HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Resection surgery

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/16/2017 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
I'm a newbie so everything seems critically magnified to me. I'm looking down the road to resection surgery and I'm really wondering whether to go to Mayo or Cleveland clinic. My original surgery was emergency surgery in another city and I still haven't been able to get in to see a local GI surgeon. Has anyone else traveled to Rochester or Cleveland for surgery?
Posted 2/16/2017 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
what are you having re-sectioned?
Posted 2/16/2017 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Last 12" of large colon.
Posted 2/16/2017 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Do you have ulcerative colitis? My very first surgery was a bowel resection, they took out 15 inches of the left side of my colon as that was the only affected area. After the surgery was done and healed my colitis attacked the remaining part and had pancolitis instead of the left sided I had for 17 years. I had wished I went through the J Pouch surgery then. When I had my J Pouch surgery, they couldn't do it Lapro due to all the scar tissue my body developed from my resection surgery and ended up having open surgery
Posted 2/16/2017 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Don't have ulcerative colitis. Diverticulitis with a perforated colon. I know all too well that my situation isn't nearly as complicated or long term as many on this forum, and like everyone was both dismayed and astonished when I realized I had a colostomy. The technology of the products is really amazing and to say I was overwhelmed initially was an understatement.

Going forward, I'm looking at the resection surgery and physician skill and performance is critical but little ability to compare that information. The other part of that surgery is the infection rate of the hospital. In doing some research I can see some hospitals do a much better job than others in managing that. The Mayo & Cleveland Clinics are rated the best. I'm just trying to decide whether to travel there and spend a few weeks of surgery and recovery or do it local. I've met with a couple GI surgeons and while they were polite I could tell when you bring up this topic they're not sure how to respond. They're confident in their abilities and the hospital side of the equation they have no control and little information on what hospital is better than the other.
Posted 2/16/2017 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
I had a very skilled surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida perform my re-section. I ended up with a pinhole from the surgery causing a severe infection that spread up to my liver. I had emergency surgery 2 days after my initial surgery to fix and clean out the infection. I had to get a colostomy at that point and ended up in ICU for 6 days and the hospital for 12.
Posted 2/16/2017 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon in NYC has a resection surgical technique named after him. /weillcornell.org/michelassi.

I'm more of an H.upmann fan than Cohibas but I do like the cohiba maduros-5 Genios & robustos but they aren't everyday smokes due to their prices.
Posted 2/16/2017 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Keith, you made my day. Not many know what we're talking about so that was a welcome smile. I'm an Olivia V & O guy. Too expensive but then it keeps me from smoking too many.

Blksteeda, that sounds horrible. From my reading, the resection has a whole other set of potential threats and yours is common regardless of surgeon skill. That's why I'm a bit concerned. I just want to ensure I'm giving myself the greatest chance of success.
Posted 2/16/2017 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I was talking about the ones that aren't sold in the US. I buy them online and they ship them to me. They're actually less money than the dominicans sold in the US because they aren't taxed. I've been buying them for years, so much better than what's available here.
Posted 2/16/2017 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
I would go to a major University/teaching hospital. You should find a great surgeon there.

There will always be complications and you'll see that online when you search, try to stay away from Dr. Google. It's difficult because we all want to be as informed as much as possible but sometimes too much information is just too much. If you have a doctor that you trust then I'd look to that person for guidance.
Posted 2/16/2017 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Keith, that's great advice on both topics. I travel for a living and I can pick up great cigars in different places of the world. The DR makes the best cigars (and quality) in my opinion...seldom get a bad cigar. I've been ripped off only a couple times when I buy overseas, but I figure that's part of the game.

Dr. Google is the perfect name. Sometimes its difficult to parse out the chaff from useful info.

I'm still too new to this whole thing and I'm trying to get info. I had a knee replacement a few years ago and my local orthopaedic surgeon was a little peeved that I went out of state for surgery. The guy I went to in Tucson does about 30 a month whereas the surgeon in Atlanta did 4. To me it was a no brainer. This colostomy is a whole new thing rife with speed bumps. I'm sure I'll get it figured out but I'm just trying to get other people's suggestions.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply