Looking for a specialist...

Hi there!

I’ve been following this thread for quite a while now because I’m personally looking into getting rhinoplasty. Since I live abroad, it’s a bit tough for me to clear my schedule for multiple in-person consultations. For now, I’ve just been emailing several different surgeons to get some info. One of them is Dr. Smith, and he actually sent back the most detailed response so far.
What really caught my eye about his approach is that he performs "closed rhinoplasty," which apparently means a much faster recovery time. I’ve read in several places that with the open technique, the swelling can linger for over a year!
His pricing for just a tip refinement is $2,000, and a full rhinoplasty is $2,500—and that includes the consultations and follow-up dressings.
Has anyone here had any recent experiences with Dr. Smith??

Karen Cook5 said:Hey!

I’ve been lurking here for a while because I’m seriously looking into getting a nose job. Since I live abroad, I can't exactly fly back and forth for endless consultations. Right now, I'm just emailing a bunch of doctors to get info. One of them is Dr. Smith. He actually gave me the most detailed response out of everyone.
What caught my eye is that he uses the "closed technique," which is supposed to mean a way faster recovery. I’ve read in so many places that if they go with the open technique, the swelling can stick around for over a year.
His price for just a tip job is $2,000, and a full rhinoplasty is $2,500—that includes the consults and follow-up dressings.
Anyone got recent experience with Dr. Smith??

Read the thread, there’s plenty written already.

Don't recommend Smith.

Hey everyone. I've got a nasty cold and I'm worried that when I blew my nose, some mucus got pushed into my left ear. It felt clogged and was aching a bit for a day, but the pain stopped and the pressure eased up—except now there's still something lingering in there. I've got this tinnitus ringing, and whenever I blow my nose, I can hear a whistling sound. Nothing hurts anymore, but it’s super uncomfortable. Since I don't have Medicare, does anyone know a good private clinic in Chicago where I could get checked out? I'm just scared of things getting worse. Thanks!

If money is no object, I’d suggest seeing Dr. Michael Ries; $167 he’ll perform the exam. Given how things look, you’ll probably just end up needing some nasal drops. 😁

I tried using some topical cream, but it’s not really doing much. Thanks anyway!

Does anyone have the scoop on Dr. Zoran Veir over at Rib or maybe that Dr. Budija guy from Dubrava—I can't even remember his last name properly????? I'm looking into eyelid surgery...

Hey guys, I really need some help here. Does anyone know which place is actually the best in the US? Honestly, I don't care what city it's in, I just really need to find somewhere known for being super thorough, accurate, and experienced. Please, I'm kind of freaking out, this is 911 level stuff for me.

thanks

silentfalcon21 said:I need a recommendation for a solid gastroenterologist who takes referrals—someone who will actually listen to me, take my concerns seriously, and order whatever tests are necessary. Most importantly, I need someone human. Someone I can actually talk to, rather than being rushed out of the office before I even get settled. Please, this is urgent... and if possible, I also need them to refer me to a psychotherapist (they’ll need to put it in writing because my primary doctor won't send me unless there's an official referral on paper). I'm becoming increasingly convinced that all of this is stemming from a string of issues over the last few years, and I just can't manage them on my own anymore.

I've been seeing Dr. Calloway at the rib clinic for two years now. She was recommended to me right when I turned 18. Since I already have a diagnosis, I really just go in for regular checkups. It’s usually not crowded at her office, she’s very kind, and she’s actually easy to talk to. Give her a try. Good luck! 🙂

Greetings. I am looking for a gastroenterologist, preferably located at either Siget Health Center or in New York City. If anyone has had positive experiences with specific doctors in those areas, any advice would be greatly appreciated. This is for my mother, and I am truly hoping to find someone who is not just a skilled physician, but a kind and compassionate human being as well. Thank you. 🙂

hiddencanyon14 said:I want to jump in on this thread—I’m looking for some medical recommendations in Chicago, so if anyone can point me in the right direction:
1) A facility where I can get a full orthopedic workup (ultrasound, X-rays, all the necessary tests, plus follow-up physical therapy for a painful shoulder). I'm open to everything, whether it's through Medicare or private clinics (like Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, or even places like Medikol and others mentioned earlier...). I've already tried a few therapy sessions, but they didn't do a thing, so I don't care about the price tag. I just need someone to finally give me a real diagnosis and actually fix (or at least soothe) this shoulder.
2) A solid ophthalmologist (ideally on the east side of Chicago)

Thanks in advance for any leads.

