| Contact information for Essen |
|
|
1 2 3
|
| 1 2 3
|
|
05/14/2009 13:36
Diana 
|
05/14/2009 13:36
Diana
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
I talked to Christiane this morning and here is what I learned re Essen radiation:
Dr. Oppenkowski will be the doctor examining Dupuytren's patients.
They can examine your hand and begin radiation the same day.
They can either do 5 days M-F and then you come back in 3 months and do another 5 days OR they can do 7 days MWFMWFM. Your hand appears to do better as far as redness/dryness etc. with the former treatment - the 5 day/wait 3 months/5 more days. Then you come back in a year for a checkup.
Cost is 800 Euros for 1 hand, 1200 Euros for both hands.
There is potential for staying at an apartment in the hospital itself - Christiane said they are not luxurious! She also has lists of other places to stay.
Since Germany has different holidays than the US, you will need to double check on when you can go for treatment - they do have some holidays in May and June but none in July and Aug. (Although I thought that Europe shut down in Aug.?)
I was really interested in Lori's future MRI treatment - that seems to be a very good idea - to find all the Dupuytren's that isn't showing symptoms so that when you do the radiation, you deal with it all.
Diana
|
|
|
|
|
05/14/2009 15:09
lori 
|
05/14/2009 15:09
lori
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
Diana,
What are you going to do? Going back after 3 months will double your cost. Any luck getting in to see the surgeon quicker?
If you use the apartment, better check to see if you have a private bath.
Lori
|
|
|
|
|
05/14/2009 23:27
alan_texas 
|
05/14/2009 23:27
alan_texas
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
Diana,
I talked to Christiane today as well and got the same info you listed. Once the Dr. looks at the photos I sent I will know if they think RT is an option. If all is a go I will be looking at mid to late June. Unless they recomend otherwise, I will be trying the 5 day / 3mo / 5 day option. Even with two trips my cost compared to the only local option I found should be about the same (local option only offering whole hand RT for 5 days / 7 treatments total). The local option with insurance (5K deductable) was quoted at about 7K.
Alan
|
|
|
|
|
05/15/2009 15:49
lori
|
05/15/2009 15:49
lori
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
Alan,
I found someone in Charlotte, NC who will do 5 days, off for 6 weeks and back for 5 days. Treatment cost is 14K without any insurance. So with your deductible you would pay $5K. I don't know if that is less or more than Germany. What do you think your cost in Germany will be given the Euro vs $?
Lori
|
|
|
|
|
05/16/2009 04:55
Wolfgangnot registered
|
05/16/2009 04:55
Wolfgangnot registered
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
Not all of Europe is shutting down in August, just Italy and France ... though I believe that even in those countries some hospitals might still be working ...
Quote:
... they do have some holidays in May and June but none in July and Aug. (Although I thought that Europe shut down in Aug.?) ... Diana
|
|
|
|
|
05/16/2009 06:45
newman
|
05/16/2009 06:45
newman
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
Hi Diana Australia Calling.When I visited Essen for the initial consult ,the prof. went through the procedure and I had to sign a consent form.He indicated, he wanted me to consider ,what if, any risks and wait 24 hours before the RT.For this reason you might consider arriving on the Friday, and have the consult etc .In Germany many Govt workers finish at 1pm on Fridays. I tried to arrange my treatment at 8am and this allowed me the rest of the day free. Essen is about 2 hours on the ICE train from Frankfurt.I usually fly in and out of Frankfurt .There is a train station at the airport. Regards.
|
|
|
|
|
05/16/2009 15:03
Diana
|
05/16/2009 15:03
Diana
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
Thanks for the info Newman. I guess I need to make a list of questions for Christiane and call again. I wouldn't want to make plane reservations and then have to change them.
Diana
|
|
|
|
|
05/16/2009 15:15
Wolfgangnot registered
|
05/16/2009 15:15
Wolfgangnot registered
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
Rumour says that Prof. Seegenschmiedt is no longer treating at Krupp hospital at Essen which would be a real pity. I will investigate further and post an update.
Wolfgang
|
|
|
|
|
05/16/2009 17:22
alan_texas
|
05/16/2009 17:22
alan_texas
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
I'll post more later, but I did want to tell you, Diana, that Christiane told me the same that she told you...they can begin RT immediately after the initial exam, same day. They must have changed their procedures fom the way it was done in the past.
-Alan
|
|
|
|
|
05/17/2009 03:30
Diana
|
05/17/2009 03:30
Diana
|
Re: Contact information for Essen
Hi Wolfgang. That would be good if you could get more information on Professor Seegenschmidt. When Christine said that a different doctor would be seeing me, I asked about Prof. Seegenschmidt and she said that "she couldn't tell me" which was slightly odd but I just figured he might be writing a book or doing more research. If he is doing radiation therapy somewhere else, perhaps I might consider going there as he has so much experience.
Thanks, Diana
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 2 3
|
| 1 2 3
|
621 users online
Login
