VHI & HSE Applications

[Amanda]

If you would like to know more about funding via either the VHI or HSE please address your questions here.
I have sucessfully attained funding for many operations and procedures from both of these agancies on many times......11 in fact.
It is a process that requires patience but if you have any questions I wil be willing to help you out.

Amanda

[peaches]

Hi Amanda

Thanks for that..........we need all the help we can get in UK.
It's worth remembering. Did you get your surgery funded this way?

Cheers
Peaches

[Amanda]

Peaches

Yes all my diagnostic, therapeutic treatments and surgery and stimulator procedures were paid for by both the HSE using the E112 protocol and my private insurance VHI which is similar to BUPA also paid for treatments.
It did take me a lot of hard work to get these tretments paid for but in the end they did pay for it.

[Ms Wise]

Hi Amanda,

I have just come back from the US after seeing Dr. Filler. I have complex problems since 2002 involving lower back/ pelvic trauma and a possible surgical entrapment of the ilioinguinal/ genitofemoral nerve. From the MR Neurography, I have a bilateral pudendal nerve entrapment above and below the ischial spine and an enlarged Piriformis contributing to sciatic symptoms both sides and front groin pain which may be coming from a surgical entrapment of the genito-femoral/ ilioinguinal nerve or may be coming from the pudendal nerve entrapment. I am trying to get funding from the VHI re injections and possible surgery in the US, though the VHI only cover up to €100,000 for treatment abroad. The E112 procedure does not work for treatmnet outside the EU, so my only avenue for coverage will be the VHI. What difficulties did you encounter...? The VHI refused payment for the MR Neurography but I am appealing to the Ombudsman on the basis that MR Mammography is covered and I have emails from Neurosurgeons in Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic verifying that they provide MRN and that is is simply an MRI of the nerves.

Did you see Dr. Robert in France? He is the only Neurosurgeon in Europe doing pudendal release surgery right? You obviously did not get enough relief from the surgery in France when you had to get the Neurostimulator ...? Would you be willing to talk to me? I can leave my details with the forum for you to make contact if you would? Why did you not have the Neurostimulator done in Ireland?

Regards.

Ms. Wise

[calluna]

Hi Ms Wise - re your questions for Amanda - I can tell you that Dr Robert is not the only neurosurgeon in Europe doing release surgery, Dr Thomas Carlstedt in London is also doing this.

[Amanda]

Dia Duit Ms Wise, Conas a Ta Tu?

While I feel for you I am also glad to have another Irish person here on pudendalhope.
I will try to answer some of your questions, i have sent you a reply to your PM.

The secret to the VHI is having support from your consultant in Ireland, woul dyou car eto say who that is?
You need them to write reports and fill int he forms which comply to the VHI criteria which is: the treatment is not available in Ireland, The consultant doing the treatment is recognised, the hospital where they work is recognised, and that the treatment is also recognised.
It can be a long drawn out procedure, but with the right wording and substantial information to back up your application it should be possible.
The main thing is to keep copies of every correspondence....as it is a big organisation paperwork tends to get lost at times.
The limit will be 100K per year for treatment abroad. This was not relevant for me as I went to Nantes many times and had surgery there and many other treatments, all of which were paid for by the VHI and my accomodation and flights were paid for by the HSE under the E112 sheme. That is not applicable for you though.

The reason I went to Belgium for my Stimulator is because it was not available in Ireland.....and my pain specialist completed the forms to have me treted in Belgium where the expertise was available.
My surgery in Nantes showed that I had extensive damage to my pudendal nerve with other nerve involvement including the sciatic and illoguinal nerves which were also decompressed at the same time....the results were not successful therefore i underwent many treatments in France and was eventually recommended to have a Neurostimulator and hence my treatment in Belgium.

I have just come back from the US after seeing Dr. Filler. I have complex problems since 2002 involving lower back/ pelvic trauma and a possible surgical entrapment of the ilioinguinal/ genitofemoral nerve. From the MR Neurography, I have a bilateral pudendal nerve entrapment above and below the ischial spine and an enlarged Piriformis contributing to sciatic symptoms both sides and front groin pain which may be coming from a surgical entrapment of the genito-femoral/ ilioinguinal nerve or may be coming from the pudendal nerve entrapment. I am trying to get funding from the VHI re injections and possible surgery in the US, though the VHI only cover up to €100,000 for treatment abroad. The E112 procedure does not work for treatmnet outside the EU, so my only avenue for coverage will be the VHI. What difficulties did you encounter...? The VHI refused payment for the MR Neurography but I am appealing to the Ombudsman on the basis that MR Mammography is covered and I have emails from Neurosurgeons in Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic verifying that they provide MRN and that is is simply an MRI of the nerves.

Did you see Dr. Robert in France? He is the only Neurosurgeon in Europe doing pudendal release surgery right? You obviously did not get enough relief from the surgery in France when you had to get the Neurostimulator ...? Would you be willing to talk to me? I can leave my details with the forum for you to make contact if you would? Why did you not have the Neurostimulator done in Ireland?

I have your details and will make contact with you as soon as possible.

Best wishes

[Amanda]

Hi WestIremale

Welcome to Pudendalhope.org. As a fellow Irish person I know how it feels to be with this condition and feeling so alone.
I have sent you a PM with my doctor details, they all contributed to funding application forms via the VHI and HSE but Quinn should be the same format.
Please let me know if I can be of further help to you via email or telephone. Believe me you may have a long battle but it will be worth it in the end!

[Amanda]

I am on my application Number 12 for coverage via the HSE and VHI for funding support so that I can travel to Belgium for my annual review for my Stimulator.
I know that as always it will entail many emails, phone calls and letters from me and my consultant and hopefully will result in a positive end result.
In a few years I will have to have surgery to reimplant a new stimulator so i have to keep the annual applications going to guarantee continuance for my application...at this stage I have several lever arch files that are crammed full of letters etc which have documented my many years of communications with these Govt organisations...its tiresome but very worthy.

[Violet M]

You are a pro at this Amanda. I wish you the best on your approval.

[Amanda]

Thanks Violet for your continued support. As a member of a state where PN is unknown it is a case of digging very deeply and also have the support of consultants who believe in my pain even if they cannot treat it themselves.
I am sure that my current application will entail even moe indepth analysis due to the current cutbacks and economic climate....but why should i be victimised as a result? It would be easier for me to submit and give in, however why should i have to pay for my treatment abroad!
I will not give up the fight as i have to pay for my private insurance every month, so I deserve a reward accordingly.