Need some help

Hi all,
I'm having surgery on Wednesday at Hershey Penn State. I'm a bit nervous, of course, and a little upset too. I've done research for over a year and of course went through the whole program at Hershey. I am confident in my decision but a "friend" sent me an unsolicited website that rates hospitals and it says Hershey only has 1 star rating for Bariatric surgery. Has anyone ever heard of healthgrades.com? Should I be concerned? I've spoken with patients who were successful and found the hospital to be great, it has been recognized by ABSA as a center of excellence, they've been doing this since 1972, the head of the program is my surgeon. Am I just getting pre game jitters? What should I tell the "friend"? Just want to clear my mind?

Tell your friend "thank you, but I did extensive research and I am confident in my decission."  Hershey has an excellent rep from what I know.  Everyone gets the pre game jitters...its normal. 

Good luck with everything.

HG

Bonnie,
Just met a girl at our support group on Thursday who had same surgon at same hospital as you in Jan. She was very pleased and spoke highly of her treatment there. Also know 2 others who had surgery at Hershey and were very pleased with no complications. It's normal to get the jitters and second guess yourself at this late date but as long as you feel confident in your decision I'd thank her for the info and get ready for the "ride of your like".
Good luck
Susie

there are "rating" sites on top of rating sites out there... not all are 'accurate' (if there is such a thing) and frequently they will have some type of skewing.  In order to judge a rating, you need to look at the number of people making ratings, read the verbatim comments (both good and bad), and understand very clearly how the people making the ratings got to the site.  Are they from the region (and would know)?  Do they have personal experience with the thing being rated?  Is there any type of review or criteria to posting ratings?  In other words, you can take many of them with a grain of salt.  

You've done your research, you've talked with others who have had good experiences at the hospital, and you like your surgeon.  It's be rated as a center of excellence by one of the rating boards.  'nuf said.  You've done your research and made your decision.  

Tell the friend "Thank you for caring about me."  and leave it at that.

Karen

I don't know anything about the site. I've tried researching a bit and am not really sure how they pull their data other than, I think, they draw from Medicare patients which does not seem like a fair representation to me. I've spoken with my own physicians all of whom recommended Hershey. . . just did not need this right now. Thanks for everyone's comments. I'm not second guessing my decision. Just have been writing my "just in case" letters and guess I was in a vulnerable spot.

Believe in yourself.  You did the legwork, now believe.   This journey is about and FOR YOU.  Personally, although I know your "friend" thought they were doing you a favor, they were not.  You need your head in the game.  Focus.    and Good Luck.  You'll Do Great.    "R" Gangs rooting for u.

I know I would NEVER do that to a friend so close to surgery. She may have been trying to be helpful but I did not appreciate it and asked her why on earth she would do that now.

My best friends husband had nothing to say to me about the surgery until after I had it.  Now that I've lost 266# he has nothing but negative things to say.  He has several friends that had the surgery years ago and he thinks they feel it was mistake.  I told him, nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.  I told him to tell his friends to come to a support meeting or see a shrink.  They have had no complications and no weight gain but feel deprived from their best friend "FOOD".  This is a lifetime commitment.  As long as your willing to make that commitment to yourself, your doing the right thing. 

I wish you much success and and wonderful journey. 

 

I know someone who was very honest with me about grieving for food. She went through a bad time, but got psychological help and has succeeded tremendously. She still has bumps in the road with that problem since she spend most of her life living for food, but she is by no means sorry. I just don't get why anyone would do that. Geesh! Give me more stress why don't you!

Perhaps she is as scared (or more) than you may be and this was her way of dealing with it...of "backhandingly" (is that a word???) getting you to back out.  Then she doesn't have to be afraid for you.

Is this a friend who you normally go out to eat with?  Perhaps she is afraid she is losing her "eating buddy"

Results and what not are tricky...especially in the hospital setting....you have to figure out who did the research...if they are truly accredited...etc etc etc.

Your first post states that you are confident in your surgeon and in the hospital.  End of discussion, then.  You did the research, now go get the prize.

Pam