I am considering having the pectus excavatum surgery again. This time, I am considering going overseas. Germany. The most successful and respected pectus repairman in the world is in Berlin. They run an entire clinic dedicated to this and a few other thoracic specialties. I have heard about a dozen testimonials from patients of both sexes and a range of ages (teens to mid-40s) who are all pleased with the level of care and the surgical outcomes they have received from this doctor.
I would, of course, have to pay cash for this. It would come out to around $25,000 US for the surgery, plus travel. This, of course, is cheaper than what it would cost in the US for what would amount to inferior care plus battles with insurance companies. (had I done my surgery in LA last summer, it would have been $70K, easy, and we would have had to pay at least $20K of that ourselves) In Berlin, you are expected to stay in the clinic for at least two weeks post-op. They monitor your vitals, provide pain management, and keep a close watch on you. After a few days, they put you on a physical therapy regimen. A week after the initial surgery, you are expected to walk, stretch, and even swim.
After a week in the US, they send you home with a pill prescription and tell you to go to the ER if you have trouble breathing. And good luck getting your surgeon to talk to you. The last thing you want, after having eight of your ribs cracked and a metal bar inserted into your chest, is to be given the silent treatment by your medical team.
I feel bad dissing US doctors because a lot of them are limited by what insurance says they can do. I feel the standard of care in countries with socialized health care automatically goes up because your doctor isn't thinking about cash money as he's cutting you open.
I've been having trouble with my chest lately. Austin allergy season hasn't been helping with my breathing, which is already poor. I wake up with a sore chest. I can't lay on my right side anymore and I'm already drugged beyond where I should be in terms of my irregular heartbeat meds. I am not getting any younger and it is starting to seem ridiculous to continue to live like this, into my 40s and 50s.
This isn't the perfect solution. I hate transatlantic flights and I don't speak German (Bob does, sort of). But as sad as it makes me to admit this, putting my health in the hands of the American health care system seems risky and that I could pay less for superior care in another country, I'd be a fool not to do it.
Auf wiedersehen, Trichterbrust!
Posted by Zerd at April 14, 2008 02:17 PM