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Reply to "Need Guidance on How to Choose a Surgeon"

@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

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