Cleveland Clinic in Weston, FL

Hi Janie, I had thought of going there myself.. but the drive did deter me... I think it would be close to 4 hours away from me. So far I'm pretty happy with my doctor (who's residency was done at Cleveland Clinic). A while back ago, I bookmarked this page - which does list the Nations Top Doctors, with 29 of them ar Cleveland Clinic. There are at least a couple colon-rectal surgeons listed. my.clevelandclinic.org/florida/about/news/29_clinic_pysicians_ranked_among_nation_27_best.aspx

Jenise,

It's also about a 4 hour drive for me but I've heard excellent things about CC in Cleveland; I'm not sure about Weston, FL.

I think there is a Dr. Wexler who I read somewhere was very good.  I was just wondering if anyone had actually been there.  I did a google search and there were some utubes and posts that weren't real positive about the facility in general...but then everyone has a story!

Thanks for your replies!

Janie

This is such a coincidence. I have an appointment at the Weston Cleveland Clinic for October the 28th!!!!!

I am not looking forward to the drive though. I live in Clearwater, Florida and google maps said it was going to be a 4 hour ride. Of course that's not counting traffic. My appointment is at 2:00 so I'm thinking of leaving here around 8am. Not to mention taking I75 and I saw the news where all those fatal auto accidents took place. So I am so nervous. I wanted to try the Mayo Clinic up in Jacksonville but they don't take Medicare!!! Can you all believe that? They only take private insurances which I don't have. I also was going to try University of South Florida. They have an excellent colo rectal surgery department. But my surgeons have already been consulting with them.

But when I told my surgeon here I was going to Cleveland Clinic she almost turned cartwheels. She told me I made the absolute right decision. They are doing things there that they aren't doing anywhere else. Plus she told me the surgeon I'm seeing, Dr. Eric Weiss, is the absolute BEST.

So I am nervous. But also excited. I'm just wondering what I'm going to do if I have to keep going back and fourth. It's a bit too much.

I am going to CC because I am back to constipation. Even though I have a J Pouch/subtotal colectomy. For some reason, my J Pouch just won't empty the way it should. My surgeons here have tried everything and can't understand why this is happening. Plus, most J Pouchers have Crohn's or ulcerative colitis. I have neither. I was born with a condition called Hirschsprungs Disease. So my case is a bit more complicated. So I'm off to CC to try to get an explanation.

This is the number you call for an appointment: 954-659-5124 or 877-463-2010. I called the first number. They gave me Dr. Weiss automatically. I didn't ask for him. But my doctors were thrilled when I told them I was going to see him.

Janie, I have a question to ask taurus too - and hope you don't mind my jumping in (her email was not listed).

Taurus, I'm in your FL area.. and you mentioned "I also was going to try University of South Florida. They have an excellent colo rectal surgery department." why did you not go there?

I saw Dr. Wexner at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida.  He gave me an open total colectomy for my colonic inertia in August 2007.  I live in northern Florida and Weston was about 8 hours away still, but Dr. Wexner and the Cleveland Clinic are well worth it.  They were phenomonal and I received the very best of care there.

 

My colectomy worked well until this spring and again I became constipated.  Cleveland Clinic advised my general surgeon that I needed an ileostomy.  I had surgery the end of May, but my bowel movements did not return.  I was very sick and had to have emergency surgery again in June.  Currently, I have a non-traditional ileostomy.  I have a tube going from my abdomen to a leg bag.  I see my surgeon again on October 26th and we are going to discuss what's next.  I have to have another surgery to try for an ileostomy, again.

 

I have been very sick with these past two surgeries.  I was in the hospital for 52 days and was extremely nauseous the entire time.  I was sent home the middle of July and had a feeding tube until the beginning of September when I could finally eat food on my own, again.  I just went back to work on September 21 and have been working part-time.  My stamina is not what it should be and I get tired very quickly.  I have been working 7-11am and by the time I get home at 11:20, I'm in my pj's and back to bed.

 

My surgeon is going to consult with Cleveland Clinic for my next surgery and I may go back to Cleveland Clinic for the surgery.  My insurance area does not include Cleveland Clinic, so my health insurance gives me a difficult time for referrals, but they eventually cave in for me.

