Looking for a specialist...

Walter Smith8 said:Look, I haven't actually tried getting ozone therapy for my teeth myself, but I did pass along the info for my dentist in that other post. The original question was about finding a solid dentist in Chicago. I just realized lately that even they've started using ozone treatments, but what can I do? They did such an amazing job fixing my teeth that now I don't even have anything left to test it on!

😉 😎 😍

Walter Smith8, what kind of prices are we talking about at their place? You can hit me up in a DM if that's easier.

wiredrider2 said:Can someone remind me who recommended that guard from the security agency over on Nikole Jurisica? I can't find their number anywhere... anybody? HELP?

www.verizon.com, just type in security, then the local area code, then the street address... and boom—miracle of miracles, you actually find the number.

God, the laziness is real... 🙄

Jessica Rivera said:Hey Walter Smith8, what kind of prices are we talking about over there? Feel free to shoot me a DM.

I thought I saw some kind of price list on their site—honestly, I don't know the exact numbers off the top of my head since I had my own work done a while back. It wasn't exactly cheap, but for me, it was totally worth it. Now I can just chill for a few years—fingers crossed—and won't have to worry about my crowns for a long time.

Anyway, from what I've gathered browsing through these forums, they aren't actually much more expensive than most private practices out there, especially considering they use top-tier tech and high-end materials.👍

wiredrider2 said:Did someone recommend a specialist named Chuval over on Jurišićeva? I can't find their number anywhere... anybody? HELP?

Not me, but try 4814-525 or 098-281-811.

wiredrider2 said:Is that one on Dalmatian Ave using Blue Cross? How are their rates?

Honestly, I haven’t had much luck with dentists so far. They were all perfectly polite, but the actual work was a disaster. Each one managed to make things worse than the last... and I'm a total phobic about this stuff. It hasn't been easy. 🙂

It's through Blue Cross.

Thanks, ladies! 🙂
Wait, was that something the father kept safe, or was it his son who looked after it?

Back again with more questions about carotid artery surgery.

What’s the word on this? Any specific recommendations on where to get this done?

The main referral center here is Mayo Clinic, and most other hospitals either don't have the specialists or they just bring surgeons in from elsewhere. Now, when it comes to Mayo, I've heard both good and bad things.

One woman who works over at Mayo claims we should stay far away from those doctors because they’re terrible, regardless of the hospital's reputation.

I've also heard whispers about Johns Hopkins or maybe another major medical center doing it, but I don't have any solid info...

Does anyone actually know? Has anyone here gone through this? Maybe a parent, a child, or a relative?
Please help—this surgery is HIGH STAKES. I don't want just anyone performing it, only to have things go wrong on the table. 😢

If I could find a top-tier private specialist here in the States, or even over in Canada or Europe, I would pay whatever it takes.

Looking for any information you can share.
Thanks!

You’ve got vascular surgeons over at the VA Medical Center too.

The vascular surgeons over at Mayo Clinic are top-tier. Some of them actually transitioned there from Johns Hopkins, so you can definitely count on them for solid advice or a reliable second opinion. Plus, Mayo has some of the best radiologists in the country when it comes to prepping cases and gauging how serious the underlying issues really are. It looks like they’ve even expanded their scope beyond carotids to include procedures similar to coronary artery stents. It’s worth getting their take before you make any final decisions...

We checked in at the local clinic in Springfield, but they basically told us that specialists from the big city hospitals are heading their way soon, so things aren't going to be quite as top-tier as they are elsewhere just yet. Apparently, it’s not exactly their primary specialty. 😢

Anyway, that was six months ago.

I'm clearly not the brightest bulb. 😢

So, I guess there’s also a vascular surgery department that handles carotid procedures on a regular basis...
And then you've got interventional radiology, where they can just pop stents into the carotid if the situation calls for it, I suppose.

Magdalena Private Clinic in Krapinske Toplice. I’ve heard they do excellent work there. You should look into them.

darkpuma5 said:We checked in at the local community clinic, but they told us specialists from the major metropolitan hospitals come there occasionally, so things aren't quite up to standard yet. Apparently, it’s not their primary facility for this kind of specialized work. 😢

Anyway, that was six months ago.

I'm no expert. 😢

Dr. Miller is a top-tier vascular surgeon over at the Mayo Clinic. Two years ago, my uncle suffered an aortic tear stretching from his stomach up past his heart. We all thought he was a goner—they gave him maybe a 20% chance of pulling through—but Dr. Miller pulled off a miracle. Today, the man is alive, healthy, and back on his feet.

Angela Wright said:Dr. Biočina is an amazing vascular surgeon over at Mayo Clinic. My uncle had this massive aortic tear running from his stomach up past his heart about two years ago, and honestly, we all thought he wasn't going to make it—they gave him maybe a 20% chance. But Dr. Biočina was just incredible with him. Now, the guy is totally fine, healthy, and active.

Congrats!
I mean, just to be totally fair though, I think Dr. Biočina is actually a CARDIAC surgeon, so he probably doesn't handle carotid stuff. At a place like Mayo, the cardiac and vascular departments are usually kept separate.
The vascular surgeons there are more like Dr. Šarlija, Dr. Pavić, and Dr. Ajduk.

