selmaS]

  Bumping up...this is also available in the Health Pages...see links at the bottom of this forum.

[selmaS]

  BUMP