Male, 60, congenital MVP, only a problem since contacting bacterial infection in Mexico one year ago, severe mitral regurgitation, enlargement, familial thrombocytopenia, fatigued, otherwise good health.
Lost previous health insurance and am doing this on Medicare; and am already tied into Beth Israel, but this is not fixed.
My new cardiologist (Ossama Samuel/Beth Israel) is recommending go-ahead this month for repair/replacement.
I have a consultation set up w/ Robert Tranbaugh/Beth Israel this week. (checks out well online)
Thank you all for the advice I've been reading here; and have bookmarked alot more homework for myself.
Right now, I feel woefully ignorant w/ piecemeal data....but I am pursuing these areas.....
1. Robotic mitral valve repair; appropriate? An initial search shows a no. of hospitals here that use the procedure, but not Beth Israel.
2. I would like to hear of recommendations (or otherwise) for doctors in the NYC area.
3. Someone here mentioned finding a cardiac nurse to get an off-the-record, fuller, wider idea of the procedure. Does anyone know a nurse here? I'll take her/him to lunch.
4. Medicare: does it relegate me to 2nd class care? Can i use it out-of-state?
any ideas, warnings, guides for starting this whole process will be welcome!
Lost previous health insurance and am doing this on Medicare; and am already tied into Beth Israel, but this is not fixed.
My new cardiologist (Ossama Samuel/Beth Israel) is recommending go-ahead this month for repair/replacement.
I have a consultation set up w/ Robert Tranbaugh/Beth Israel this week. (checks out well online)
Thank you all for the advice I've been reading here; and have bookmarked alot more homework for myself.
Right now, I feel woefully ignorant w/ piecemeal data....but I am pursuing these areas.....
1. Robotic mitral valve repair; appropriate? An initial search shows a no. of hospitals here that use the procedure, but not Beth Israel.
2. I would like to hear of recommendations (or otherwise) for doctors in the NYC area.
3. Someone here mentioned finding a cardiac nurse to get an off-the-record, fuller, wider idea of the procedure. Does anyone know a nurse here? I'll take her/him to lunch.
4. Medicare: does it relegate me to 2nd class care? Can i use it out-of-state?
any ideas, warnings, guides for starting this whole process will be welcome!