Anyone deal w/Dr. Richter at Temple University Hospital?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/10/2010 2:06:29 P.M. Central Standard Time,

blicky77@... writes:

Dr. Richter said he still does dialations.

I have heard he is excellent, you have made a good choice.

Maggie

[Guest guest]

My first appt. was w/Dr. Cohen at Jefferson University Hospital and I'm going to

get a second opinion from Dr. Richter at Temple University Hosipital. I was just

wondering of anyone has heard anything about them. Dr. Cohen said he doesn't do

dialations anymore due to the risk of tearing the esophagus. He advised me to

get botox then to schedule surgery. Dr. Richter said he still does dialations.

[Guest guest]

Many of us have heard things about Dr. Richter, who worked with Dr. Rice for

about 10 years before moving to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

What I will say about him is more anecdotal and should not be taken either as a

positive or negative as to how good a doctor he is.  I reported my experiences

with him in August of 2006.

I went to him for a second (actually a third) opinion regarding a NY City

surgeon telling me I needed an esophagectomy.  He had been highly recommended

by a number of posters in the group.

He reviewed my Xrays and came to the same conclusion.

He came across as extremely knowledgeable about " everything " achalsia.

He had no problems with my appointment later that same day with Dr.

Dempsey, the surgeon he often worked with.  Dr. Dempsey reviewed the same set

of Xrays.

Not that anyone wants to have an esophagectomy but both doctors knew I had a

very strong aversion to having the surgery.  Dr. Dempsey felt that the quality

of life I had at that time did not warrant taking such an extreme step, and that

it could be done just as well at a later date (if needed), whereas Dr. Richter

was insistent on my having the surgery, clearly stating, as in " mark my words,

in a year or so you will be back begging to have the surgery done " (to

paraphrase, not an exact quote).

Nearly four years later I am still going strong, but as in our group can

tell you, you can feel fine one day and find your esophagus falling apart the

next, so I take one day at a time.

In speaking to Dr. Richter, I very quickly became aware that he is extremely

brilliant about the condition and will make sure you know that.  Come in very

prepared (which we did), and if it helps, have your questions all written down.

Some people have found him very intimidating.  It does not have to be that way.

He will respect you more if you come in prepared. In other words, don't waste

his time.

Dr. Richter knew in advance that I was seeing Dr. Dempsey, and I asked Dr.

Richter the following question (again paraphrasing).  With your being so

certain that I should have an esophagectomy, is there any reason why I should

hang around the hospital for another 4 hours to ask Dr. Dempsey his opinion? "

To Dr. Richter's credit, he encouraged me to stay. I am reluctant to believe

that it would have been just

for the hospital to earn more revenue. 

I have no knowledge of Dr. Cohen, but I can tell you that the prevailing

" collective " opinion on this Board would be for you to run from Dr. Cohen. While

there are special reasons to get botox, it does not make any sense " to get botox

then to schedule surgery. "   Why not just schedule the surgery? The botox will

buy you some time, most likely. So unless here is a very compelling reason to

delay the surgery, just go for the surgery then. There are mixed reports as to

whether or not having botox first might complicate the surgery.  Notan is very

knowledgeable about that.

________________________________

From: blicky77 <blicky77@...>

achalasia

Sent: Wed, March 10, 2010 3:00:33 PM

Subject: Anyone deal w/Dr. Richter at Temple University Hospital?

 

My first appt. was w/Dr. Cohen at Jefferson University Hospital and I'm going to

get a second opinion from Dr. Richter at Temple University Hosipital. I was just

wondering of anyone has heard anything about them. Dr. Cohen said he doesn't do

dialations anymore due to the risk of tearing the esophagus. He advised me to

get botox then to schedule surgery. Dr. Richter said he still does dialations.

[Guest guest]

Dr. Richter is excellent, I would also suggest Dr. Rice at Cleveland

Clinic.

