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I don't know costs yet so pretend cost is equal;

A facility where IR has done many more liberation surgeries but on patients like me who come from far away, no MRV or MRI is done, just straight catheter venogram and ballooning and/or stents.

OR

Hubbard, where they do MRI w/a tesla 3 & other tests then refer out to an IR if ballooning or stenting is done.

I can't believe it, but my PCP is willing to try to refer me to Hubbard so those tests might actually get paid for!!

Hubbard's only done 11 surgeries (that I know of though they will have done more by the time I could get in) and they've been up to date by attending symposiums w/Dr. S & others.

I feel confident in the first place, but like the idea of the MRI w/a tesla 3 as I know it takes more refined pictures than the MRI I had (tesla 2), and I'd like that additional information added to my diagnostic picture (since I was an "iffy" MS case).

I don't know if Hubbard does an MRI just on the brain or on the C-spine too, as I have lesions on both.

Any further considerations I should take into account before deciding which?

thanks in advance!

* length of waiting list
* watch the doctors on the symposium videos to see which one you might like better

Best of luck whichever way you decide, they both seem like good choices.

I would also think about the travelling distance: car or plane. I worry now about the pressure in the plane... my second procedure I will definitely not fly just to be sure.

AND follow up! Which one will be easier to access. Even Zamboni has redone the work a FEW times on some patients.

Since even with a good MRV the gold standard is venography/angio, I am not sure I would base my decision on that test...

Good luck!