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ChristinaF
on 5/29/10 5:52 am - Johnstown, NY
Topic: Anyone in the Albany NY area know of this surgeon?
I am looking for information on a Plastic Surgeon named Dr, James Hoehn located at the Albany Medical Center. Please any information is helpful
vivimolly
on 5/28/10 7:02 am - Rochester , NY
Topic: RE: New to Rochester, looking for WLS PCP and WLS Surgeon for follow-up care

There aren't really too many choices in Rochester.  There are just two major offices (more than one doctor per office) that handle WLS and both are affiliated with hospitals.  The one I went through is at Highland Hospital (Dr. O'Malley is the head honcho there) and the other is at Rochester General.  I haven't ever heard anyone NOT like that program.

The reason I went with the one I did is that everyone said that O'Malley was the BEST cutter in town and that's what I wanted.  Naturally, I assumed that I would sail through and follow-up and aftercare wouldn't matter so much.  Just goes to show how wrong you can be!  LOL

Vivimolly

Laura A.
on 5/28/10 6:18 am - Manteca, CA
Topic: Thanks from a NorCal girl
I posted on the New York board a while back about where to stay and what to do on an upcoming trip to the Niagara Falls area...

Thank you for all the responses I received....I got lots of good ideas!!!

We have plans to stay a few days on the Canadian side and then switch for a few days on the US side.  I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to this trip.

I am hoping it'll be warmer in New York than it has been here....we just had another big storm come through northern California.  It's Memorial Day weekend and all the ski resorts in the Sierra/Lake Tahoe area are open and running for snow skiers!!!  Unbelievable!!!

Thanks again....

 Laura A.         5'3"  BW299/CW135


aprilynn
on 5/28/10 4:27 am - Rochester, NY
Topic: RE: New to Rochester, looking for WLS PCP and WLS Surgeon for follow-up care
 Wow sounds like an awful experience... My boyfriend has a good PCP - they aren't accepting new patients right now so he is going to try and get me in - We will see.  I really don't want some one that doesn't have their act together.  With all the complications I had with my surgery and strictures and everything else I don't expect that an unorganized office will be able to give me the care I need.  Thanks everyone for the information - if anyone has any other suggestions please let me know :) Thanks!
vivimolly
on 5/28/10 1:22 am - Rochester , NY
Topic: RE: New to Rochester, looking for WLS PCP and WLS Surgeon for follow-up care
I was pleased with O'Malley's office (if not with the man himself) too, until I ran into complications resulting from misplaced and untrimmed sutures from the surgery.  Then it was three months of complete nightmare!  I would call and go in and see the PA and she would tell me she was certain I'd get better and to wait it out another week.  Finally I ended up in the Emergency Room several times.  Each time the surgical team (O'Malley and his group of fellows/residents) would give me a hard time, asking why I hadn't let them know sooner but still telling me that nothing was wrong.  As if it's normal to not eat for two and a half months and throw up 6 or more times a day!  At one point, O'Malley even stated he thought it was all in my head that I was unable to eat!  I finally had to go to an independent gastroenterologist to find out that it was a result of O'Malley's work during the surgery!  They removed the sutures causing the problem and that was that.  Then I learned just this week that if you have a problem after the surgery and follow their procedures, the surgical team will never know about it.  And vice versa - if you go to emergency or are hospitalized, those doing your aftercare will never know about it.  They do NOT communicate with each other and work from a common file!!! 

The women I know were NEVER on baby food...  And, actually, a couple of them started out with O'Malley and switched over after experiencing the nuts in the office and having a meeting with him.

Vivimolly

Maryellen R.
on 5/27/10 9:23 pm - Sayville, NY
Topic: quote of the Day
 
  The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.                                 
 

- Abraham Lincoln      

   
Maryellen
To visit LIPO (Long Island Post Ops) bariatric support group website click here: www.liponation.org

"WLS is a journey, not a destination (don't get comfortable) ... it's a road that we must travel daily to succeed".  Faith Thomas

visit my blog at theessenceofmaryellen.com/

nld3328
on 5/27/10 12:41 pm - Rochester, NY
Topic: RE: New to Rochester, looking for WLS PCP and WLS Surgeon for follow-up care
Wow Vivi- I am sorry that happened to you!
I have Dr O'malley and have been very leased so far with the office.  they have promplty returned my calls and my care has been good. 
I met a girl at the support group who works at Roch General and she does not like that program.  they have you eating baby food post op which seems to be a no-no according to alot of experts.  But, every one's experience might be different. 
                
vivimolly
on 5/27/10 5:33 am - Rochester , NY
Topic: RE: New to Rochester, looking for WLS PCP and WLS Surgeon for follow-up care
I would check in with the Bariatric program at Rochester General Hospital.  I have spoken with several of their patients ( a couple  of new ones and a couple of long term ones) and they LOVE it there.  I am a patient of O'Malley and I learned something disturbing during a follow-up appointment earlier this week.  I had spent the entire month of April in the hospital and in a nursing home for rehabilitation (due to extreme weakness, etc.) and the PA doing my follow up had no idea!  She says the surgical stuff is considered in-patient and the follow-ups are considered out-patient and the info isn't shared between the two!!  This explains why every time I would end up in the Emergency Room, the doctors would ask why I waited so long to let them know I had a problem when I'd been in touch with the PA in their office on an almost daily basis and had been in their office at least once a week for months!  One hand really doesn't know what the other is doing.  So try General - I've heard wonderful things about the program and the doctors and the follow up care there!  They may even be able to recommend a PCP...

Vivimolly

(deactivated member)
on 5/27/10 5:12 am
Topic: RE: 6 mth check up at Arnot
So sorry to hear about your emergency surgery--but I'm soo glad that Dr. Rahman was there to help you!  He is the best doc that I have ever seen!! 

Best wishes!
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