OCD and Deep Brain stimulation in New York

[KurtNash]

Hello! I am new here. Could anyone help me please? I need to find out how much is the approximate cost of the surgery called deep brain stimulation in the state of New York. I would like to opt for that surgery if I qualify as suitable. I hope it's not too expensive. Thank you very much in advance. I am from Costa Rica and I am very tired of living with this horrible and debilitating condition.

[languageteacher]

Dear Kurt! Thank you for your message/question. I do know they conduct DBS e.g. at Butler Hospital in New York. As far as I'm concerned I had an anterior capsulotomy - and I think this DBS is more expensive. I could estimate that many tens of thousands of dollars. And if you have an insurance it could, perhaps, be possible to get a reimbursement from them. I know this high cost is one of problems connected with OCD. So, I mean that if the hospital considers you as a potential candidate for surgery, you also have to deal with the financing. Which hospital have you chosen? I think you could find some information if you contact the hospital you've chosen. --- I wish you GOOD LUCK in your efforts!

[languageteacher]

Dear G Kamel, lt's fantastic you can help this pseudonym "Kurt". Do you also live in the US? And I understood you, perhaps, are a doctor. And if so, at which hospital?

[languageteacher]

Dear Kurt, I send you here a link where you can read about neurosurgery. I hope you feel better. sciencedirect.com/topics/nu...

[languageteacher]

Hi G.Kamel, Thank you for your message. I certainly will write to you more.

[languageteacher]

Dear MrsMapdog, For you also thanks from me from Europe. So, was it so that you got help when a psychiatrist started raise your voltage? I appreciate also your contribution to this discussion we now have here.

[languageteacher]

Dear G.Kamel, Have you read my link on neurosurgery and especially on the capsulotomy method? In terms of my life with OCD, I can say that it was practically "A HELL" after I had come down with my OCD during my university studies. It was very hard to study at the same time when my OCD constantly became worse and worse. But to my astonishment, I hung on and could study until I was to start writing my Master's Thesis. I collapsed totally and tried to commit suicide the first time. Then started my long stay (6 years) at a psychiatric hospital without any help there, because I had a therapy-refractory form of OCD. After those years, I was sent abroad for this capsulotomy just because it wasn't possible in Finland. --- So these 30 years after the capsulotomy I've lived almost ALONE without any peer-support here in Finland. And in 2003, I wrote my thesis. Now, this discussion with you means A LOT FOR ME. I don't know how I could THANK YOU enough.

[languageteacher]

Yes, I'll do but the time: the GMT - is it so that this time "11,00 Am GMT" would be at 9,00 Am GMT here in Finland?

[languageteacher]

Or could the time (11,00 Am GMT) mean, that it will be in the evening In Northern Europe and Finland?

[languageteacher]

Yes, I know the voltage is here very important. Did you read my link on neurosurgery?

[MrsMapdog in reply to languageteacher]

I read some of it. It is way over my head in understanding all of it.

[languageteacher in reply to MrsMapdog]

Dear MrsMapdog, In fact, yes, the text in that link contains so much scientific terminology - I just wanted to send it because there is information on that neurosurgical operation I've undergone myself. I mean my operation was BEFORE the DBS started.

[languageteacher]

Could it be at 1,00 PM UK time? It would be easier for me at 11,00 AM in Finland?

[languageteacher]

Yes, thank you. I'd like to suggest: Could we discuss e.g. the practice regarding how peer-support for OCD in different parts of the world has been organized? As I've told earlier it has been very problematic at least here in Finland - and I think we only have peer-support for persons who have a mild or moderate degree of symptoms. Mirroring this situation, I've been feeling it's quite unfair. By the way, this big organization (IOCDF) in the US must be of high quality, because they have those conferences (OCD Awareness Week) + other events. I, personally, can only dream of them. And I've never so much money to buy flight tickets from Finland to e.g. New York.

[languageteacher]

I'm sorry but I still have one question regarding our phone call on Wednesday in WhatsApp: Could YOU call TO ME at the Finnish time, 11,00 AM? Sorry for this inconvenience.

[Hb2003]

usally DBS is for people who have movement disorders like touretttes syndrome or Parkinson's

[languageteacher in reply to Hb2003]

Yes. DBS is usually conducted to treat e.g. Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. But in Brussels (at KU Leuven University Hospital) the neurosurgeon Bart Nuttin made the FIRST DBS for severe and therapy resistant OCD in 1999. After his operation, DBS started to be made in many parts of the world - and now ALSO for patients with severe OCD symptoms. For instance, it is made at Butler Hospital in New York. In my case, I underwent earlier (in 1992) an anterior capsulotomy which has been "the predecessor"of DBS. It helped my symptoms a lot. I have given you in this thread a link to an article which sheds light on neurosurgery - and you can find there information on e.g. this capsulotomy (what it means and so on).

[Hb2003 in reply to languageteacher]

thank you 🙏 i never knew that it was a thong so thank you for educating me stuff like this is interesting to me because I am a psychology major 😄

[languageteacher]

My Phone number: [phone]

[languageteacher]

Hi!

I saw you had called me. Sorry, I couldn't answer. Could we agree on some day next week when we could speak on WhatsApp?

[languageteacher]

Hi! It's OK, you don't need to be worried. For me it would be nice to have our call next Friday. And for my part, a bit more convenient time could be at 12 o'clock (noon) Finnish time. But that's only my suggestion - what would you think, is the time right for you?

[languageteacher]

Dear G. Kamel. Have you seen my last message regarding the possible WhatsApp call on Friday?

[languageteacher]

Dear G. Kamel. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your message. We'll discuss then on Friday.

[languageteacher]

Another thing. I have sometimes days when my OCD is more difficult - just today on Wednesday, I've had this kind of a day. Could we, perhaps, talk a bit on that on Friday?

[languageteacher]

Hi! It was so wonderful to have our telephone call today. I would like to ask you what language is your mother language? Mine is Finnish.