LOOKING FOR SOMEONE IN THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA WHO HAS DEALT WITH AVM TREATMENT BY SURGERY.....
I haven't had my AVM treated but I HAVE had an aneurysm treated at UTSW in Dallas and I must say I am VERY VERY happy. I am under the care of Dr. Babu Welch for my AVM and my aneurysm and he is amazing. I highly suggest UTSW and any of the docs there. They do both surgical, radiosurgery and embolization and are fantastic doctors.
Oh, and I forgot to mention the hospital itself is very nice. I was in the ICU for about 11 days and it was just an ICU with all the fun medical stuff in it. But I still had a TV with cable, the option to borrower 2 movies at a time free of charge from the front desk of the hospital, plus a full menu with room service food options. My family was able to stay with me in my room overnight while in the ICU. Once I was moved to the step down ward I was very taken aback from hownice the rooms were. They were all private rooms and reminded me more of a hotel room than a hospital room.Still had the TV and the movie options too in the step down ward :)
My concern is we are scheduled to have the procedure in Harris Hospital downtown " and I am wondering if their is a difference between a neuro surgeon, and a vascular specialist neuro surgeon....
I am not that close to Dallas (8 hours away) but when I contacted Mayo you have no choice in who you see and they will not even look at records early. Then when I made an appt they told me to plan on spending 5 working days but scheduled me for a Friday appt.
UTSW is looking more and more attractive to me.
Robin
A neurosurgeon is a doctor that performs surgery on the nervous system. This may include removal or brain tumors, deep brian stimulation, vascular surgery, hemispherectomies in children and spinal surgery.
A neurovascular surgeon is a neurosurgeon who specializes in surgery regarding the neurovascular system. They primarily perform surgery on the arteries and veins in the brian and nervous system. They will mainly operate on aneurysms and avms.
Kay, are you going to Harris Methodist in Fort Worth?
Robin, i am glad you mentioned that info about the mayo clinic. At one point i had wanted a second opinion just for the heck of it but decided against it because i was happy with my options here in Dallas. Have you spoken with UTSW and do you know which doc you may see?
I have sent my records (or refaxed their fax to release medical records) and am awaiting to hear from them. I have an appt at Mayo on Friday but they will not look at records ahead of time. UTSW will not make an appt until they receive the records. Its is all so confusing. I am thinking hard about canceling my Mayo appt.
Hi, I am at Dallas right now and will have the first of 3 embolizations done tomorrow morning first thing. My second will be Friday morning and the 3rd will be Monday, 3/18. They will remove the AVM with craniotomy resection on Wednesday, 3/20. I am impressed with the team of doctors that I have been working with. They are direct but always mindful of the deficit risks. They explain the procedures completely and will go into detail should you have questions or a medical background, they adjust to your needs. My AVM is over my motor cortex and I do have seizures because of that. I already have numbness in my right hand and will most likely lose function or at the very least have weakness after the surgeries. I can deal with that. I have a CaringBridge site under my name, Elizabeth Willis, if you want to keep track of progress and changes.
Hi Elizabeth,
Are you seeing Dr. Samson at UTSW? Let me know if you are up for doing coffee or if you want some visitors pre-or post surgery too as I am in the DFW area and am here to give you any support you may need.
I was very happy with the fact that they confer about cases at UTSW so you aren't just getting the opinion of one Dr. but are getting the opinion of multiple excellent doctors.
Hi Lindsay,
I am at UUSW- Zale Lipshy Hospital right now and will be for the next week or more. Lol Yes,Dr.Samson is my neurosurgeon. However, he will have Dr. Hunt Batjer doing the crani/resection with him and Dr. Scott to assist as well. Dr. Pride is working with Dr. Vance for all 3embo.s. I would love to meet you! I am in rm. 515 today but will go back to NICU tomorrow. Call me! Elizabeth