Question:
Has anyone had Dr. Mark Johnson in Morgantown WV ? I can't see him until March
when I get to attend the informational meeting. What is his manner like and what can I expect from him ? What kind of pain therapy does he use and what is his after surgery care like? Thanks. — Tammyjo (posted on December 29, 2002)
December 30, 2002
Tammy, go to the top of this page and click on Find A Doc. Then click on
Browse, and then your state. He is in there and you can view patient
comments on him.
— Cindy R.
December 30, 2002
I went to Dr. Bergstein because he transects and Dr. Johnson doesn't. Be
sure to be transected so this will be permanent and not disrupt. I
disrupted and had to be transected. Two operations in one year! But now I
am so glad I am transected! Don't risk staple line disruption because it
is unnecessary as most of the better surgeons do transect the pouch and old
stomach. Check it out. Ask Dr. Johnson if he transects and if doesn't,
run to another doctor. Dr. Bergstein or Dr. McNaught I would recommend.
Good luck to you!
— Mylou52
December 30, 2002
Hi there! My one friend Melissa had Dr. Johnson as her surgeon about a year
or so ago,and she has had nothing but rave reviews about him. She said his
bedside manner is great,and he takes a lot of time to answer any questions
or concerns you might have.
— Lisa S.
December 30, 2002
Hello! I have to correct a previous poster - Marilyn. Dr. Mark Johnson now
DOES transect the stomach, he started transecting last summer. I made my
appt with him in May and didn't get in until 09-30. I know it's a long wait
for him, but I felt he was well worth it after the way I was treated at
Ruby Mem. With them, I felt like a statistic, not a person. Dr. Mark has an
excellent manner about him. He did my surgery on 11-19 and after monitoring
my blood levels for 2 days he determined I had a bleeder somewhere and he
needed to go back in briefly and stop it. Needless to say, I cried my eyes
out. He stood right next to me in the surgery room and held my hand until I
went to sleep. Another reason it takes so long to see him is because he
doesn't run patients thru his office on an assembly line like Ruby Mem.
does. His pain control after surgery is a pca for a couple of days and then
liquid pain killer which did the trick for me, and I seemed to have more
pain than a lot of posters on obesity help.com. After starting my journey
at Ruby Mem. and waiting so long to see him, I felt he was worth it, but
that is a personal decision. Best of luck to you. email me with any
questions! RNY 11-19-02 down 48 pounds.
— Lisa W.
December 30, 2002
Sorry, I stand corrected. Glad to hear that Dr. Johnson now transects! I
worried about a lot of my friends who were not transected when he first
started doing surgery. I have several friends who went to him and really
liked him. His bedside manner must be awesome! Sorry I was not informed
that he transects but I am glad he does now. I would never have WLS
without transection because of what happened to me. God bless you and
Happy New Year!
— Mylou52
December 30, 2002
I actually had my surgery doe at Ruby Memorial by Dr. Stephen McNatt... but
a good friend of mine had hers with Dr. Johnson and she loved him! One
reason it is taking so long to get in with the surgeon is that more and
more people are wanting to have this surgery and there are so few Dr's who
do it... This is not the only type of surgery that most of them do... so
they have to balance Gastric Bypass patients with all of their other ones.
I just want to go on the record as saying that I had my surgery at Ruby
Memorial and can not say enough good things about the care that I rec'd...
not only from the nurses and dr's but all ancillary staff as well!!! Dr.
NcNatt was superb!!!!!!!!!!! Patient, caring and very informative from our
very first meeting on... I never once felt like a statistic... or that they
were pushing me thru... and I must say that they clinical nurse specialist,
Jill, and the office assistant who helps get insurance authoriation, Trudy
are the GREATEST... I feel like thys are long time friends!!!
Mon Gen has a good reputation and I have heard all good things about Dr.
Johnson...Pain control techniques are pretty standard now days...you can
have a PCA with Morphine which is self controlled and you don't have to ask
or wait for the nurse or you can have an epidural cath put in prior to
surgery and it keeps you pain free for 24 straight hours with only one
dose... then they come the next day and re-dose you!!! It is
awesome!!!!!!!!
Good luck in your journey... I am 3 months and 2 weeks out and have lost 60
lbs... only 90 more to go!!!!
— Susan H.
December 31, 2002
I agree with you Susan. I had excellent care at Ruby Memorial BOTH times!
Dr. Bergstein did my surgery and revision to transection. He is wonderful
and Dr. McNatt works with him doing the lap rny. Dr. Bergstein is a trauma
surgeon and I felt completely safe in his hands. Trauma surgeons are
trained to deal with any emergency and that is the best care one can get.
Dr. Bergstein has temporarily stopped doing the surgery but will resume (if
he hasn't yet) soon. I had the pca morphine pump while in the hospital and
was given oxyfast liquid pain meds while at home. I was fine with that. I
agree that Jill and Trudy are like my sisters now. Jill is always
available and calls you back immediately if you have a problem with postop
care. I don't want anyone to think there is a competition between Mon
General and Ruby. They are both excellent hospitals BUT if you have Blue
Cross/Blue Shield Federal insurance, I was informed that they will not
cover the anesthesia at Mon General. Not sure why but that is what they
sent to me in the mail. Therefore, if you have this insurance, Ruby
Memorial anesthesia costs are covered. Anyone know why? Good luck in your
decision and thank goodness we do have a choice. Some don't. Marilyn
minus 115 lbs and 30 to go!
— Mylou52
January 3, 2003
Thanks everyone for your answers! I have been consumed with finding out
everything I can about this Dr. I know that I don't want to go to Ruby Mem.
Too many bad stories. I'm glad for the people who had their surgery there
and have done well. I just have a bad feeling about it. I will be attending
my first support group meeting this coming Monday at Mon General. Do any of
you attend? I'm sure I'll find out alot and maybe it will help to pacify
me, for now.
Thanks again.
— Tammyjo
January 4, 2003
Don't know anything about the meetings that Dr. Johnson has but you are
welcome to come to see Barbara Thompson, author of the WLS Bible "WLS,
Finding the Thin Person Hiding Inside" on January 30 at the Eye
Institute auditorium at Physician's Office Center, WVU Ruby Memorial. She
will be speaking at 6:oo pm and it is going to be awesome! Barbara is a
great speaker who has had the surgery herself and is the expert on the
subject. If you need any more information, just e mail me. This is going
to be a big event with advertising in the three local papers and we are
expecting a big turnout.....if the weather cooperates. We have many people
come to our meetings who have gone to other doctors as well as Dr.
Bergstein. By the way, don't know what kind of horror stories you have
heard about Ruby Memorial but from my experience, it is the best, state of
the art, experienced, hospital around with the best reputation too. Their
patient care is wonderful and staff is the most knowledgeable surgeons and
physicians in West Virginia. Good luck with your upcoming surgery! And
don't forget to come and see Barbara Thompson on January 30. She will have
a question and answer session too.
— Mylou52
Click Here to Return