CCSVI in Bulgaria

A forum to discuss Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency and its relationship to Multiple Sclerosis.
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RobSandra
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Re: Home Again

Post by RobSandra »

ak wrote:HOME AGAIN

May 20, 2010

Hello Everyone.

We arrived home yesterday at around 6:00PM. It was a long trip but a good trip as we managed to make all of our connections successfully. The airline staff for Air Canada and Air Lufthansa were great. They were very helpful and gave us excellant service.

On the way home I actually sat in the seat like a normal person for the first time in a long time. I still had some discomfort in my back but nothing like the amount of discomfort that I had in my back on the trip to Bulgaria. I still took Baclofen regularily 20 mg every 4 hours but only took one 500 mg tylenol every 4 hours instead of two. I still have some muscle spasms but not as many as before and they are by far less severe when they do occur. I can definetly sit or lie down in one position for a longer period of time with less stiffness and muscle tightness when I get up. Other wise all other improvements are the same as before. My legs still sweat a bit at night but not as much as before and not every night. I have also noticed that I don't swallow wrong very often anymore and don't feel like I have small pieces of food caught in my throat. In fact on the day of the venogram & ballooning when I was able to eat, I ate my meal chewed and swallowed without any problem without lifting my head off of the pillow and not one bit of food got caught at the back of my throat or went down the wrong way.

Now that I am home I am planning to make a copy of the CD that Dr Petrov gave me that has pictures of my veins before and after the venogram. I plan to give a copy to my family doctor, my neurologist and send a copy with a letter to the Saskatchewan Minister of Health and the Federal Minister of Health. Maybe if enough of us send the information and a copy of our results they will finally believe us and allow the treatments to be provided to all MS patients here at home since not everyone can afford to travel to Bulgaria or Poland.

Our trip was good, the results were better but THERES NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

Regards

AK
AK -thanks thanks thanks!! Your updates have made us feel very comfortable with the trip ahead.
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72DEMON416
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Post by 72DEMON416 »

Hi guys, my wife is booked for June 22'nd but I have a bunch of questions about the whole deal.
1) My wife has dental braces - should they be removed for the diagnostic tests that are done? - We have emailed Grodzinski but dont' get any responses...
2) When are the surguries typically being done?- the day after arrival?
3) How many days after the surgury can you leave?
4) How many days after the confimed date are you scheduling your return flight for?
5) Can you book/keep your Room in the hospital hostel up until your departure date?
6) What are the charges for staying in the hospital hostel(per night)?
7) How bad is the language barrier?

Sorry, that's a lot of questions. I'm more worried about the organizing of the trip, the international travel and the stay than the surgury...

Thanks,
Rick
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RobSandra
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Post by RobSandra »

Hello another fellow Saskatchewanian...
you should contact Geya tours as they will answer what you need to know.

Hospital hostel is 20.45 per person per night from what we were told. They want you there day previous to procedure (we are 2 to be sure). We were told 4 days all told required and are staying few extra.

Good luck
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72DEMON416
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Post by 72DEMON416 »

Yes- nice to see we are not the only ones from Sask going!
I wasn't sure if Diana would be able to answer my questions but I'll give her a try- thanks!

Rick
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Villagemaid
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Post by Villagemaid »

Awesome to hear. Glad you guys from SK are going together (I was born in Moose Jaw....lol....)

Hope it all works out smoothly for you. I can't wait for my turn in October....

ALL THE BEST!!!!
35 (f) dx'd since July 2000 RRMS
Treated in Bulgaria on September 8 2010
80 percent narrowed RJV and 90 percent narrowed Azygos
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costumenastional
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Post by costumenastional »

72DEMON416 wrote:Hi guys, my wife is booked for June 22'nd but I have a bunch of questions about the whole deal.
1) My wife has dental braces - should they be removed for the diagnostic tests that are done? - We have emailed Grodzinski but dont' get any responses...
2) When are the surguries typically being done?- the day after arrival?
3) How many days after the surgury can you leave?
4) How many days after the confimed date are you scheduling your return flight for?
5) Can you book/keep your Room in the hospital hostel up until your departure date?
6) What are the charges for staying in the hospital hostel(per night)?
7) How bad is the language barrier?

