Hiatal hernia, need doctor advice

I had my DS over 10 years ago.  In general doing okay, but I have a significant hiatal hernia and severe GERD as well as a bunch of other issues including COPD, CHF, diabetes, etc. which make me a very high-risk surgery candidate.  I saw the specialists at Northwestern, but bottom line, once he found out that I had the DS, the surgeon said he wouldn't touch me, and that I should see their bariatric surgeon.  Well, I tried to explain that not just any bariatric doc would do, as most haven't a clue about the DS.  He just went ahead and referred me to the NW doc anyway.  To say the least, I ignored his suggestions.

I am now considering going to the University of Chicago to see either Dr. Alverdy or Dr. Prachand, leaning towards Prachand simply because it seems like he may be more experienced with hiatal hernias.  

Has anyone had any experience with either of these doctors?  Or the UC system in general?  I'm a bit leery of dealing with such a large institution, especially a teaching facility.  I'd love to hear any of your experiences, either with the DS or other surgery done by either of these docs or at the UC Medical center.

Thanks. 

Actually there is no place better to go than a teaching facility.  More docs there than in any regular hospital and more specialists too.

Prachand and Alverdy have been around a long time and are well known as DS surgeons.  I haven't heard anything bad about them at all.

Ditto what Patty said.  You'll be in good hands.

I agree with both Patty and Val, and can add that while I have no personal experience with either of these surgeons, I do know someone who saw one of them and was not happy with his personality. However, that could have been just a personality mismatch. Certainly she had no information about either of them not being a good surgeon, and both are definitely experienced with the DS.

If you want the name of the one she didn't like, send me a pm.

Larra

Larra,

    You're pretty knowledgeable. Do you really think people need and experienced DS surgeon for a hiatal hernia repair?

I guess I never gave it much of a thought but I know my first instinct would be to find a surgeon that didn't care about the

DS. I would be thinking less that it is about the DS, strictly speaking, than it is about having had any kind of intestinal surgery that

might cause a problem for a 2nd surgery like scarring, adhesions, etc. Does that make any sense?

Pete

Pete, the OP asked a very specific question, so I tried to answer it as best I could (though I have no personal experience with the surgeons she asked about). The DS is relevant because the usual operation done for severe GERD that isn't controlled with the excellent meds available these days involves wrapping the stomach around the lower esophagus. That can't be done (probably) for anyone who has a sleeve, as we do as part of our DS. So, I don't know what surgical options are available for someone in her position, or what surgeon would be best able to help her, but I do think having knowledge about the sleeve portion of the DS may be helpful.

Larra

Sorry,  I really meant to take a step back from the specifics of the OP's question and wondered generically if hernia repairs woud go better with an experienced DS surgeon or in that case is just a good surgeon what you really need to look for.

I just looked at part of the specifics and let my mind run off on a tangent. I should have been more clear or started a new thread instead of hi jacking this one.

Pete 

I'm reading this a little late. I'm having surgery with Dr Prachand on Tuesday 10/4. My experience with Univ of Chicago has been great. Dr Prachand is the most experienced in city at this point, he does over 200 surgeries a year. (Ok, that's my understanding)

in terms of northwestern Dr Alex Nagle is recommended highly. I went thru 80% of their program before finding out they don't do DS surgery.  The surgeon info said he did DS so I thought they would. 

I I will say that Univ of Chicago is huge but they make it super easy. Most appointments are in two buildings, you can valet anywhere and can pick up at a different location with the same card.  It's all been well organized and everyone has been responsive. 

Good luck!