From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf

Of blicky77

Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 3:01 PM

achalasia

Subject: Anyone deal w/Dr. Richter at Temple University

Hospital?

My first appt. was w/Dr. Cohen at Jefferson University Hospital and I'm

going to get a second opinion from Dr. Richter at Temple University

Hosipital. I was just wondering of anyone has heard anything about them. Dr.

Cohen said he doesn't do dialations anymore due to the risk of tearing the

esophagus. He advised me to get botox then to schedule surgery. Dr. Richter

said he still does dialations.

[Guest guest]

Funny, I saw Dr. C. within the last year and he recommended dilation, not botox.

He certainly didn't say that he doesn't do dilations anymore.

For now, I'm going to wait and see before doing anything. Only " symptom " might

be nagging cough, but has not been 100% attributed to achalasia. Have had past

post-surgical infections, so I'm in no rush for a surgical procedure.

Do any of you have diagnosed autoimmune disorders which have been linked to

achalasia?

Meredith

>

> Many of us have heard things about Dr. Richter, who worked with Dr. Rice for

about 10 years before moving to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

>

> What I will say about him is more anecdotal and should not be taken either as

a positive or negative as to how good a doctor he is.  I reported my

experiences with him in August of 2006.

>

> I went to him for a second (actually a third) opinion regarding a NY City

surgeon telling me I needed an esophagectomy.  He had been highly recommended

by a number of posters in the group.

>

> He reviewed my Xrays and came to the same conclusion.

>

> He came across as extremely knowledgeable about " everything " achalsia.

>

> He had no problems with my appointment later that same day with Dr.

Dempsey, the surgeon he often worked with.  Dr. Dempsey reviewed the same set

of Xrays.

>

> Not that anyone wants to have an esophagectomy but both doctors knew I had a

very strong aversion to having the surgery.  Dr. Dempsey felt that the quality

of life I had at that time did not warrant taking such an extreme step, and that

it could be done just as well at a later date (if needed), whereas Dr. Richter

was insistent on my having the surgery, clearly stating, as in " mark my words,

in a year or so you will be back begging to have the surgery done " (to

paraphrase, not an exact quote).

>

> Nearly four years later I am still going strong, but as in our group

can tell you, you can feel fine one day and find your esophagus falling apart

the next, so I take one day at a time.

>

> In speaking to Dr. Richter, I very quickly became aware that he is extremely

brilliant about the condition and will make sure you know that.  Come in very

prepared (which we did), and if it helps, have your questions all written down.

Some people have found him very intimidating.  It does not have to be that way.

He will respect you more if you come in prepared. In other words, don't waste

his time.

>

> Dr. Richter knew in advance that I was seeing Dr. Dempsey, and I asked Dr.

Richter the following question (again paraphrasing).  With your being so

certain that I should have an esophagectomy, is there any reason why I should

hang around the hospital for another 4 hours to ask Dr. Dempsey his opinion? "

> To Dr. Richter's credit, he encouraged me to stay. I am reluctant to believe

that it would have been just

> for the hospital to earn more revenue. 

>

> I have no knowledge of Dr. Cohen, but I can tell you that the prevailing

" collective " opinion on this Board would be for you to run from Dr. Cohen. While

there are special reasons to get botox, it does not make any sense " to get botox

then to schedule surgery. "   Why not just schedule the surgery? The botox will

buy you some time, most likely. So unless here is a very compelling reason to

delay the surgery, just go for the surgery then. There are mixed reports as to

whether or not having botox first might complicate the surgery.  Notan is very

knowledgeable about that.

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: blicky77 <blicky77@...>

> achalasia

> Sent: Wed, March 10, 2010 3:00:33 PM

> Subject: Anyone deal w/Dr. Richter at Temple University Hospital?

