decompression surgery

[champ40]

Has anyone had decompression surgery at either UCLA or UCSF?  I would love to hear about experiences.  I'm trying to decide between the two.  UCSF is much closer to me but I really liked my exsperience at UCLA.

[selmaS]

  Hi....yes, I did have the tonsils cauterized....it is to help shrink them.,..other wise they remain in place....

Well Dr Batzdorf is well respected in chiari circles, so I am sure he is sending u  to another Dr  that is well informed and experienced.

  Please keep us posted....

    "selma"

[champ40]

Thanks, no I'm not in Kaiser.  Both of the Dr. are specialists in chiari.  I was seeing Dr. Batzdorf at UCLA and he referred me to Dr. Holly because Dr. Batzdorf is only assisting these days.  I'm waiting for insurance to approve Dr. Holly because this would be my third opinion. Both neurosurgeons I have seen are recommending decompression.  I have a 4 cm or 41mm cerebellar displacement but no syrinx.  My symptoms are progressing.

Do you have any thoughts on bipolar coagulation?  Seems that most of the specialists do that procedure with the decompression...honestly it freaks me out.  Did you have that done?

[selmaS]

  HI...I know u mentioned how close the hospital is, but look at the drs experience with chiari not the location...most of us do travel to get to a chiari specialist as those that do not tend to have set backs post op more times then those that go to a more experienced Dr and those that do travel and have the set back their dr knows how to handle it where the others usually do not..making a bad situation worse.

  Do research the dr not just the facility......r u in the keiser network?

      "selma"