How do you find the right surgeon?

I'm here in Marietta/Atlanta Georgia and I've had the same gastro for some years. He recently referred me to a colo-rectal surgeon who seems fine and capable. They both failed to diagnose me with a fistual/abcess and I've spent the last 6 months in pain, however. Yesterday, I had my second MRI in 4 months. They found the abcess and they say that I have multiple fistulas surrounding my rectum. "It's very complicated" according to my colo-rectal surgeon. My colo-rectal surgeon also says I need surgery asap and wants to refer me to his partner because he is currently too busy. I'm meeting with her tomorrow and I imagine we will schedule surgery shortly thereafter, like days.

RateMd and sites like that aren't really helpful. My plan is to call as many doctors as I know or who I know through friends and see if anyone knows her. I plan to also ask my gastro-doc. Anyone have any other ideas? I want to be able to remain continent, frankly, and I've been told this may take multiple surgeries and that concern about continence is legitimate. And I've been told by too many concerned family members that the doctor matters. First, should I get a second opinion? I feel pretty certain and comfortable about the diagnosis - I mean, it's an abscess, you can see it, same with the fistulas. At this point, I'm really trying to find the best person for the job.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

The trouble with members of the public is that any old moron with an axe to grind can get online and post a bad opinion. The bad opinion may be entirely valid, but you have no real way of telling. If you're not entirely happy with how the appointment goes tomorrow, don't be afraid to delay surgery and say you want another opinion: if she gets in a strop at that, that's a mildly bad sign in itself. Good docs are happy for you to see other docs and get other opinions before committing to an irreversible treatment.

I agree with scifigal about humility as well. If a surgeon dismisses your concerns before surgery, then the chances are they will dismiss them after surgery. Brusqueness doesn't matter so much, but you do want somebody who will take you seriously and answer questions directly - evasiveness is another bad sign.

Best of luck.

I agree with Everyone. Those are some of the traits that my doctor has that made me say that I made the right choice switching to him. When we had a discussion about the possibility of surgery at one point he made sure to say something like, and I'd be totally fine with you getting a second opinion on this before going forward with it. (Luckily the testing he did ruled out the need for surgery anyway)
And yes the online reviews are really hard to tell sometimes. Like someone might get disgruntled about the wait time and give one star. I have an amazing pulmonary doctor and rheumatologist who both have a very long wait time that get people angry but it's only because they spend an amazingly long time with each patient and are good thorough doctors.
CCFA could help you narrow it down but those doctors pay to be included, it doesn't necessarily guarantee who you get is better than someone else. So I'd say make it a step in your research but not the only step.
Getting another recommendation from your pcp is good. Look for someone that has good hospital affiliations.

Post Edited (Labradorite) : 9/20/2017 9:34:13 AM (GMT-6)

Thanks for the thoughts all. She does a lot of surgeries (every day) and said she handles probably 3-4 fistulas or abscesses a week. She did say that when she saw my MRI, she was kind of surprised at how bad it all looked and said she might see a "bad" case like mine maybe once a month.

So I think I'm going with her. In fact, I know I am, as I'm going in for surgery in a couple hours. She was totally happy to recommend another doc if I wanted and absolutely sat and answered all of my questions. She also expressed that she had already sat down with the MRI person to go through my MRI because she has found that that can help with finding the exact location of the openings and whatnot. Abscess drain and horseshoe seton, here I come.

So... here's to fingers crossed.

Yes, best of luck and let us know how you are doing!!

I had the surgery. Doc said it went well, she was able to drain the abscess and get a seton in my fistula. In a couple of weeks she wants to talk about going on Remicade. Currently, I only take Pentasa. This is my second fistula in 8 years.

Do you think I can heal on my own? I'm a surprisingly good healer, despite the Crohns and I'd love to not go on Remicade if I can avoid it. Any thoughts on diet and exercise and just being healthy as a way to heal?

Remicade gave my son his life back. He has had no side effects and is in complete remission (after surgery and many tries with different medications including pentasa!)