Dr Tom S is gone for good now?
I lived in Lexington for several years and frequently come to this board to see if there is anyone I know. So far, I know no one. Sweetie, I wanted to warn you that a lapband over the RnY is not a good choice at all in my opinion. Please check out the "revision" board to see how well or not the Lapband or RnY have worked for some. Neither of those are the best surgeries. You might want the lapband, but please check out the duodenal switch surgery before you make your final decision. Come to the DS forum and read what we all have to say. Also check out DSFacts.com or duodenalswitch.com. My dr had tried to talk me into the lapband over the Rny, but I came home and checked it out online, and saw people talking about the DS so I checked out the DS forum, and I haven't checked out. I love that form and will be having my DS in a couple of months..
KAREN W.
I LOVE MY DS!!!!!
STRIVE TO BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE AND DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN.
Check out www.dsfacts.com and www.duodenalswitch.com for all the accurate information on the great DS, and find surgeons in your area or around the country or out of the country.
I couldn't have done without all the great peeps on this board. 
SW: 234.5 CW: 157 GW: 140 - ish
Brenda, I have pondered on how to respond to this all night and I don't think there is any way my feelings can be portrayed in text. Please, as you and all read this do not mistake my words as anger towards you; I am not attempting to shoot the messenger. I feel that using OH as a forum to relay this information is really a poor choice of messengers. I am very angry at SLH and at administration for not communicating any of this to Tom's patients and it frustrates me to no end that my source of info is a blog on a support web site. Shame on SLH. Every day I get more info about this from third party sources and a breast cancer patient advocate I get more irritated and more thankful I left the employee of SLH many years ago. I questioned their motives and ethics then...I continue to question them now.
No one here is asking you to "spill the beans" or give out the inside scoop...we are all frustrated we put our trust into an institution and a doctor and without warning or explanation from that institution that trust was ripped away from us. We are well aware you would never do anything to jeopardize your position as oncology patient advocate to say anything about the institution you shouldn't.
SLH made a commitment to us as patients and to Tom, and they reneged on that commitment across the board. No communication to his patients is irresponsible, unprofessional and unethical and if it does anything, it sends a very clear message where their priorities are...and it is NOT with patient care, consistency and health. The almighty dollar has reared its ugly head.
I know you are doing your best to ally fears and rumors, but really...is the OH forum the place to air this? I guess considering SLH has not stepped up and spoken to his patients we are left with nothing but a blog and typing as a means of communicating about our surgeon. Pitiful and disgusting that an institution can't even speak for itself and is left to the random postings of an advocate (again, not personal).
I feel gypped, disappointed and lied to by an institution I put my health trust into....the LAST THING I FEEL IS SECURE OR SAFE. And getting my info via an open blog forum does not make it any better. SLH has an obligation to us and they have let us down.
I guess I feel I have the right to make myself heard and fully intend on speaking my piece to SLH administration....I certainly can't be fired from there as I made the personal choice to leave their employ many years ago. Again Brenda, no disrespect to you meant at all.
Sonja
No one here is asking you to "spill the beans" or give out the inside scoop...we are all frustrated we put our trust into an institution and a doctor and without warning or explanation from that institution that trust was ripped away from us. We are well aware you would never do anything to jeopardize your position as oncology patient advocate to say anything about the institution you shouldn't.
SLH made a commitment to us as patients and to Tom, and they reneged on that commitment across the board. No communication to his patients is irresponsible, unprofessional and unethical and if it does anything, it sends a very clear message where their priorities are...and it is NOT with patient care, consistency and health. The almighty dollar has reared its ugly head.
I know you are doing your best to ally fears and rumors, but really...is the OH forum the place to air this? I guess considering SLH has not stepped up and spoken to his patients we are left with nothing but a blog and typing as a means of communicating about our surgeon. Pitiful and disgusting that an institution can't even speak for itself and is left to the random postings of an advocate (again, not personal).
I feel gypped, disappointed and lied to by an institution I put my health trust into....the LAST THING I FEEL IS SECURE OR SAFE. And getting my info via an open blog forum does not make it any better. SLH has an obligation to us and they have let us down.
