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Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 8:58 am
by cheerleader
He may be a wonderful doctor who has performed angioplasty in this area of the body....but please, make sure to ask how many procedures he has done in the neck and chest. It is a different, slightly more complex procedure than the peripheral veins. His training is in peripheral venous disease (like varicose veins.)

If you are paying, you have the right to know how experienced this doctor is. I really, really, wish we could get everyone treated at home--and I don't mean to come off as a know-it-all...I just want to make sure you have the answers to your questions before you turn over your $.
best,
cheer

Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 10:15 am
by Chrystal
Thank you so much Cheerleader and others for your VERY important cautions.

I became so excited hearing that another facility/country is offering CCSVI testing/treatment thinking that if more countries get on board...then hopefully Canada will too???

In my excitement, I completely forgot about these necessary questions that need answering BEFORE a patient should even consider signing up. Thank you for keeping us grounded on this. We need to keep reminding each other of this as well (just as Cheerleader has been doing from the beginning), rather than excitedly asking if they've signed up yet.

My apologies. Will be more alert for my sake and my fellow MSers' sake, as much as my exhausted and battered brain will allow me.

Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 12:26 pm
by mommyg
I just read that they aren't using stents at this time in Costa Rica. So if you need one you're out of luck. Also the doctor requires that you stay for 13 days. As much as I'd love to be there for 13 days I have too many responsibilites at home for that long a stay.

Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 10:15 pm
by SandyK
I just received an email from Passport Medical about CCSVI in Costa Rica. The procedure is over 10k and that doesn't include flight, hotel, or food. They want a patient to stay 10 days at $98 a night. I'm going to pass. More than I can afford.

Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:24 am
by Whitey
Directly from the e-mail:
We very much apologize for the pricing delay for CCSVI Liberation in Costa Rica. The hospital has been working very dilligently to coordinate fees from the multi-disciplinary team. The final price for CCSVI Liberation in Costa Rica is $10,500 US dollars plus the cost of the hotel and flight . We have chosen not to package the procedure and hotel together after talking to many clients and due to the many variables involved: some are choosing to come earlier or stay longer, some require single and some double-occupancy, etc. We strongly suggest clients let us book the hotel for them to ensure proper coordination while in Costa Rica though. With a credit card number, we can simplify the process and book the hotel for you, alleviating any additional stress. We prefer our patients stay at a specific hotel, Casa Conde, as it has been specifically chosen for this procedure, and we can ensure you are booked into the appropriate accomodations at the hotel.

Casa Conde has excellent facilities at reasonable rates, is a 4* recovery retreat with a nurse on duty 24 hours per day, has an entire building set aside specifically for CCSVI Liberation patients, and is located very close to Hospital Clinica Biblica which makes transporation and rehabilitation therapy convenient. The cost of this hotel is $98 US dollars per night plus tax (13%) and includes breakfast daily for 2; this is a discounted rate over the hotel's rack rate. There is a meal plan available for lunch and dinner, or meals can be purchased directly from the restaurant at the hotel.

The package will include:

* airport pickup and drop-off by an English-speaking host
* assistance with check-in at the hotel
* transportation between all medical appointments
* all testing prior to surgery including blood tests, EKG, MRV, Doppler ultrasound, venography
* consultation with an internal medicine specialist and a neurologist
* CCSVI Liberation Treatment
* 2 nights in a hospital room
* 10 days of rehabilitation therapy designed to reduce post-operative stress and increase blood flow affected by CCSVI
* wheelchair accessible transportation and accomodations are available

Additional details are now available on our FAQS link at: http://www.passportmedical.com/2010/05/ ... osta-rica/ which is being updated frequently. Specifically, you can find new information on:

* the length of stay in Costa Rica as opposed to other destinations for CCSVI
* the rehabilitation program
* issues of insurance

In addition, many have been asking about possible tours during their stay in Costa Rica. We need to remember that the primary purpose of this trip is medical, and our aim is to ensure the highest chance of success from this procedure. Tours should be discussed with the medical team at Hospital Clinca Biblica for their suitability. If tours are deemed suitable, we work directly with Tropical Expeditions who will be providing all your transportation while in Costa Rica. You can learn more about them and the tours they provide at: www.www.tourismandhealthcostarica.com/index.html . They are creating specific tours for our CCSVI Liberation patients which will take you beyond the limits of the city to experience the real beauty of Costa Rica. Many tours and attractions will be wheelchair accessible.
Finally, we have booked our first month of patients for CCSVI Liberation at Hospital Clinica Biblica. We will be focussing a great deal of our attention on these clients in the coming weeks to ensure a seamless medical experience. We will then begin booking dates for both screened and non-screened patients through the summer and into Fall. As we begin the next booking phase, we will be able to better estimate treatment dates for those on our registration list.
So it's $10,500 USD, plus flights (~$2000 for two people from Canada), 10+ days in hotel (10 days after the procedure, how many before for testing/screening?) @ $98 USD per night.

