@New577 posted:Hi Sara,
Let me share my story on how I chose my surgeon. I am not sure that I made the correct choice, but maybe something I share will be helpful in some way.
last October after my GI told me I needed a colectomy I did not even know a jpouch was something. The CRS at university of Miami had a telephone meeting and told me about it, and I was lucky in that it could be done in 2 steps not 3.
then I spoke to the ‘man’ at Cleveland clinic Florida. On numbers alone he does the most in south Florida. I did not like him
i then spoke to 3rd surgeon who did my mother in law 16 years ago as a one step. He now does 2 a year and used to be partners with u of m surgeon. This concerned me.
I went back and forth until I had a final meeting with university surgeon and he told me he does 5 a year and no way to a one step.
i then chose surgeon number 3 with the thought of a one step. Everyone was ok with this choice.
my results:
-colectomy with ileostomy
-acute urinary retention requiring self catherization.
-Takedown
-fistula/perforation
-emergency surgery to reconnect
-Severe UTI requiring hospitalization
unhappy poucher at the moment, waiting for things to settle down.
keep in mind that all of my care team thought I made a good well thought out choice, and yet my results grade is incomplete.
keep searching and doing your due diligence until you are comfortable. Do not rush or settle. I was told that once a surgeon has the skill to construct a jpouch, they don’t lose it.
did I chose the right surgeon? I can’t tell you at this point.
Should I have held my nose and went with the ‘man’ ?
should I have went out of state to a center of excellence?
the decision to choose a surgeon let alone to have the surgery in the first place is such a complex thought process that it still boggles my mind 5 months later.
Eric
At least your okay now, you made it hon