I guess I feel I have the right to make myself heard and fully intend on speaking my piece to SLH administration....I certainly can't be fired from there as I made the personal choice to leave their employ many years ago. Again Brenda, no disrespect to you meant at all.
Sonja
Sonya, I completely understand and do not take it personally. I too feel it's terrible how things have happened and how this information got started on the boards.
I feel it's best to let folks vent. I will be around if anyone wants to contact me. In the meantime all pt's can go thru Georgetown for more information
Brenda
I am absolutley devastated that Dr. S is no longer seeing pt.s at St. Luke!!! I am so scared to see someone else. I just had my realize band surgery done on the 18th of Feb. All I've known through my whole journey is Dr. S. I don't want to even give any other Surgeon a chance. He was so good to me and my family. I would greatly appreciate any information about how I can continue to see him and only him! I am more than willing to make the drive to Georgetown. Please give me any information on this. I have a scheduled appointment that I thought was with him for tomorrow 3/6/09. I got the call Wednesday that he was no longer there and have been in panic mode ever since. They really wouldn't give me any info. on him not being there. I have seriously been losing sleep over this. I am so scared to see anyone else. All my loyalty and trust is with Dr. S. Brenda please contact me 859-462-4330.
Sincerely,
Ann
Sincerely,
Ann
Brenda,
I already went through being angry, now I am just sad. I just received a rather smug letter from St. Luke today stating that i am still THEIR patient, even though Dr. Sonnanstine is no longer their doctor. The letter dripped with innuendo,and it alarmed me. I am glad that you posted what actually happened. Until i found this board, i was really worried something nefarious was afoot.
It was rather upsetting to get a stone wall from the office when I called and when I tried to call Taryn, it was some other person's phone voicemail. No explanation beyond which OTHER doctor would you like to see. I began to panic. Then i found you--thank you for updating us.
The truth is NO OTHER doctor can replace Tom. I am pulling my business from St. Luke. I was already making a 5o mile commute each time to see him. Now that I am having great success (200lbs down since surgery!!!) and only need the occaisional follow up, I will just make the commute down to Georgetown--hey I can scredule a visit to Bengals training camp around it!
I have to admit I am not surprised that they had disagreements. I know you have to stay neutral and be professional. I do not, so let me add my two-cents. It was very obvious even back when I did my surgery that Dr. Tom was less than satisified with some of the policies and the quality of care being provided there--I won't even tell you all the nightmare details of my anestia and intubation (which I believe he almost cussed about) and how upset he became when they moved me from ICU into this rather dirty room (I have been in Motel 6's that were more sanitary) but i could see that things like that were making him bite his tongue. It interaction with SAt. Luke management seemed strained.
They also blew the dietary proceedures several times during my aftercare--luckily I was knowledgable and compliant. I can be even more aggressive than he is and I called a couple of administrators on the carpet for it. One of them, no kidding, grumbles "Sonnanstine acts like all we should be his personal bariatric hospital--his patients are just as difficult as he is. . ." as he leaves the room. I guess he thought Tom had removed something in my ears--not rearanged my intestines.
While I am sad to see Dr. Tom leave the area, I am glad i will never need to visit St. Luke West again.
--Ken
PS: Please pass my best wishes onto him when you see him next--the only contact info i have for him was yanked by St. Luke. Feel free to give him my email. I would love to take him out for a VERY small lunch during the next Bengals Training Camp.
I already went through being angry, now I am just sad. I just received a rather smug letter from St. Luke today stating that i am still THEIR patient, even though Dr. Sonnanstine is no longer their doctor. The letter dripped with innuendo,and it alarmed me. I am glad that you posted what actually happened. Until i found this board, i was really worried something nefarious was afoot.
It was rather upsetting to get a stone wall from the office when I called and when I tried to call Taryn, it was some other person's phone voicemail. No explanation beyond which OTHER doctor would you like to see. I began to panic. Then i found you--thank you for updating us.