It's considerably more expensive than the procedure in Poland or Bulgaria, and those are doctors that are now quite experienced in CCSVI. It seems more like a vacation resort package, so I guess if you're into that you can combine vacation and treatment and save a few bucks. I would consider this if we weren't getting prepared for our journey to Poland in exactly 4 weeks!

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 3:33 pm
by MSwithAttitude
Hi all, I have been popping onto this forum a lot to read but just registered today. I am active on Facebook and find it too difficult to keep up with everything! But now that my Liberation date is set I figured I'd pop into this thread.

I am booked into Costa Rica for July 9. I live in Calgary, AB and would love to hear if anyone else from around here is going.

I love the 13 day plan they have over there, what a great way to relax and regenerate. I just hope I can find a caregiver that can take two weeks away!

I am SPMS and use a wheelchair. I asked about stenting and although they prefer not to, as they are following the Zamboni protocol, they will do it if necessary.

I asked Passport Medical about the doctor's qualifications, and they responded "Have you read his extensive CV that was recently updated on our site? Also there is a video interview with Dr. Fallas and Mark that we just posted. He is very qualified. He is the head of vascular surgery at Hospital Clinica Biblica."

Here is his CV: http://passportmedical.com/2010/05/dr-marcial-fallas/

I am confident. AND EXCITED!

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:28 am
by AWMA
My husband is booked for Costa Rica and we are trying to find others who will be their June or July. Does any one have wire transfer info from passport medical? I recived mine last night and just want to be careful, it is alot of money.

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 7:09 am
by MSwithAttitude
I got all the information too. I am going for July 9, my friend is going for June 28. We aren't worried about wiring the money, I assume that's how medical tourism works and I trust them. I have talked to both Travis and Mark on the phone and feel good about everything.

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 7:25 am
by Villagemaid
Exciting!! Wish you all the very best!

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:39 am
by AWMA
i feel great about this and just wanted to ask the question because i rather be safe then sorry. Can't wait, Excited and nervous for my hubby all at the same time. May see some of you in Costa Rica.

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 4:08 pm
by MSwithAttitude
Any body else booked for Costa Rica yet? My procedure is now on July 10 and I'm arriving late on the 8th. Hope to meet some of you there!

Just saw this site of the recovery hotel. Looks fabulous. I'm so excited!

http://costaricarecoverycenters.com/la_ ... enter.html

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:43 pm
by SandyK
I just received this email today...

As you know, recently 10 MS patients participated in a CCSVI Liberation procedure pilot group, the treatment was performed by Dr. Rafael Moguel, Director of the Clinic of the Heart and his team of specialists at Amerimed Hospital in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The procedures were deemed very successful as all patients showed immediate and meaningful signs of improvement in mobility, balance and circulation.

The Clinic is now scheduling patients seeking CCSVI liberation treatment beginning June 28th. And since we do not require nor accept deposits, the waiting list is growing at a rapid rate. At this time the cost of the procedure has been established at $9,750.00USD.

The Clinic will only be performing 2 procedures per day therefore those names already on the list are being contacted first to schedule treatment. Since your name is one of the first on the list your treatment could take place as early as next week. Should you require additional information prior to making this very important decision please feel free to contact me.

With kindest regards,

Anyone care to talk about their experience?

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:18 pm
by Ali888
I think there is something "fishy" about this. First they said they were only accepting 10 patients for their start-up "study" in mid-june. I personally had contact with at least 6 of those supposedly only 10 people.

When I asked questions about their qualifications the response was to pressure me to confirm my acceptance before time ran out. Finally they advised that they had no CCSVI experience or training.

I did not agree to go.

I received the same email from them today.

Had they proper training I would have jumped at the chance to have it done so close to home and for a relatively low price.

I am happy to have chosen to see Dr. Sinan in Egypt instead...no wait time...and properly trained.

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:25 pm
by MSwithAttitude
This is a Costa Rica thread, not Mexico... There must be another thread to post this conversation in so it doesn't get mixed up? Thanks.

That being said, anyone else want to post about Costa Rica? My procedure is July 10. There are several people on Facebook posting about it but I'm wondering if there is any action here??

Anybody have the procedure done in June/July

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:48 pm
by willtravel
I haven't seen any recent updates here. Just wondering how people have got on who have had the procedure done in June and July? Are they still offering CCSVI in Costa Rica?