Need to Find New Doctor

[Patti]

As you can see from my signature, I am a long time AN survivor. I will try to be brief with my thoughts, but basically, I think it is time to find a new doctor.
I had radiosurgery in November of 2015 for possibly 2 ANs.  The larger one measured 26 mm x 86 mm and the smaller one was a 6 mm nodule.  This was performed at Montefiore in the Bronx under the care of Dr. Madhur Garg.  He was recommended by the neurosurgeon who removed my 4 cm tumor 15 years before.  I have had nothing but miscommunications since then.  The last straw was when they sent me for a CT scan because my insurance would not approve an MRI.  I questioned that with the insurance company and the doctors office and was told nothing more could be done, but they said I should have a CT scan with contrast instead of which i questioned the value.  The assistant convinced me to get it.  On the way to the CT (3 hours away), I called the office and asked if I should have had blood work done before this contrast was administered.  They said just come on down, it will be ok.  I got there and was told i needed just a CT scan-no contrast. OK.  At the end of the summer, I had my follow up visit.  I saw the resident doctor first (who tried getting my MRI authorization).  She told me the CT only shows that there is no edema and that my insurance didn't approve the contrast.  Today i just found the authorization letter-contrast approved!  The doctor came in and questioned why I didn't get an MRI and said I should get one and he will talk to the insurance company this time.  Well I haven't heard from him since.
So, in my displeasure, I think I should find a new doctor, perhaps not at a teaching hospital.  So does anyone have any suggestions of a new doctor to start with in the NYC area? Do I need another MRI or am I making too much of this?  Please help me figure this out.  Patti
   

[arizonajack]

The ANA website has two possibilities for NYC:

NYU Langone Medical Center
530 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Phone: 212-263-2950
Fax: 212-263-1680
Website: www.med.nyu.edu

The Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery Team at the NYU Langone Medical Center is composed of board certified neurotologic and neurosurgical specialists with significant experience in managing tumors of the cerebello-pontine angle (acoustic neuromas, facial schwannomas, meningiomas, etc.) Our center performs acoustic neuroma surgery and surgery on other skull base lesions several times weekly. The NYU Langone Medical Center also offers Gamma Knife treatment as well as other forms of radiation therapy when appropriate. Our rehabilitation facilities are world renowned and facial nerve grafting and facial reanimation expertise are available when rarely needed.  In addition, the Multidisciplinary NF2 Center at NYU Langone Medical Center is actively involved in clinical trials with many medications for inhibiting tumor growth as well as innovative surgical techniques and hearing restoration paradigms

WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE - BRAIN AND SPINE CENTER

525 E. 68th Street, Box 99
New York, NY 10065
Phone: 212-746-4584
Fax: 212-746-6607

1305 York Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10021

Phone: 646-962-3277
Fax: 646-962-0030
Email: Skull Base Surgery
Website: Weill Cornell Medicine - Brain Spine Center
 
The Center for Skull Base Surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center offers comprehensive state-of-the-art care for the patient diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma. The team, led by Dr. Selesnick and Dr. Stieg, functions as a consortium, bringing together expertise in neurotology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, neuro-anesthesia, intraoperative cranial nerve monitoring and nursing. Serial observation, stereotactic radiosurgery, and surgical approaches—including the retrosigmoid, translabyrinthine and subtemporal middle fossa—are all treatment modalities that fall under the expertise of our physicians.

Doctors include:

SAMUEL H. SELESNICK, MD, FACS
PHILIP E. STIEG, PHD, MD



I'm sure many of our members have been treated by those physicians and will have helpful comments.

[Patti]

That is a fabulous start!  Thanks!