The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast

Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! We're continuing to build episode by episode, starting with my NCS diagnosis and now diving into the specific scans and procedures that led to my kidney autotransplant.

In the previous episode (#5), I shared my lived experience with the venogram. In this episode, we take a deeper look into the renal hilar block (RHB). I discuss not only what the RHB is and why it's performed but also provide a detailed account of my experience—from start to finish.

Along the way, I explore the subjective nature of the RHB and the foundational concerns it raises about the test itself. As always, this is my personal experience, and I invite you to share yours in the comments so we can continue the conversation. I also encourage you to keep researching and learning from others—be sure to check out the NCS Facebook group for more information on this topic.

Welcome back to the NCS podcast! In this episode, I take a deep dive into all things venogram. I’ll share key tips and considerations to keep in mind before your procedure, along with a firsthand walkthrough of what the day was like for me.

My goal in sharing these details is to help ease any anxiety you might have about this step in the process. In my experience, this procedure was a walk in the park compared to others I’ve undergone on my NCS journey.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to share your own experience in the comments—whether it aligns with mine or differs. And if you're looking for more insights, I highly recommend checking out the NCS Facebook group. It’s an incredible resource filled with valuable knowledge that may answer questions I haven’t covered here.

Welcome back to the NCS podcast! In this episode, we’ll dive into the important questions to ask your doctors to help you determine if they’re the right fit for you.

Before we get into the heart of the discussion, we take a brief detour to talk about insurance—how your plan (or lack thereof) can impact not only the questions you ask but also whether you even have the flexibility to shop around for doctors. As you may already know, navigating the American medical system can be incredibly challenging.

To help, I’ve created an Excel spreadsheet with key questions to ask your doctor. While these questions were created after my in-person autotransplant (AT) appt, and some are specific to that, there are others that are general enough to ask some of your other doctors along the way--for those not pursuing the AT route. You can find it on the NCS Facebook page under the “Files” folder (uploaded on 11/14/2024). I hope this resource, along with our discussion, proves useful to you!

As always, I’d love for this podcast to be a space where we continue the conversation. This is just my personal experience—so drop a comment with yours, or reach out to me on social media @doc_serdner if you have any questions!

Welcome back to the NCS Podcast!

As many of you might already know, navigating the world of vascular compressions can feel like a joke—especially if you've been diagnosed with Nutcracker Syndrome. Out of my five-doctor team, only two even knew what NCS was. That’s exactly why I hope this podcast can provide some insight into the steps you can take to move from point A to point B on this journey.

My own path began with my beloved GYN, Dr. Olga Muldoon, who referred me to an interventional radiologist. That’s where I was diagnosed with both May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS) and NCS. But please remember—there’s no single way to reach a diagnosis and then embark on the journey. Some of you listening may have discovered your condition through a completely different route, and I love that.

My hope is that by sharing my journey, I can help you find a possible next step and offer guidance on what you can do in the meantime to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.

Enjoy the episode!

In this episode of the Nutcracker Syndrome (NCS) Podcast, I take a deep dive into what Nutcracker Syndrome (NCS) is, breaking down the condition in a way that’s easy to understand. I share my personal journey with NCS—the challenges, the milestones, and everything in between. We’ll explore the common signs and symptoms that often go unrecognized, as well as the lesser-known aspects of this rare condition.

From diagnosis to treatment options, and all the nitty-gritty details in between, this episode sheds light on what it’s really like to navigate life with NCS. Whether you’re personally affected, a caregiver, or just curious about rare vascular conditions, this episode hopefully has something valuable for you. While I will touch on some treatment options in this episode, I will provide more details on these treatment options in later episodes for those who are curious to know the ins-and-outs of these procedures. Stay tuned!

As mentioned in the episode, here's the link to my Medical Detectives podcast episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QjRbTXWerZ6HWwvIzNnsO?si=8fc4e367af6b4fe3

I hope you enjoy!

Welcome to the Nutcracker Syndrome (NCS) Podcast!

I’m so glad you’re here. But if you’ve just been diagnosed, suspect you might have NCS, or are a loved one of someone navigating this condition, I also want to say—I’m sorry you have to be here. NCS is not an easy diagnosis, and my heart goes out to you. Sending you all a big hug as you embark on this journey.

This quick episode will give you a glimpse of what to expect from this podcast. You'll get to know me a little better and learn more about what’s to come. My goal is to make sure you never feel alone in this experience.

If you have any specific questions or topics you'd like me to cover, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on Instagram: @doc_serdner.