Nutcracker Syndrome podcast

Simone Erdner, PhD, CMPC
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  • MEDICINE

Hi, I’m Simone—welcome to the Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast! This show is a labor of love. After receiving countless DMs, I realized a podcast would be the best way to connect. While it’s a solo show, I may bring in guests like doctors or fellow NCS warriors. My goal is to share my story, offer insights into procedures, & ease anxiety around scans. I suggest starting with episodes 1 & 2 for context on my journey. After that, you can choose episodes based on where you are in your NCS journey. I hope this show helps you feel less alone as you navigate this space for either yourself or a loved one.

Episodes

  1. 01/04/2025

    EP11: Medical Travel Information

    Welcome back to the NCS podcast.  In this episode, I want to provide some additional details on ways to ease the financial burden of what you are going through. For many, you have to travel to see a specialist, but rest assured! There are travel options for you that can help cut costs. I offer more details about each of the below option—things to know when navigating each organization—but I wanted to offer the links to their respective websites for your convenience:  Flights: Angel Flights: ⁠https://angelflightwest.org/ ⁠Angel MedFlights: ⁠https://angelmedflight.com/ ⁠Lifeline Pilots: ⁠https://lifelinepilots.org/patient-information/service-area/⁠ Mercy Medical Angels: ⁠https://www.mercymedical.org/request-assistance⁠ Hotels/Housing: The below option were the more financially affordable options provided to me for my stay at UWHealth in Madison, WI; thus, these will not be applicable to you if you are not consulting and/or having surgery at UWHealth.  Best Western Plus InnTower Madison: 2424 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53726 Restoring Hope Transplant House: ⁠http://www.restoringhope.org/⁠ As always, if you have other recommendations that I did offer on this episode and/or want to offer details on financially affordable options when visiting another NCS surgeons, please drop those tidbits in the comments! Big hug!

    27 min

  2. 01/04/2025

    EP10: In-Patient & Post-Op Recommendations

    Welcome back to the NCS podcast! In this episode, I dive deeper into how to prepare for your inpatient stay, covering important topics like visitor hours, the food menu, what to bring with you, and more. Toward the end of the episode, I also share a few personal insights—what proved helpful for me and things I wish I had considered after being discharged from the hospital. Please keep in mind that this is based on my own experience during my inpatient and post-op journey with UWHealth in Madison, WI. I encourage anyone with additional advice or tips to share their thoughts in the comments. These episodes are just the beginning of a larger conversation, and I hope we can all contribute to it! Sending big hugs to everyone! :)

    46 min

  3. 31/03/2025

    EP9: The Nuclear Medicine Scan

    Welcome back to the NCS podcast! I want to thank everyone who has tuned in to listen to my ramblings for the first couple of episodes. This was the first request I received, which jogged my memory in that, "Yes! I did do a nuclear medicine scan, and I completely forgot to talk about it on this show". So here we are! Even more reason why I appreciate all the feedback/requests you all have provided me. In this episode, I will provide some details on the nuclear medicine scan. I discuss what it is, why it's used for NCS, and the ins-and-outs of the scan from start to finish. Overall, it's a fairly easy scan that I felt was the easiest to complete; however, there are some things I shared in this episode that I wish I would have known before I arrived. I hope this is helpful for you! If you listen and note that your experience was different from mine, not hesitate to leave a comment on this episode to share how your scan was different. Big hugs!

    18 min

  4. 28/03/2025

    EP8: The Autotransplant Initial Consult

    Welcome back to the NCS podcast! As an extension of episode 7, I wanted to zoom in on the initial consult I had with UWHealth in Madison, WI as this was a *F U L L* day of appointments/scans (9am - 3pm). As stated throughout all the episodes, I share my lived experience; thus, how the initial consult went for me isn't the same as how it goes for others. There are some that have other scans scheduled during their initial consult such as first-time and/or repeat venograms + the renal hilar block. While my initial consult might be different from yours, I provide a little more detail into some of the components that could be on your schedule (i.e., meeting with social work, nutrition, and the CTA) to help you prepare for those meetings. As always, if you have additional information to share, you are more than welcome to leave those in the comments! I would love to hear about your lived experience and how it might have differed from mine. Big hugs to us all!

    24 min

  5. 28/03/2025

    EP7: The Autotransplant

    Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! In this episode, I take a deep dive into all things kidney autotransplant—the surgery I personally opted for. As of this recording, I’m three months post-op. My surgery took place on December 19, 2024, at UW Health in Madison, WI, with Drs. Foley and Phillips, with Dr. Foley as the primary surgeon on my case. In the first half of this episode, I break down what a kidney autotransplant is and why someone might choose this route. I also explore alternative surgical options for those who may not find transplant surgery to be the right fit. Along the way, I take a side-quest into the way surgeons often cite "success percentages" without fully explaining what those numbers actually represent—and why they can be misleading. Many patients don’t return to their original surgeon when a surgery fails, meaning those failure cases often go unreported. This is why I strongly advise steering clear of surgeons who use these stats to bolster their own egos rather than providing a full picture of the risks and outcomes (12:54 - 18:55 time stamp). In the second half of this episode (starting at the 21:26 time stamp), I dive into the kidney autotransplant journey in detail. I walk you through the process of securing an in-patient appointment at UW Health, the surgery itself, and what you can expect—from anesthesia to the in-patient experience. I also share some unexpected aspects of my own recovery. My hope is that this information helps you (a) ease any anxiety you might have and (b) equip you with the right questions to ask your surgical team, so you can make the best decision for your own health. Thanks for tuning in—I hope you find this episode insightful!

    51 min

  6. 28/03/2025

    EP6: The Renal Hilar Block

    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.

    25 min

  7. 28/03/2025

    EP5: The Venogram

    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.

    24 min

  8. 28/03/2025

    EP4: What Questions to Ask Your Doctors

    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!

    24 min

  9. 28/03/2025

    EP3: Who to See if You Have NCS

    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!

    25 min

  10. 28/03/2025

    EP2: My Nutcracker Syndrome journey

    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!

    36 min

  11. 28/03/2025

    EP1: Introduction

    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.

    6 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

Hi, I’m Simone—welcome to the Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast! This show is a labor of love. After receiving countless DMs, I realized a podcast would be the best way to connect. While it’s a solo show, I may bring in guests like doctors or fellow NCS warriors. My goal is to share my story, offer insights into procedures, & ease anxiety around scans. I suggest starting with episodes 1 & 2 for context on my journey. After that, you can choose episodes based on where you are in your NCS journey. I hope this show helps you feel less alone as you navigate this space for either yourself or a loved one.

Information

  • Creator
    Simone Erdner, PhD, CMPC
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11