Dr Sonnanstine

Before I met Dr. Sonnanstine I googled the heck out of his name & couldn't find a negative word about him!  I went to the support group meeting @ GCH last night & heard so many more positive things about him that I think I'm super lucky to have had my surgery by him.  :)

Due to the fact, you work “for" Georgetown Community Hospital and not the doctor. I believe it’s in poor taste to advocate for one surgeon over the other. Dr. Weiss performed my surgery, I too had complications but he was there by my side Through it all, I became so sick through the night that he himself came in to see me, didn’t leave until I felt better. He was caring and supportive. Dr. Sonnanstine isn’t the only bariatric surgeon in that town and to side with one over the other I find is an insult to the patients who chose Bluegrass Bariatric. I also find it disrespectful and unprofessional you call any doctor by his first name when addressing other patients.   

For what it's worth, many of "Dr. Tom's" patients call him that - he doesn't mind, even signs his emails that way.  It's a lot easier than saying Dr. Sonnanstine.  Don't see any disrespect here.

I am sure he does, it seems to fit the profile I hear.  I also work at a facility where Dr.'s Weiss and Oldham perform surgery. I may know the good and bad side of each.  However, I would not get on this board calling them by first name." though I do in person".  That is not the point.  She is a professional at a facility that operates and should not be prejudice toward one surgeon over another on a public board where their patients can read.  Do you understand what this could do to patients who may be nervous or anxious before surgery?  It's one thing to read this from a patient but to announce it to everyone they "work" together.  It's more than obvious to whom she is addressing, and should not cry about comments when made!  I am also curious as to why Dr. Sonannstine feels it’s so terrible a nurse practitioner follow-up with patients after surgery, I honestly wonder what his wife ( my understanding is she also is an NP. ) feels when she reads negatives about it. Is she not worthy of seeing patients? Does anyone know what an NP is? I also know he has an “advocate" who jumps on this board in his defense constantly.  What credentials does she carry? My understanding she is not a professional anything. Yet, I hear she does his bidding on many things.  I have patient to take care of, I have had enough of this silly stuff.!

Dr. Sonnanstine is doing my RNY on 9/9 so the more I know about him the better! I've heard nothing but good things, but of course I want to hear more! Could you PM me and tell me some more about him?

louislouis,

I only got involved in this discussion because of the tone of your posting.  You call the original poster, whom I don't know from Adam, unprofessional, yet you are espousing the credits of your doctors in much the same way by your response.  And to believe that Dr. Tom is discrediting PA's or anyone else simply because he likes to really know all his patients shows you know nothing about him.  We must have really touched a nerve for you to respond so strongly.

If you want to flame the first poster, go right ahead, but you don't have to bring Dr. Tom, his wife, or his practice into the fray.  They've got nothing to do with these posts.  Doing so, in my opinion, is what's truly unprofessional and disrespectful.

Okay Im gonna be the devils advocate and say that i dont think this is something Dr.Sonnastine would want.
He isa fabuolus doctor andhis bedside manner is outstanding and I ams o glad he is here for all of us.
But he or noone would want all this negativity going on.
So for petes sake lets stop it.
I dont know why this post was started in the first place in the tone that it was.
Why cant we all get along

Please remember that this message board is a place to post questions, victories or losses, opinions and experiences.  Where else can you get three different responses to a question about hair loss, ten “Way to go!!", five different protein drinks and all the “must haves" when getting ready for your hospital stay?   Since we all view experiences differently all posts are tainted by each person’s experiences.    My choice of surgery and choice of surgeon were ultimately my choice. The fact that someone may work with a particular doctor did not affect my decision of which doctor or which surgery. Of course that person is going to be bias to their employer otherwise they wouldn’t continue to work for a doctor they don’t believe is the best. And of course each person is going to be bias toward the person who performed their surgery or is currently providing them after care. Everyone wants to think their surgeon is the best. When I was performing research prior to surgery, I would listen (read) everything I could just for the knowledge.  I want(ed) people to post the good, bad and ugly of their experiences (that’s for you Jacqueline). It helped me feel more informed.   When choosing a surgery or a surgeon you can look at the cold hard facts –risks of one surgery over another, recovery time, results, how many surgeries has a surgeon performed, types of surgeries, complications, etc – and you can look at the surgeon themselves – do our personalities mesh, is this someone I trust with my health and sometimes life.. Some people are comfortable with a PA or NP performing their fills or providing after care. Others prefer the follow-up of the actual surgeon. Some surgeons prefer to provide their own after care and won’t accept another surgeon’s patient. Once again - It’s a matter of choice.   Ultimately, these boards are a place to post your opinion. And in the end that’s all the posts are – opinions. Don’t expect everybody’s opinion to be the same as yours.  Respect the choice to have a different opinion than yours.

Valerie

In other words expression your opinion is fine as long as it fits the criteria of your doctor, otherwise you are all jumping on board and making more out of the post that was made.
I never discredited Dr. Sonnanstine or his wife.  I could care less about his professional or personal life, many of us are more upset over a professional working for the hospital would advocate in such a way to "discredit" other surgeons.  You can't imagine what goes on behind the scenes as you are too infatuated with the man, as is the first poster.  This makes it very difficult for those of us trying to do our job.
This is all I need to say and made my point, I feel no reason to continue.

Several months ago we opened up a chat room for those who were upset and needed to vent.  We meet there almost nightly now so that we can share our frustrations and celebrations.  This post has started up a lot in that room again, it defeats the purpose of getting away.  I don't want to start anything, I just want you to know this has opened old conversations again about Dr. Sonnanstine and what ever other surgeons you are speaking of.  Brenda is very upset, she has done her best to calm everyone down and ask us not to post on this thread in hopes it will simply go away.
Please, do not add any thing further here.  Let's start positive post and leave this thread alone.

God Bless
Jonda