Sorry, that's a lot of questions. I'm more worried about the organizing of the trip, the international travel and the stay than the surgury...

Thanks,
Rick
i can only speak for myself so here goes

they only gave me a doppler of my heart and jugulars pre op. if they dont give you an MRV dental braces should not be removed. anyway, its a big hospital. if they need to remove them you will find a way.

my operation took place the same day i arrived.

i left the hospital 2 days post op.

i scheduled my return flight for Friday (i arrived on Monday morning) cause Grozdinski told me so. when they told me i could leave on Wednesday i had to check in to the hospital's hotel until my departure. no big deal.

there are always rooms in the hospital's hotel so no need to worry
its only 20 euros per night and i think 40 for 2 beds

the language barrier can be huge with some nurses but in general its not too bad. docs speak english and there will always be someone around to speak with.
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devine
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Post by devine »

to 72demon416

hope this will help answer some of your questions...
this is what I was confirmed by geya tours

The accommodation in hospital hotel area - 20 euro per person/per
> >> night (without breakfast)
> >>
> >> Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - 15 euro per person/per
> night
> >>
> >> Transfer airport - hospital - 2 pax (without wheelchair) - 30 euro
> >> per car/per way

also you can stay from once you get there until once you leave as this is what I'm doing since I feel safer that way if something were to happen.. Only downer on that is you might not get a double room and be stuck with two seperate single rooms... You would have to communicate with Geya Tours to book this also as you mentionned for braces don't believe it will be a problem at all. Good luck and keep us posted.

Cheers,
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72DEMON416
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Post by 72DEMON416 »

Thanks guys!
I'll let everybody know how it all went.

Rick
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Vhoenecke
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Post by Vhoenecke »

If you have an IPOD you can do translation of phrases on it. If no Ipod go to a library and get a phrase book or have them order you one.

Val
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72DEMON416
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Post by 72DEMON416 »

Vhoenecke wrote:If you have an IPOD you can do translation of phrases on it. If no Ipod go to a library and get a phrase book or have them order you one.

Val
I have a iPod...or do you mean iPhone?
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Chris1967
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Post by Chris1967 »

devine wrote:to 72demon416

hope this will help answer some of your questions...
this is what I was confirmed by geya tours

The accommodation in hospital hotel area - 20 euro per person/per
> >> night (without breakfast)
> >>
> >> Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - 15 euro per person/per
> night
> >>
> >> Transfer airport - hospital - 2 pax (without wheelchair) - 30 euro
> >> per car/per way

also you can stay from once you get there until once you leave as this is what I'm doing since I feel safer that way if something were to happen.. Only downer on that is you might not get a double room and be stuck with two seperate single rooms... You would have to communicate with Geya Tours to book this also as you mentionned for braces don't believe it will be a problem at all. Good luck and keep us posted.

Cheers,
Greeting all, just thought Id chime in about the hospital hotel accomodations. The rooms are just 7'x10', exactly the same as the hospital room you will be in. I left my hospital room the day after surgery and then stayed in the Greenville. My fatherl, brother and I all had seperate rooms and they were top notch for approx 140 euros per night per room. We stayed 6 days and ate at the finest resteraunts you can imagine. Ask Stanaslov at the hotel desk and he'll be happy as heck to help you...in fact he drove us all over Sofia!! He is the man and you tell him Chris from the U.S. sent you!
Gotta go, wife just called me to go to dinner.

btw...iphone works fine with the lingopal bulgarian app.

pss The hotel also has an unbelievable massuese named Desi, one and a half hours full body professioal massage for 80 euros. Also a fantastic pool with a disappearing edge, full weight room, nail care thing what ever you call those and more......

You might guess by now the operation for me went with out any problems

Chris
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Vhoenecke
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Post by Vhoenecke »

Actually either an Ipod or Iphone will work. You just buy the app.

Val
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72DEMON416
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Post by 72DEMON416 »

Thanks Val & Chris! I'm on it.

Rick
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pinksapphire
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Post by pinksapphire »

Hey everyone. Just thought I'd post my Blog again if anyone wants more info on Bulgaria. You can never have enough info. I know I couldn't get enough before I went : ))


http://mymsliberationprocedure.blogspot.com/
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RobSandra
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Post by RobSandra »

GREAT BLOG -thanks ever so much for sharing!!!
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