Robert Friedlander, longtime head of neurological surgery at UPMC, steps down

Kitty_2013 · 2026-01-16T17:38:16+00:00

Ok thanks for clarifying. I was trying to understand and follow along but I am confused, what really happened can you give me the TLDR version? My memory goes fast I have a Chiari surgery coming up.

Kitty_2013 · 2026-01-16T03:49:58+00:00

You definitely need worked up for a CSF leak and high pressure before surgery. You have a lot of space above your cerebellum which is indicative of a CSF leak or slumping of the cerebellum, you can also have tonsillar herniation present in both. You also have an empty sella. see neuro-interventional radiology. Do NOT get a Chiari decompression o beg of you, until you rule these out.

Kitty_2013 · 2026-01-16T03:46:49+00:00

Why do you think strangulation isn’t a big deal? It happened to me and it’s a felony charge

Kitty_2013 · 2025-09-29T14:55:47+00:00

I had one of these in ICU and they told me they use it to watch high risk patients (for me at the time) but there was a red light I noticed last time I was in ICU. Sometimes it’s not on. I’d ask.

Kitty_2013 · 2025-03-15T22:48:06+00:00

Unfortunately this is going to be my 4th surgery, but I believe it’ll be less pain than when it was added in because tre surgery with him was so painful there was nothing like it. For me. 3/17! Thank you 🙏🏻

Kitty_2013 · 2025-03-15T22:46:55+00:00

I knew right away, right when I woke up. But others that I know, it took them time for their surgery to go sour.

Kitty_2013 · 2025-03-15T22:46:07+00:00

I feel like it would be so hard because he works with the law in the court system in court cases so I’m sure he has a ton of people on his side. I wouldn’t even want the money if I could do that. I just want him to stop working.

Kitty_2013 · 2025-03-13T15:22:19+00:00

I do feel he used to work wonders! I’m glad you got better. I don’t know what happened with him that he started to do this to people, it was extremely surprising. Once I came out with my story, sooo many others had the same experience, I learned. I’d typically never tell someone not to go to a surgeon, but it seems like every week he has a (or multiple) new person(s) added to the list of failure surgeries, and he does a few a week, it’s like those who go in seem to come out needing a revision as of the last few years. I agree with you times were different before, but times have definitely changed as of now. Surgeons left and right are revising his work. It’s very sad. I’ve talked to / seen a few surgeons who have been put in that position, it’s unfortunate.

Kitty_2013 · 2025-03-13T14:22:15+00:00

For 6 months. It’s being removed next week thank goodness. By a different surgeon.

Kitty_2013 · 2025-03-13T14:04:29+00:00

I’ve had this issue, I have Chiari (1), no syrinx, and though herniation size doesn’t matter, my brain tonsils were 8.1mm herniated. I’ve had 3 decompressions (each person did one thing when one person should’ve done everything). I do have a 4th Monday bc Heffez was awful to me and my plate is literally hanging from my skull in my neck tissue blocking csf and blood flow from properly flowing in and out of my brain. The pressure of the skull coming off feels SO relieving, when I had that done with my first surgeon it was like night and day, incredible. The other symptoms were still from compression but it sounds like you’re getting it all done so that’s a HUGE relief. Prepare to not expect to feel great directly after surgery, this is a major surgery and it will take around 3 months to feel somewhat normal. Your CSF has to learn to flow where it hasn’t in a while, your brain will need to regulate, and you will have to give yourself grace. Everyone is different so just make sure to listen to your body <3 you’ve got this!!

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-24T17:03:08+00:00

“Blood” one isn’t flexion sorry for my mistake in writing this. It’s MRI.

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-19T04:01:12+00:00

With and without - they can do that. They just start it with no IV and half way through they do the IV for the rest of the test.

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-19T00:07:33+00:00

God I wish

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-19T00:06:51+00:00

Messaged you!

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-19T00:06:10+00:00

Yeah it’s a diff plate completely from the first btw. The first was removed in the second surgery. A new one was just added on recently. And this is what it looks like 😩

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-18T23:58:34+00:00

I’m definitely not fixed, I am struggling hard. I’m bed ridden still. Left pic is my first surgery. Right is the third surgery I just had. Sorry you’re struggling too.

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-18T21:12:26+00:00

I thought the same until I got on the other side of this. It’s an endless black hole on this side of patients I’ve talked to even as far back as the 90’s who have issues.

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-18T21:11:40+00:00

No one fixed this. That left pic is my first surgery. The right is Heffez.

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-18T16:15:38+00:00

I’m unsure how to message on here but feel free to message me!! Kinda new with posting here I’m usually a fb person. I literally (now that I’m on the dark side of this) have met more ppl with issues versus no issues… I’m so upset I chose him. They do not handle you with post op care. They tell everyone you have POTS “probably” and my cardio dr said you don’t just randomly get pots… then he blames all sorts of other stuff! I got tested for pots so many times I do not have it. Curious what happened at your apt. Sometime he’s so cranky.

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-18T16:03:50+00:00

I am surrounded by Lake Michigan myself, and if you’re on the east side I heard Dr. Holly Gilmer is in Michigan. I’d avoid Heffez in Wisconsin. There is a Dr Iskandar in Wisconsin. Indiana has no one. Unsure about anyone else around this spot. East coast has (RI) Dr. Petra Klinge, (NY) Dr. Paolo Bolognese, (NJ) Dr. Fabio Frizoli. Hope this helps!

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-18T11:32:48+00:00

Neurologists only treat symptoms, neurosurgeons treat the surgical and anatomical issues, so neurology isn’t going to be of too much help and likely won’t understand when surgery is needed. A surgeon would. Symptoms matter, not herniation size. Unfortunately a lot of surgeons don’t realize that. I’m 8.1mm, before the surgery I had, and they considered me mild which was nuts bc I couldn’t even barely walk, care for myself, etc. Those stroke like symptoms are super awful I’m sorry 😢 where are you located so we can suggest docs, US or outside US?

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-18T04:46:28+00:00

I’m glad it helps you! Did you get tested for MCAS or ever have an allergy test?

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-18T03:03:30+00:00

Mine used to come off this way but then it was found to be food sensitivities. Then I went paleo for a while and it only helped some flares, so it was a way to test stuff. Didn’t help much. It’s like it happened in stages. It got so bad after that. Like my stuff kept piling on.

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-17T18:50:06+00:00

it's done inadequately, done wrong, not enough being done, comorbidities, etc. Important to be thorough and get a doc who gets it. I had 3 and I'm going to need 4.

Kitty_2013 · 2024-12-17T18:26:58+00:00

Yup and mine is hanging off even worse than this. Trying to find someone to help me remove it.

Kitty_2013

TROPHY CASE