Has anyone been operated by Dr Guido Giacalone in Belgium?

[Bluedolffin]

i was wondering if the LVA went well..

[whisker5]

No haven't been operated on yet - but 'lawstudent' has. I have had tests and a consultation with him. He comes from a vascular surgery background and just deals with lymphoedema now, day in , day out.

[Bluedolffin in reply to whisker5]

thanks whisker5, nice username ! Did you use your health insurance to go to see him? I was wondering at which stage i should ask for health care help. Did they find some suitable veins for you? How long does the ICG investigation last for ?

[whisker5 in reply to Bluedolffin]

Hi - no health insurance -always thought NHS would look after me -I was wrong...

[Bluedolffin]

Sorry to hear that Whisker 5. Cheer up !

Did you travel TO Belgium though to find out if you were suitable for the microsurgery?

ahrrr ! you know. No regrets to have. Maybe it is better that way. From what I read, Micro surgery is still considered as experimental and there is a risk that there might not be any huge improvement after. I am going to my native country myself to find out if i am still allowed to have healthy insurance.

Apparently a lot of health insurance refuses on the ground that microsurgery is still experimental and not proven to be successful in each case. Maybe it is better to wait until there is a real medicine manufactured!

[dorih77]

Hello! Have you been at dr Giacalone in Belgium? I have lymphedema at left leg and I heard that dr G is very skilled. Thank you!

[goede in reply to dorih77]

Personally, I find him "world-top" (right leg "experience")

[Bluedolffin]

Hi dorih77, I have lymphedema on my left arm and i know how painful it is. A couple of months ago, I just consulted Dr Giacalone by email. He asked me to send some pics of the affected limbs and he seemed eager to help me but when i told him i did not have any health insurance to back me up, I would need him to fill a form to apply for it, he never answered back. I have an appointement in Genoa the 4th of november with Campisi. I could give you some feedback if you wish.

[whisker5 in reply to Bluedolffin]

Campisi is over 4 times more expensive than Dr Giacalone - so be cautious if you are paying out of your own pocket!

[dorih77 in reply to Bluedolffin]

I'm sorry I'm late with the answer, I had some problems and I have not entered this site. Please give me details about the meeting with Dr. Campisi. I do not have health insurance. What country you live? I wonder how much it would cost surgery in Belgium? I wish you good health!

[Bluedolffin]

yeah I kind of notice. Campisi has an administration team though. They have really helped me to fill in the forms and argumentate my case. I have just submitted the docs to my health care so far. Let's see what happens. Apparently, Public health care do not really help. Did you try to get some information on your side?

[AMH2 in reply to Bluedolffin]

Hi blue dolphin. Are you based in Ireland and are you covered by Vhi if so?

[Bluedolffin in reply to AMH2]

yeah I live in Dublin and have VHI, but they dont even want to refund my compressible gauntlet and gloves. Not even 1 euros :-). It is incredible. Where do you live again? Do you have vhi? The operation cost 30.000 euros at least ! Imagine what VHI is going to respond. HAHA ! Lymphedema is considered a chronic disease for them unless you had breast cancer, they refuse to take responsability!

[AMH2 in reply to Bluedolffin]

Hi I am Irish but living I the UK, I'm still On Vhi though and they cover lymphodema related stuff for me although I am secondary but still considered chronic

[Bluedolffin in reply to AMH2]

Thanks for your answer AMH2.

really? do they cover as well for your garments ? They told me i need to buy 10 garments per year and then they refund for the excess. Is it what you get ?

If it is not indiscreet, how much do they refund you ?

[AMH2 in reply to Bluedolffin]

Hi I am Irish but living I the UK, I'm still On Vhi though and they cover lymphodema related stuff for me although I am secondary but still considered chronic

[Bluedolffin in reply to AMH2]

hanks for your answer AMH2.

really? do they cover as well for your garments ? They told me i need to buy 10 garments per year and then they refund for the excess. Is it what you get ?

If it is not indiscreet, how much do they refund you ?

[AMH2 in reply to Bluedolffin]

I get the garments here on the NHS thankfully but Vhi pay for mld and recently LVA surgery. £15k in the UK

[Bluedolffin in reply to AMH2]

ok thanks a mil, we dont have NHS in Ireland unfortunately. 15K is quite reasonable compared to Italy. If responses are negative, i will consider Uk for sure. Good luck to you lymphie!

[AMH2 in reply to Bluedolffin]

Do you have mld and would you recommend a practitioner in Dublin ? I'll be visiting over Xmas and would be good to have some during the week if poss

[AMH2 in reply to Bluedolffin]

Do you have mld and would you recommend a practitioner in Dublin ? I'll be visiting over Xmas and would be good to have some during the week if poss

[Bluedolffin]

on which plan are you? maybe i need to upgrade

[AMH2 in reply to Bluedolffin]

I'm on the international plan now but I was on company plan extra level b

[Bluedolffin in reply to AMH2]

ok. will have to change thks

[goede]

Yes,

Giacalone is world-top.

Personal results are going very well (so far) .

From now on : one day clinic for an LVA (he changed from hospital - is now in Duffel - near Mechelen)