Question:
Surgery delayed

I have been approved for DS surgery since mid December. I was scheduled for Dec. 28 but I got a cold so it was rescheduled for Jan. 24. Yesterday my surgeon called to say that the hospital where he does surgery decided not to allow more open procedures which is what my surgeon does, especially in my case since I had a previous stomach surgery. Now, he is going to get certified to do laproscopic surgeries but I don't want to be his first!!!! He is also going to work toward getting on staff at a different surgery. Firstly I am VERY dissapointed and secondly a little concerned about all of this . I have felt very good about my surgeon. He is very nice and very caring. Do I need to be concerned?? Any suggestions? lookingup    — Lookingup (posted on January 19, 2008)

January 19, 2008
Post your comments on the DS board; they have great info. Someone also has a list of great surgeons across the country. I'm not sure if there is someone on there from GA but they will help you. They are a great group of people! I sent you a message also. Good luck and let us know how you make out!
   — Ambitious

January 19, 2008
Seems to me if you have been approved for the surgery, find another Dr and hospital and get it done, it may take this Dr. years to be trained to do it, and that is a hold up on living on the thin side of a healthy and happy life ... Lot of good Dr's out there. Perhaps this site can help you find one. Good luck.
   — Reelbaby

January 19, 2008
The reason he may be changing hospitals is to get the training under a different Baratric surgeon. My Doctor trains other surgeons the procurdures to do RNY. THey assist in the surgery for a year or so, and he is realy the one doing the surgery. It is not uncommon in Laproscopic to have two surgeons working on you at the same time. Their more experenced is usually the lead. You should discuss in detail with him what his plans are and who would be doing your surgery with him. I had laprosopic and I can tell you it is a lot easier to heal from. Because of my age, I took a little longer, but some having surgery when home the next afternoon. I took 4 days, but that is rare to be in the hospital thatr long. I had a problem and needing oxigen following surgery.
   — William (Bill) wmil

January 19, 2008

   — obeseforever

January 19, 2008
I must concur strongly with Kathleen. Though I am certainly not a health care professional, my father, brother, sister-in-law are all MDs and mother and stepmother were registered nurses. That said, I heard a lot of hospital talk growing up. I don't think I am such a cynic that the first thought tht came to me would be considered such. Like Kathleen said much more gently, when your surgeon said the hospital is not allowing any more "open" procedures, my first inclination was to think that the hospital had suspended his privileges at the hospital. Believe me, such a step is not done lightly at all. It takes agreat deal for any doctor to have his/her privileges suspended. So, for me, when I read that, red flags went up. Also as Kathleen said, it is a wonderful thing if your surgeon has a good bedside manner, but what you absolutely must have is someone who is very successful in his/her medical practice. My husband had some incredibly complex, dangerous surgery and I didn't particularly like his personality. However, this doctor had an excellent reputation and success rate with the type of surgery my husband needed. I'll stop with examples and just encourage you to please, please, please reconsider using this surgeon at all. The story sounds a bit "fishy" and it will take some time (at least one year at the minimum) for him to train for laparoscopy. If he indicates that it won't take that long, then he is not planning on becoming certified in laparoscopy. For this kind of surgery, you do want someone who is certified in some way in the type of surgery being done on you. And you are so right; you do not want to be the first case he does. I hope you find another board-certified surgeon AND a hospital/office designated as a Center of Excellence. Best of luck.
   — jujuprof

January 20, 2008
I'm not sure that I was my surgeon's very first bariatric surgery but I do know that I was his first at the hospital in which it (lap-RNY) was performed. He was an otherwise experienced surgeon and every surgeon has to begin somewhere with a procedure that he is learning. There was a surgeon from another quite reputable hospital in the O.R. who was very experienced; he was there to make sure that things went right and to jump in, if need be, were something to go wrong. Your surgeon may be experienced with laproscopic surgery for other things besides bariatric procedures. I would insist that there be a guarantee of a surgeon in the room who has done many of the surgeries that you are getting. (You did not state whether you are getting RNY, Lapband, or ???.) Be sure that you have a consultation with him/her prior to your surgery date. Ask questions! Ask your local medical society about the people who will be cutting you open. If you're not happy with the answers you get, look around for someone else to do the work. It's your body. IT'S YOUR LIFE!
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 20, 2008
OK, OK. You DID state that you are getting DS surgery. Everything else still applies.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 31, 2008
I was so glad to read that you are getting the DS....hopefully soon. I am waiting and wanting to schedule my DS soon. Who, may I ask, is the surgeon you picked? All DS surgeons, and especially those who do revisions, need a lot, lot, lot of practice. Did you pick a surgeon from the Duodenalswitch.com website? Some docs say they do the DS, but then they really don't. Please confide in me who did you pick. Send it privately if you want. [email protected] if you want to email me.
   — KRWaters