This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi friends my name seeva from sydney After the Chrissy's story in the recent ch7 program all the drs are now thinking about CCSVI link to m.s. Last week my dr told me that DR.RAMON VARCOC at prince of wales private hospital does angioplasty procedure for m.s patients. Has anyone treated by dr. ramon if so were are they taking thier ultrasound doppler scan in SYDNEY.i will be grateful if someone let me know the details.
regards
seeva :roll:

I did a TiMS site search and nothing comes up for Varcoe. I would've thought there'd be some mention in the Australia thread www.thisisms.com/forum/chronic-cerebros ... 0-840.html

The Ch7 program was really well done. It didn't seem to be focused on controversy but instead focused on the actual procedure and actual experiences.

If Prince of Wales is a private hospital, does that mean it is self-pay?

Yes, it is self-pay, though partially supported by private health cover if you have it.

"Neuroscience Research Australia" is attached to that hospital. Hopefully it will spark some interest.

But, on topic, I have never heard of this dr before.

Its a public hospital (http://www.sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au/powh/index.asp). But, even if its public, private treatments would be performed there, and I would think it would depend on a surgeon taking referrals for treatment under the public system. I had one of my treatments at a public hospital. When the dr found out I had selected to have the treatment sooner rather than wait for an opening on the public system, he quickly re-arranged his schedule to perform the procedure under the public system. ie I think it was free. We take easy access to free medical treatment for granted here in Australia.

Dr Varcoe works within Prince of Wales Private Hospital. It is a hospital at the right of the public Prince of Wales Hospital.
I have been treated by him - in August 2011. Great results as per usual, which didn't last more than 3.5months (which is usual for me).

He's very compassionate and quite knowledgeable about CCSVI - however, I am unsure if he assesses renal and iliac veins.

Ultrasound I had in Melbourne (I live there).. however, it is also offered in Newcastle (2 hour drive from sydney). Dr. Varcoe also prefers an MRV before surgery, which is about $280 out of pocket.

I collect data on physician practices around the world. The goal is to determine common ground amoung treating physicians and to gain consensus on best practices.

I would desire any emails addresses of doctors treating patients in Australia so that i might invite them to contribute towards the doctor survey. Please send them as private messages or correspond with me at ccsviliberation@gmail.com

Thanks

Drsclafani.

_________________
Salvatore JA Sclafani MD
Patient contact: ccsviliberation@gmail.com

I was in touch with the office of Dr Varcoe in Sydney this past week - they confirmed they offer CCSVI (sent you info via email) I'm now awaiting info n their waiting time before I can get an appointment. Your thoughts on this Dr and his process would be appreciated - with no treatment on offer thisis my closest option. Dr Laurens Bester and Dr Thompson both confirmed to me that they are no longer involved or no longer taking appointments.

Did Dr. Bester or Dr. Thompson give a reason why they are no longer treating CCSVI?
Good luck with Dr. Varcoe. I hope you find more information on him. It's a shame that choices are so limited out there in Australia right now.
There used to be an Australian thread, if that is not still up to date, we should add the information about these doctors to it.

In evaluating a doctor, you might want to look for number of procedures performed (more is better), and if he is conservative vs aggressive (conservative may mean undertreatment but aggressive may mean vein injury and it is a fine line to walk). Conservative is using IVUS which is intravascular ultrasound, sizing the balloon more closely to the size of the vein, maybe using lower atm pressures, and very rarely using stents. Anticoagulation is important so you could ask what medication is prescribed after the procedure and then come back and tell us too.

Both replied super quick and super brief. Dr T said he hadn't taken any new appointments in 2 years due to the trial which was over subscribed. Dr Bester just said he was no longer involved but suggested Dr Varcoe with whom I had already been in touch. To me the speed of the replies indicated they wanted to help but couldn't for whatever reason.

Allynz, I too am in New Zealand. Can you give me the details of Dr Varcoe? Any idea of costs? Please email me at jill@iguh.co.nz
thnx Jill

Just to throw more confusion into the mix. I have been treated twice in Australia, and once by Dr Sclafani. My first procedure was supposedly by "Dr Bester"; ie it was through his office. However, on the day, I was actually treated by a different doctor This guy, was youngish and I THINK was possibly of French background (a BIG guess, could of been from anywhere, but I'm pretty sure he did not grow up here).

Also, when I was treated by Prof T, I actually booked through the office of a different doctor, through a private hospital in Melbourne, at which Prof T attended the procedure. I'll look around for his name.

Mr Milne at Epworth. Hopefully he wont be upset at me for providing this... http://www.pymilne.com.au/Ops-Pros-MrPeterYMilne.htm

the doctors currently offering/arranging angioplasty treatment for PwMS in Australia are listed at :

http://ccsvi.org.au/contact-us/

More have performed the treatment in the past (Prof T's office had a whole team skilled at this, as he works in a teaching hospital).

Prof T's team is currently offering treatment to PwMS as part of the trial at The Alfred (so only people without MS can get angioplasty treatment during the trial period).

http://www.anzctr.org.au/trial_view.aspx?ID=362107

Helen

Just to update you on Dr Varcoe I have made contact with a few of his patients that have had a good response and one mentioned CCSVI was not on his website because it isn't covered by medicare. I spoke to Dr Varcoe's practice manager today - he has done about 40 CCSVI procedures but has been so inundated with demand over the past month he now only does cases that have been assessed and referred by Dr Thibault. The time from referral to op is currently 1-3 weeks.