For that shoulder pain and anything involving the spine, I highly recommend Dr. Kasumovic (an osteopath).

placidmarlin15 said:Hey everyone. I'm on the hunt for a good gastroenterologist—ideally someone over at Siget Health Center or maybe somewhere in NYC. If you’ve had any solid experiences lately, please, please let me know. I’m looking for someone for my mom, and honestly, I don't just want a doctor who knows their stuff; I need a real human being who actually cares about their patients. Any leads would be huge. Thanks! 🙂

My dad just saw Dr. Mark Duvnjak over by the vineyard—he’s a great diagnostician, too, and his main thing is gastroenterology. Honestly, my old man was really happy with him.🤷

Does anyone know where I can get tumor markers done here in NYC? Also, what’s the drill if you go through Medicare instead of a private clinic? Like, do you need a specific referral to get those markers checked out?

And does anyone have a recommendation for the best place to get an abdominal ultrasound? How much can they actually spot regarding gut issues through an ultrasound? I read that a colonoscopy is usually the final step—basically, you start with the less invasive stuff first and only move to a colonoscopy if something looks off..

This is for an older person (early 40s) who is worried about the worst-case scenario, so we really need to find a doctor ASAP. Since they just moved to the city, we’re totally lost on where to even start..
Any help or advice would be huge..

Getting an abdominal ultrasound at the Siget Health Center usually involves a wait of about six months—or at least that was the case when I put myself on the list. I haven't actually gone through with it myself yet, so I can't vouch for how professional or friendly the doctors are, but I do know they perform that specific scan there.

Being in your 40s doesn't make you old 😁
Markers are usually ordered once a growth is detected, but honestly, you can get them done privately at almost any lab. I believe the cost is around $30 per test. You just tell them what you're worried about, and they'll suggest the right marker—or you could just do a little Googling yourself 🙂. Why wait?

I need an urgent recommendation for a top-tier pulmonologist and oncologist in NYC, preferably private given how fast this is moving.

Thanks in advance.

Sandra Brooks91 said:Being in your 40s doesn't make you old.😁
Tumor markers get ordered when they find a growth, but honestly, you can get them done privately at pretty much any lab. I think it’s around $30 for one. You just tell them what you're worried about, and they'll suggest which marker to run, or you can just Google it. 🙂

Do you know where we can get this done privately? We searched online but couldn't find anything in Chicago, and the guy doesn't have a ride to go anywhere outside of the city. He doesn't have family nearby either, so he’s basically on his own. I'm actually using a friend's forum profile right now to ask this—I'm acting as the middleman for him. He's truly a great guy, but unfortunately, he's unemployed and doesn't have health insurance, so we decided to help out as much as we can since he's always been there for everyone else. :-(
It breaks my heart, he really doesn't deserve this... but then again, life is just like that sometimes.

coppermoose42 said:Does anyone know where I can get tumor markers done here in NYC? And what’s the deal if you go through insurance instead of paying out of pocket? Like, do you need a specific referral from a doctor to get those markers tested?

Also, does anyone know the best spot for an abdominal ultrasound? How much can they actually see regarding gut issues through an ultrasound? I read somewhere that you usually start with the less invasive stuff first, and then move on to a colonoscopy if things look sketchy...

It’s for an older person (early 40s), and they're pretty convinced it's something serious. We need to find a doctor ASAP, but since they just moved to the city, we're basically starting from zero and have no clue where to begin...
Any help or advice would be huge..

I found this clinic in NYC (all the details are listed on the side under tumor markers): Stela Clinic
and prices seem to range from $120 to $50 per marker. From what I gathered, there's a suspicion of colon cancer, so they'd probably need both CEA and CA 19-9 markers, which would run about $80 🙂

You've got http://www.lab-breyer.com/ as well as It’s quite kind of you to lend a hand. Best of luck!

coppermoose42 said:Does anyone know where in NYC I can get tumor markers done? And what’s the procedure if you go through insurance rather than paying out of pocket? Like, what kind of referral do you need to get those markers tested?

Also, does anyone know the best place to get an abdominal ultrasound? How much can you actually see regarding bowel issues via ultrasound? I read that a colonoscopy is usually the final step—that you start with less invasive methods first and then move to a colonoscopy only if necessary...

This is for an older person (early 40s) who is fearing the worst, so we need to find a doctor ASAP. Since they just moved to NYC, we have absolutely no clue where to even start...
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated...

First thing you need to do is see a Primary Care Physician. They’ll assess the situation and decide on the next steps.
In this case, the main concern mentioned is a colon tumor. You won't achieve anything by just running markers or getting an ultrasound from a GP; those tests are used by specialists to check for metastases in the liver or lymph nodes.
Because an ultrasound is meant for looking at parenchymal organs.
Markers aren't reliable anyway.

In about two weeks, I have an appointment scheduled at the Nola clinic to see a dermatologist. Could anyone share their experiences there? To give some context—I'm dealing with acne on my face and neck—and since this will be my very first time ever seeing a specialist, I’m feeling a bit uncertain about what to expect. I'd love to know how the actual consultation usually goes. Also, if anyone knows, could you tell me what the typical cost is for an exam and roughly how long the appointment lasts?
Thanks so much 🙂