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Doctors in the Twin Cities?

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Posted 11/10/2012 6:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all.  I'm new here and speaking on behalf of my husband who has a temp ileo due to UC.  I'm looking at different colorectal surgeons in the Twin Cities area.  Is there anyone here that is from MN that has a great doctor experience?  Any help would be appreciated.  I don't know if asking for stuff like this is appropriate, so please be kind :-)

Thanks,

K

Posted 11/12/2012 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
either colon and rectal surgery associates (several offices around the metro area), ann lowry if you can get in with her. or univ of mn colorectal clinics, bob madoff
Posted 11/13/2012 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Drive 100 miles south on I 35 and get to the Mayo Clinic. It's one of the best hospitals/clinics for bowel disease in the world.
Posted 11/13/2012 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Six days ago I had a Proctocolectomy with an permanent end ileostomy.  My surgery was performed by 

Dr. Elizabeth Raskin of Colon/Rectal Associates in St.Paul.  There isn't enough room on this page to express what a wonderful and skilled doctor she is.  Her main direction in surgery is to use procedures that are the least invasive.  My surgery was laporscopic with removal of the colon and rectum through the anus and then anal closure.  And I must brag that even the WOC nurses have said my stoma is pretty much near perfect.  Working with Dr. Raskin is Dr. James Williams who is not just a great surgeon but has the best bedside manner ever !  I just want to put him in my pocket and take him home with me.

Please consider Dr. Raskin for your husband's surgery.  I actually went to the Mayo for a consult and was going to have the surgery there, but Dr.Raskin was suggested to me by some GI nurses and after meeting with her last June, I knew I'd found the right doc.  Both Dr. Raskin and Dr. Williams did their fellowship at the University of Minnesota's Colon / Rectal division.   

My surgery was performed at St.John's hospital in Maplewood and I am getting very good care there.

Going home tomorrow !

Posted 11/14/2012 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for the info.  His temp ileo was done by Dr. Spencer (colorectal surgery assoc), but his visit with him last week left us feeling a bit frustrated.  He spent a lot of time with us, but we didn't feel like he gave us any direction or feedback that was helpful.  He threw some stats at us, but it seemed he had the attitude  of "come see me next time you're in the hospitial again with a blockage" rather than "ok this is what we can do about it."

Again, thanks for the advice.

Karen

Posted 11/14/2012 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Karen....when it comes to doctors, it's not just about skill but also about compassion.  It certainly does not sound like your doctor showed much compassion and who wants a doc like that.  The two doctors I suggested have it all, true caring and compassion and the skill to be ranked high in this area.

I tried 3 GI docs before I found one that fit my personality.  Now, with this surgery, I will no longer be a patient of hers and I will truly miss her.

Taking the time to find the right doctor is time consuming and difficult but I can honestly say that I couldn't be happier with my choice. 

Good Luck

Posted 11/14/2012 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
CRSA is the largest practice in the area i believe. there are many docs in that practice, maybe a change to another one would be in order. i dealt with dr. spencer a couple times when he was covering for dr. lowry, he's no dr. lowry from a bedside manner standpoint although his technical skills are good. you've gotten another suggestion from the practice as well, hopefully one of the other docs will work out better for you.
Posted 1/13/2013 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
I just had my second surgery (j-pouch) with Dr. Spencer from Colon and Rectal Surgery Associates in the Twin Cities and can't say enough good things about him. Older, experienced, confident, and supportive.
Posted 1/14/2013 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the feedback x5800. My husband and I like Spencer, he's just a little different. He did spend an hour talking to us in his office when his waiting room was full, and most of the time (with other drs) you get 5 minutes and you're done. My husband's ostomy nurse had a lot of good things to say about him as well, and agreed that a lot of patients really like him. It's good to hear this from someone else. Which hospital were you at?
Posted 1/14/2013 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
My GI (Dr. McCabe at MNGI) referred me to Dr. Spencer and we had the initial consultation at West Health in Plymouth, MN. My first (of three) surgeries was done at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and my second at Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis. Third still coming up.

He certainly does spend a long of time with patients. Same "full waiting room" situation for me, too. I can understand why some may not get along with his personality or take something said the wrong way, but in my opinion he's great!

How about locations for you?
Posted 1/14/2013 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hubby's temp ileo was at Mercy in Coon Rapids. He's likely doing a j-pouch this spring (step #2) and that'll be at Mercy as well, I would imagine.

Do you like McCabe? Hubby's MNGI experience was subpar, so we're always looking for referrals for a good MD at MNGI.
Posted 1/14/2013 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
As with any doctor, I think the patient and doctor need "compatible personalities" to get along. I had Dr. McCabe for my entire 5-year expirience with UC, from diagnosis until surgery and was quite happy with him. I often felt he didn't show emotion or sympathize with me, but in retrospect, that was fine - his job was to provide me with the best course of action.

In terms of treatment and management of my disease, I was completely confident in his abilities and by the time the option for surgery came, I was comfortable knowing we had exhausted all realistic options. I did go to Mayo to get another opinion around year 3 - 4 and they suggested exactly what Dr. McCabe had already been doing, and believe it or not, I had a much more "cold and harsh" feeling from Mayo than I ever did MNGI.
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