The truth is NO OTHER doctor can replace Tom. I am pulling my business from St. Luke. I was already making a 5o mile commute each time to see him. Now that I am having great success (200lbs down since surgery!!!) and only need the occaisional follow up, I will just make the commute down to Georgetown--hey I can scredule a visit to Bengals training camp around it!
I have to admit I am not surprised that they had disagreements. I know you have to stay neutral and be professional. I do not, so let me add my two-cents. It was very obvious even back when I did my surgery that Dr. Tom was less than satisified with some of the policies and the quality of care being provided there--I won't even tell you all the nightmare details of my anestia and intubation (which I believe he almost cussed about) and how upset he became when they moved me from ICU into this rather dirty room (I have been in Motel 6's that were more sanitary) but i could see that things like that were making him bite his tongue. It interaction with SAt. Luke management seemed strained.
They also blew the dietary proceedures several times during my aftercare--luckily I was knowledgable and compliant. I can be even more aggressive than he is and I called a couple of administrators on the carpet for it. One of them, no kidding, grumbles "Sonnanstine acts like all we should be his personal bariatric hospital--his patients are just as difficult as he is. . ." as he leaves the room. I guess he thought Tom had removed something in my ears--not rearanged my intestines.
While I am sad to see Dr. Tom leave the area, I am glad i will never need to visit St. Luke West again.
--Ken
PS: Please pass my best wishes onto him when you see him next--the only contact info i have for him was yanked by St. Luke. Feel free to give him my email. I would love to take him out for a VERY small lunch during the next Bengals Training Camp.
I had a fill for my band on Thursday and he had me schedule 2 appts. out with him for the end of March and end of April. My fill was too tight (couldn't get anything but liquids to stay down) so I called yesterday a.m. to get in fast to have him take some out only to be told that he was on "indefinite leave of absence". I had no choice but to see Dr. Smith given my situation and I just have to say for me, I did not care for him at all. Just one example (yes I have more than one): when he came in to introduce himself he said if I wanted to know any info about him or the other surgeons who would be taking over I could look them up on the St. E's website!! WHAT??? You can't even take a few freaking' minutes to tell me what your credentials or experience is?? Just one more example that burned my butt he said something to the effect of he doesn't care for the Realize band and prefers the original lap band and company that manufactures it and would more than likely be sticking with that and steering away from Realize.
Even before my appt. yesterday I called Georgetown to see if I could get put on some type of waiting list to be notified as soon as he starts seeing patients there. The girl that I talked to, Jennifer, was simply wonderful and said they are starting a list to notify everyone and that she was authorized to tell me that he will be coming to Georgetown sooner than anticipated. Her number for anyone who would like to go on the list too is 502-570-3717. Their website is www.georgetownbariatrics.org if you need that too.
When I got in for my appt. and started talking to the girls at the desk they initially said it was planned since he was going to Georgetown but I knew that was a crock and called them out on it. Finally one girl said this all came down very suddenly on Friday. Well "DUH"! He wouldn't have scheduled out appts. w/me if he knew he wasn't going to be there. He told us that he was staying until June. Well of course they couldn't say too much, just a standard script (he's taken an indefinite leave of absence and no longer seeing patients) because a member from hospital administration (AKA "legal") was there hovering to make sure they didn't divulge too much. NOBODY in the waiting room was happy to say the least. Anyway, I canceled all of my future appts., much to the dismay of the administrator but oh well. Do you REALLY think I'm going to reward you with my "business" after the way you treated the man who dramatically changed my life?? I also requested a copy of my medical records to take w/me to Dr. Tom and recommend you do the same. His office was completely emptied and his name tags were taken off the door, I seriously started to cry!
I just can't believe that in a blink of an eye everything he spent years and his blood, sweat and tears building is gone. I have no respect for St. Luke and ESPECIALLY St. E's for doing this to him. And my heart goes out to every patient that has been effected by their poor poor decisions.
