I'm glad I had Dr Valin

Yesterday I took a friend to have an Open RNY performed. I will not name the hospital or doctor, but I do have to say that I am VERY HAPPY that I had Dr. Valin for a surgeon and that the surgery was done at St Raphael's. My friend's mother is 82 years old. I took them to the hospital because I didn't want her Mom to have to sit alone all day and drive herself home. I'm glad I was there, but what I saw upset me. My friend went into the OR at 7am...her surgeon came out to see us at 10am to tell us the surgery went fine and she would be in the Recovery Room for "two hours." That was pretty optimistic I thought. Sure enough...she was in the Recovery Room from 10am to 6:30pm. This is about the same amount of time that I was in there...and I have heard that this is pretty normal. The thing is, no one could tell her Mom why she was in there so long, how she was doing, etc. etc. We were sent up to the floor where she is staying at 3pm...we had to wait another 3 1/2 hours...without any word of encouragement. Her poor mother was getting sick with worry and there was nothing I said that would comfort her. My friend came up to the room in lots of pain. I was wondering why she was in so much pain when I had felt little pain. Then I remembered that Dr. Valin sends you off with a little pain pump for the suture line-in addition to the PCA pump that you control yourself. My experience was so much better. My partner knew from the get-go how long I would be in the Recovery Room-what my situation was (still on the respirator, etc.) When she returned to the hospital, she was taken into the Recovery Room to see me and bring me my glasses. She waited outside the Recovery Room and they kept her informed about my status. She came with me when they brought me to my room. Dr. Valin is so conservative. I had a Jackson Pratt drain, a central line (just in case they might have to get access fast), the pain pump for my suture line...which helped me more than I realized I guess. The staff on the unit where I stayed were very familiar with the surgical procedure I just had. I wasn't on an orthopedic floor (as my friend is). I'm not putting anyone down...I'm just thankful that the doctor I had was so thorough and that the staff were so sensitive to my family's need for information.

I'll second that. I would choose Dr. Valin in a heartbeat again if I had to do it all over again. His whole staff and the hospital staff was great on both occasions. My hubby knew what was going on at all times. I'm sorry your friend had this experience. Maggie

DITTO,HOW ARE YOU DOING? HOPE ALL IS WELL. LINDA S.