I'm not Steven nor Don, and respect both of their opinions as well
(have wondered where Don is also), although we have different opinions
when it comes to approaches to surgery).  Have you considered Dr. David
Sherris?  He was formerly at Mayo Clinic, Rochester and now has
established himself in private practice in Bufffalo, NY.  I had minimal
surgery in late July to open up blocked frontals and sphenoids.  He
detected this from CT scans that I sent to him and found it when no
other ENT was able to do so, and it had been going on for years until I
was the point that I was almost suicidal.  I think, with the help of
finally a good PC doctor near my home (East Tn)  and an infectious
disease doctor in Atlanta, Ga., who treats chronic sinusitis.  I may
finally be getting some relief.  I don't think the surgery alone would
have helped, but with aggresive treatment since then, I am slowly
improving.  I was really skeptical at first, because I thought my
problem was still in my remaining ethmoids, but was despreate and
willing to do almost anything at the time.  The biopsy report confirmed
what Dr. Sherris had prediagnosed as well as the right sphenoid being
almost completley blocked at surgery.  I'm not expecting to ever be
completely well ( still have hope) since I have some other mold
hypersensitivity issues as well, and his recommended treatement for
that has not worked;  but he has at least given me back the will to
live.  He uses image guided surgery and only widens the ostia so that
they can drain better.  I know Steven disagrees, but from what I have
read, this approach seems to be preferred to the more radical older
approaches.  You can actually send your scans to him and for a moderate
fee, he will read them and send you a report of his findings, and if
you decide to have the surgery, he waives that fee.  Since he is in an
indepedent practice, it might be less expensive.  I have really good
insurance, so I don't know what the total cost is.  ON the other hand,
if you know your problem is in the ethmoids and you are refering to
UPenn and Dr. David Kennedy (Don's choice), it would probably be worth
the money.  As I've learned, it doesn't do any good to have money (not
that I have that much), if you don't have your health.  Dr.  Kennnedy
would read the scans at one time also if you send them to him and let
you know if he thought surgery would help. I don't know if he still
does that.  I also think there is something similar at Cleveland Clinic
in Ohio.  So, if you pursured some of these options before coming all
the way here, you might better know what to expect.

Good luck!!
Kathyw

I would rather have a great surgeon in a cheap hospital than a mediocre
surgeon in the most expensive hospital.

I had my second surgery (ethmoidectomy and revision antrostomy) done by
Dr. Eric Stein.

He's affiliated with Mass Eye & Ear Hospital in Boston, but I didn't
have to travel there.  He was willing to do the surgery at my local
hospital, Lowell General Hospital (because he has an office in
Chelmsford, not far from there).

http://www.lowellgeneral.org/splash/

Their care was surprisingly good for a less well known hospital, and the
whole bill (including anesthesiology) came to less than $6,000.  I guess
that's the trick:  find a great surgeon and persuade him to operate on
you in a cheap hospital.  :-)

So I can't believe they would charge you $50,000.

Wherever in the States you choose to go, don't forget to include the
cost of room and board.  You can't have sinus surgery and go flying back
to the UK the very next day.  Air travel and damaged sinuses don't mix.
 You need lots of time for your sinuses to heal; if you developed a
post-operative sinus infection (a frequent complication), it wouldn't be
advisable to go flying across the Atlantic till it heals.  Can you
afford to be in the States for an extended period if necessary?  Even
the costs of an extended-stay hotel (which tend to be cheaper than the
usual amenity-intensive hotels) are going to mount up.

I would rather have a great surgeon in a cheap hospital than a mediocre
surgeon in the most expensive hospital.

I had my second surgery (ethmoidectomy and revision antrostomy) done by
Dr. Eric Stein.  He's affiliated with Mass Eye & Ear Hospital in Boston,
but I didn't have to travel there.  He was willing to do the surgery at
my local hospital, Lowell General Hospital (because he has an office in
Chelmsford, not far from there).

http://www.lowellgeneral.org/splash/

Their care was surprisingly good for a less well known hospital, and the
whole bill (including anesthesiology) came to less than $6,000.  I guess
that's the trick:  find a great surgeon and persuade him to operate on
you in a cheap hospital.  :-)

So I can't believe they would charge you $50,000.

Wherever in the States you choose to go, don't forget to include the
cost of room and board.  You can't have sinus surgery and go flying back
to the UK the very next day.  Air travel and damaged sinuses don't mix.
 You need lots of time for your sinuses to heal; if you developed a
post-operative sinus infection (a frequent complication), it wouldn't be
advisable to go flying across the Atlantic till it heals.  Can you
afford to be in the States for an extended period if necessary?  Even
the costs of an extended-stay hotel (which tend to be cheaper than the
usual amenity-intensive hotels) are going to mount up.

Don, in September, I had surgery in Mexico because it is less expensive,
but the care I received from the doctor and the hospital was fantastic.
 I went across the border from Brownsville, Texas to Matamoros, Mexico.
 The surgery was $2,300 for everything; the doctor, anesthesiologist,
hospital.

Here is the information. If you are interested, I will find the email
address of his assistant, Melissa.  She speaks English very well,
unfortunately the receptionist does not. If you call the office, ask for
Melissa.

Dr. Rolando Hernandez
Telephone  011-52-868-813-2767

Ave. 5ta. No. 217 Altos
Zona Centro
H. Matamoros, Tam. 87300

I stayed at a hotel in Brownsville and I walked across the border. For
more convenience, there is a Best Western hotel, almost across the
street from his office.

Becca