Even before my appt. yesterday I called Georgetown to see if I could get put on some type of waiting list to be notified as soon as he starts seeing patients there. The girl that I talked to, Jennifer, was simply wonderful and said they are starting a list to notify everyone and that she was authorized to tell me that he will be coming to Georgetown sooner than anticipated. Her number for anyone who would like to go on the list too is 502-570-3717. Their website is www.georgetownbariatrics.org if you need that too.
When I got in for my appt. and started talking to the girls at the desk they initially said it was planned since he was going to Georgetown but I knew that was a crock and called them out on it. Finally one girl said this all came down very suddenly on Friday. Well "DUH"! He wouldn't have scheduled out appts. w/me if he knew he wasn't going to be there. He told us that he was staying until June. Well of course they couldn't say too much, just a standard script (he's taken an indefinite leave of absence and no longer seeing patients) because a member from hospital administration (AKA "legal") was there hovering to make sure they didn't divulge too much. NOBODY in the waiting room was happy to say the least. Anyway, I canceled all of my future appts., much to the dismay of the administrator but oh well. Do you REALLY think I'm going to reward you with my "business" after the way you treated the man who dramatically changed my life?? I also requested a copy of my medical records to take w/me to Dr. Tom and recommend you do the same. His office was completely emptied and his name tags were taken off the door, I seriously started to cry!
I just can't believe that in a blink of an eye everything he spent years and his blood, sweat and tears building is gone. I have no respect for St. Luke and ESPECIALLY St. E's for doing this to him. And my heart goes out to every patient that has been effected by their poor poor decisions.
Dear TwinMom-
I am concerned that you may have misunderstood much of my communication with you yesterday. Our practice website is AdvancedBariatricCenter.com. We have been in the private practice of WLS since 2002. Our website is not associated with St. Elizabeth and I believe there is no mention of Bariatric Surgery or Bariatric Surgeons on that website. Our website is hosted through Obesity Help and has been for many years.
You should know that we agreed to staff the Tri-State Surgical Weight Loss Center only after learning late Friday afternoon that there would be no physicians available to care for patients such as yourself. The physicians in our practice agreed on literally hours notice to rearrange our schedules and prior committments to be available for your needs. We are not employed by St. Luke or St. Elizabeth then or now.
Dr. Smith
I am concerned that you may have misunderstood much of my communication with you yesterday. Our practice website is AdvancedBariatricCenter.com. We have been in the private practice of WLS since 2002. Our website is not associated with St. Elizabeth and I believe there is no mention of Bariatric Surgery or Bariatric Surgeons on that website. Our website is hosted through Obesity Help and has been for many years.
You should know that we agreed to staff the Tri-State Surgical Weight Loss Center only after learning late Friday afternoon that there would be no physicians available to care for patients such as yourself. The physicians in our practice agreed on literally hours notice to rearrange our schedules and prior committments to be available for your needs. We are not employed by St. Luke or St. Elizabeth then or now.
Dr. Smith
Dr. Smith, I have worked all day then came home to phone calls and emails. I just now hung up from the last call. I have told each person I spoke to that I wanted to post a msg explaining just what you said here. I wanted people to know this has absolutely nothing to do with you or your practice- that indeed you pitched in at the last minute. And I hope not only patients but administration at St. Luke appreciate what you have done to move in and take over in a very difficult situation. We all know in the very near future things will calm down and back to normal.....hopefully very soon.
Good luck and thank you for posting.
Brenda
Good luck and thank you for posting.
Brenda
My appointment with Dr. S was cancelled this week. I am now seeing the new Dr. Is he gone for good? Is he going to Georgetown, Kentucky? I am so upset. He is my every two month shot of confidence along with my fill. I am out of lap band surgery, three years in May. I have sent him many new patients. I am a walking billboard for him. I will follow him to Georgetown if possible. Dr. S I know you read these. You are the best and St. Luke is loosing a caring person. Your leaving brings tears to my eyes. I know that you are the type of person that will not give into your convictions. I trust that you are doing what you feel you must. I appauled you loudly, with my hands in the air. All the hugs you gave to me. I give back ten fold. Good Luck and I hope to see you soon.
Gail McAdams
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