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How did you research your surgeon?

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Posted 7/5/2015 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
As I consider surgery in August I think the thing giving me the most anxiety right now is I don't know enough about the surgeon and how I find out more info. I have never had any surgery before nor has anyone in my family so I feel a little lost with this.

The surgeon is a part of the IBD center I go to where my GI is. I love my current GI doctor and really trust her and the hospital/university they are affiliated with. The surgeon I met with is the one she says she uses for all her Jpouch patients and he is her preference. While that does give me some comfort because I really do respect and trust her, I feel like that isn't enough and there are questions I am not asking.

Any tips? Did you research your surgeon before your surgery? What questions should I be asking outside procedure specifics?
Posted 7/5/2015 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in the UK, and here you're usually seen by doctors within the area you live, which limits choices obviously. My first surgeon I found by his web page, I have rare medical conditions and he was one of a few who was familiar with them, and luckily based in the area I live in. He's operated about ten times on me now and I could not have picked a better surgeon. Besides his surgical skills, he has never given up trying to help me, and believed in the seriousness of my illness when other doctors did not; he listened to me as well as looking at my objective test results. Soon I'm having a different kind of surgery, and this will be done by a surgeon he recommended.

But I also had emergency surgery. I got no choice, never met the surgeon before. The surgeon saved my life and oversaw my long recovery. It was pure luck she was working the night my bowel perforated. Though I had been transfered to the hospital where she was because the first I went to (nearest A&E) realised I needed the more specialised hospital I usually go to.

I don't know that you need to ask questions. If you understand the surgery and know it's the right thing to have it done, just see if you like and trust the surgeon.

Post Edited (AnnaIvy) : 7/5/2015 12:38:15 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/5/2015 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
My GI dr. referred me to the surgeon I used. I met him for a consult and I liked him right away. So I went with my gut (no pun intended) and went with him for my surgery. He had a lot of experience with j pouches so I was in good hands. The main question I asked him was how many j pouch procedures he performed.
Posted 7/6/2015 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Like Marianne I was also referred to mine by my GI. I went in to talk to him and just felt good about it. My GI is awesome and I really trusted his judgement. He sends all patients who need surgery to him. My surgeon is the head of colorectal surgery at the hospital and had been doing these surgeries basically everyday for like 20-30 years. I think it comes down to who you are referred to, if you feels comfortable with them, and how experienced they are with the type of surgery that you are having. Good luck and know you can always come here to ask any questions you have!
Posted 7/7/2015 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
I have a friend who is an operating room nurse. I've used her for referrals a couple of times. Once for a hernia and once for the ileostomy. Who is better than an eye witness!!!!
Posted 7/7/2015 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
You could ask your potential surgeon for references of their previous j-pouch patients. I once had a surgeon offer to put me in touch with some of his patients but he also insisted that I talk to some of his patients who had complications too, he thought that was really important. I was impressed with that offer but I escaped that time with my colon for another 5 years.

Ask the surgeon about how many j-pouches that they built and their success/failure rates. I'd also go on j-pouch.org and ask around about your surgeon.
Posted 7/9/2015 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
My GI doctor refused to send me to a surgeon. So, after suffering for twelve long years with UC and going through a myriad of medications....6MP for seven years (no help at all), Colazal, prednisone, Asacol, Remicade, Humira...I took matters into my own hands and researched colorectal surgeons online. I knew I didn't want my surgery done here in south Jersey. I looked for a surgeon in Philly. I went to Dr. Robert Fry, who was chief of colorectal surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital. He also trained at the Cleveland Clinic and had years of experience. I was not a candidate for j-pouch. Most likely because of my age (63 at time of surgery), prednisone dependent, very ill at time of surgery. I didn't care, I was just so sick of being sick. Had my surgery five years ago. It gave me back my life!
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