Finally! Someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. I was really hoping someone would jump in here. 👍

My mom is facing surgery soon. On top of everything else she's dealing with regarding her carotid arteries, she's allergic to most painkillers and anesthetics. Her cholesterol is also through the roof due to genetics, so she can't even take standard stuff like Lipitor or similar meds that are usually recommended for these cases.

We’ve been asking around about how these procedures actually work, and honestly, what we've heard is terrifying. They told us it's an incredibly heavy, high-risk operation. Apparently, if a surgeon is lucky enough to have only 40% of patients suffer a stroke or permanent disability during the procedure, that's considered "good." They said there's a huge percentage of people who don't make it at all, while only a small slice gets through without issues. Basically, they implied the success rate is way below 50%.

We are absolutely terrified. 😢 We already went in for a consultation with a surgeon at a major hospital in Chicago 🙂, but he wasn't exactly eager to explain the risks or walk us through the process. To be blunt, we walked away with almost zero information. I get that doctors are slammed, but he seemed genuinely annoyed that we even showed up when he had so much on his plate. In my opinion, that's just not how you treat a scared patient.

So many people are speaking out against this surgery, but my mom is constantly feeling unwell because her brain isn't getting enough blood flow. She’s made her decision—she wants the surgery, and we are respecting that. We haven't shared the scary statistics we've heard with her because we don't want to freak her out more. I'm stuck and honestly don't know what the right move is.

Like I mentioned, I know of one doctor who is legendary for being amazing. If he had a private practice, I would give him every cent I own just to ensure she's in capable hands and treated like a human being rather than just another body on an operating table.

If any of this sounds wrong, please set me straight. Everything I’ve gathered so far has come from different doctors working at various hospitals, and it's all over the place. I'm confused, we're scared at home, and we are desperately looking for any reliable info you can share.

Thanks.

I find myself in a bit of a predicament and would welcome any seasoned advice you might offer. My regular ophthalmologist is currently out on medical leave, and given the current unpredictability of the healthcare system, I haven't the faintest idea when she might return to her practice. Naturally, I am looking to utilize my insurance coverage, as the prospect of shelling out exorbitant fees for a private specialist feels rather unappealing at this juncture. Furthermore, I am on a quest to find where one might procure some decent, high-quality eyeglass frames within a reasonable budget here in the States. Does anyone have a recommendation for a reliable eye doctor or perhaps a go-to spot for affordable eyewear?

It truly escapes my comprehension how not one single soul among this assembly has ventured into New York City to procure their frames.

Does anyone have any intel on Dr. Tonković over at Mayo Clinic?

One person gave me a glowing recommendation, but I’d love to hear what everyone else thinks before I book anything...

darkpuma5 said:My mom is heading in for surgery, and on top of dealing with carotid issues, she’s allergic to most painkillers and anesthetics. Her cholesterol is also super high due to genetics, so she can't even take stuff like Lipitor or similar meds usually recommended for these cases.

Man, whatever surgery someone needs, it’s always a tough spot to be in, but I guess the risks are best left to the specialists—the surgeon and the anesthesiologist are the ones who really know what they're doing. At the end of the day, sometimes these things are even done under local anesthesia.
And honestly, taking something like Lipitor doesn't really have anything to do with her cholesterol levels being managed during the procedure.

darkpuma5 said:We looked into these surgeries, how they actually work, and they told us some pretty scary stuff. They said it’s a massive, high-risk operation, and apparently, if a surgeon is lucky enough to only have a 40% stroke or disability rate during the procedure, that's considered a success. There’s a huge percentage of people who don't make it through, while some go through without issues, but supposedly the overall success rate is way below 50%.

Well, I mean, that isn't really a universal rule or anything. Results mostly depend on how bad the disease is, the quality of the plaque narrowing the artery, and yeah, obviously how good the surgeon is. But those numbers sound, I don't know, maybe a little overly pessimistic...

darkpuma5 said:She’s decided she wants the surgery, so we’re respecting that. We haven't shared all the scary rumors about the procedure with her because we don't want to freak her out more, though I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing.

I guess she’s really the only one who gets to decide what happens with her own health.
It looks like you guys are still hunting around for a surgeon, which probably just delays everything, raises everyone's stress levels, and pushes off finding a solution. Carotid surgery is actually considered a fairly routine vascular procedure, and you can find it performed at plenty of hospitals across major US cities. Of course, complications can happen, and they can be serious, but still.
If I were you, I might suggest picking a surgeon, going in for a consultation with your mom to ask all those nagging questions, and then just trusting the professionals. Good luck!👍

Her doctors told her she needs to stay hydrated to help with the poor circulation in those veins.

Casey Cook10 said:I see you guys are still hunting for a surgeon. Honestly, you’re just delaying the surgery, which only ramps up the tension and pushes the solution further away.

We’re actually looking for a surgeon while we wait for all these other tests to wrap up—and man, it’s taking forever. We've been stuck in allergy testing for nearly a month now and it's still not done. Not to mention some of these scans have a two or three-month waiting list! 😢! Regardless, I really don't want her ending up in the hands of an inexperienced surgeon. Maybe my anxiety is getting the better of me, but you have to understand, I worry about my mom way more than I worry about myself.

It blows my mind that someone facing surgery has to chase down ten different tests across various hospitals in the city. Why can't they just admit the patient to the hospital and get everything done in one go? Let them charge us! This whole runaround is costing our family more in stress than any bill would. I will never understand how this American healthcare system works.

Thanks, Doc! 🙂