 

butterfly

Butterfly,

I am so sorry you've had such horrible problems. I don't know if you remember or not, but about a year ago we spoke on the phone and you were still doing well. I later read you were having trouble again and were going back to CC, but I didn't realize you still weren't doing well. What did the Dr. determine was your problem? Was it your small intestine not working or was it your rectum?

It's a horrible feeling to be nauseous...thank goodness that hasn't been an issue for me, although my surgeon said it was a possiblity after surgery. I'm not sure why that is, but several people seem to have it. I sure hope it goes away and that your upcoming surgery is a success.

Amy, where in Florida do you live? I'm about an hour east of Orlando.

It sounds like your recovery is hard, but hopefully over time it will get easier. After 6 months I still have the sore bottom most of the time; either from loose stools from prune juice or just so sore from straining. I keep calmoseptine with me at all times!

Hi to everyone else, will let you know about my sitz marker test soon. Hopefully the tech. will tell me today if there are any markers left.

Janie

Amey,

I just did a triple take when I saw your name! How have you been?

Welcome back!!

Cecilia

Hi. I loved CC in Weston. I actually had my surgeries there and have all my doctors there now, easier to followup since my surgeries.

I have Dr. Weiss. He is AWESOME. Honestly, he's one of those surgeons who doesn't BS you ... tells you as is. He did both of my surgeries and I can't imagine anyone else doing them.
He's now become a good friend, he works a lot but always answers emails and phone calls if I have ANY issues.

I had my first surgery April 3rd and then reversal June 7th. I'm recovered but now adjusting .. can take up to a year. Before my surgery I never imagined being able to run around with my unborn child ... now, when she arrives in less than a week ... I can run, jump, swim and skate through life with her :)

If you have any questions or need a referral just pm me and I'll be MORE than happy :)

goodluck!

Another shout out for Dr. Weiss at CC in Weston. He has done my 2 surgeries ( i have one more to go) and done a great job. HE has    great team of fellows and his nurses are awesome. The hospital is really nice when it comes to hospitals, that is...

I wish you the best.

Hey UCfree- you sound great! Congrats on baby arriving soon... You recovered just in time...

Butterfly, what is a non traditional ileostomy? Why didn't the regular ileostomy work? I thought the ileostomy's had to work. I just assumed the bowel movements moved through the stoma and couldn't be stopped. My husband mentioned me getting a tube into my stomach so that I could release gas and poop. I didn't think they actually did that. I am still with my faulty colon due to having an outlet problem....2 doctors have now guaranteed me that I would have bowel movements with a total colectomy. But I am still worried about the outlet problem. My rectum works great to held gas and poop in, but my rectum does not work when I push down to release poop and gas. It is like my push does not work anymore. I also have colonic inertia. Tracy

I had botox and it didn't work...I am going to try biofeedback, but I am not holding my breath. I am debating having a total colectomy and getting a temporary ileostomy, or having a temporary ileostomy and just keeping the colon. I am hoping I just love the ileostomy and want to keep it for life because the life that I lead now is ruled by hours and hours trying to have a bowel movement. No, I have never had a blockage, but, my bm's are getting less and less and this worries me. I am obsessed with having bm's because I am terrified of getting a life threatening blockage. I have resorted to taking one dose of miralax per day and this produces the smallest amount of stool, about a teaspoon per day...then over the weekend I take about a helf a bottle of miralax and this definately produces watery stool, but it takes hours and basically my entire weekend to get a normal amount out. I also have to be careful of taking too much miralax because it will just bypass the poop and come out as water.........you ever heard of such a thing?

I had a small bowel follow through and it was normal......defecogram was abnormal and I could not expel most of the barium paste...ct scan was normal.....colonoscopy was normal except for 2 polyps....anal manometry was abnormal, but did not indicate hirsprungs...and transit marker test on day 5 indicated extremely slow motility, 15 markers were in ascending colon and 10 were in the transverse colon.

Thank you for posting back. I hope you can get the traditional ileostomy and be able to eat again. I wonder why you could poop for 2 years and then suddenly stopped? What heppened? What do they think happened to make your small bowel swell so much?

Tracy