>

>  

> My first appt. was w/Dr. Cohen at Jefferson University Hospital and I'm going

to get a second opinion from Dr. Richter at Temple University Hosipital. I was

just wondering of anyone has heard anything about them. Dr. Cohen said he

doesn't do dialations anymore due to the risk of tearing the esophagus. He

advised me to get botox then to schedule surgery. Dr. Richter said he still does

dialations.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I went to see Dr. Richter 2005 or 06 in Cleveland--be prepared to dress nice

(otherwise he'd think you couldn't afforded to be treated by him), and don't

tell him if you come from a small town (even if you do).  I wasn't impressed by

him very much--all he did was to order everything to confirm I do have A and

recommended Dilatation or Botox, even if I just got most of the t ests

(Endoscopy) done by " local small town " doctors.  The charge was no less than

if I came from  a rich town.   He might have good skill in doing Dilatation

etc, but I didn't take his advice.  I take it one day a time and I did get one

botox by local doctor two years ago (have had A for 20 years)   Doing fine

even today--just take one day a time, thanking God for his blessing (to be able

to swallow) and praying for complete healing.  We have to have " Faith " . 

(Even as small as a mustard seed we could do anything)

________________________________

From: meredub <MereDuB@...>

achalasia

Sent: Thu, March 11, 2010 9:06:19 PM

Subject: Re: Anyone deal w/Dr. Richter at Temple University

Hospital?

 

Funny, I saw Dr. C. within the last year and he recommended dilation, not botox.

He certainly didn't say that he doesn't do dilations anymore.

For now, I'm going to wait and see before doing anything. Only " symptom " might

be nagging cough, but has not been 100% attributed to achalasia. Have had past

post-surgical infections, so I'm in no rush for a surgical procedure.

Do any of you have diagnosed autoimmune disorders which have been linked to

achalasia?

Meredith

>

> Many of us have heard things about Dr. Richter, who worked with Dr. Rice for

about 10 years before moving to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

>

> What I will say about him is more anecdotal and should not be taken either as

a positive or negative as to how good a doctor he is.  I reported my

experiences with him in August of 2006.

>

> I went to him for a second (actually a third) opinion regarding a NY City

surgeon telling me I needed an esophagectomy.  He had been highly

recommended by a number of posters in the group.

>

> He reviewed my Xrays and came to the same conclusion.

>

> He came across as extremely knowledgeable about " everything " achalsia.

>

> He had no problems with my appointment later that same day with Dr.

Dempsey, the surgeon he often worked with.  Dr. Dempsey reviewed the same set

of Xrays.

>

> Not that anyone wants to have an esophagectomy but both doctors knew I had a

very strong aversion to having the surgery.  Dr. Dempsey felt that the

quality of life I had at that time did not warrant taking such an extreme step,

and that it could be done just as well at a later date (if needed), whereas Dr.

Richter was insistent on my having the surgery, clearly stating, as in " mark my

words, in a year or so you will be back begging to have the surgery done " (to

paraphrase, not an exact quote).

>

> Nearly four years later I am still going strong, but as in our group

can tell you, you can feel fine one day and find your esophagus falling apart

the next, so I take one day at a time.

>

> In speaking to Dr. Richter, I very quickly became aware that he is extremely

brilliant about the condition and will make sure you know that.  Come in very

prepared (which we did), and if it helps, have your questions all written down.

Some people have found him very intimidating.  It does not have to be that

way. He will respect you more if you come in prepared. In other words, don't

waste his time.

>

> Dr. Richter knew in advance that I was seeing Dr. Dempsey, and I asked Dr.

Richter the following question (again paraphrasing) .  With your being so

certain that I should have an esophagectomy, is there any reason why I should

hang around the hospital for another 4 hours to ask Dr. Dempsey his opinion? "

> To Dr. Richter's credit, he encouraged me to stay. I am reluctant to believe

that it would have been just

> for the hospital to earn more revenue. 

>

> I have no knowledge of Dr. Cohen, but I can tell you that the prevailing

" collective " opinion on this Board would be for you to run from Dr. Cohen. While

there are special reasons to get botox, it does not make any sense " to get botox

then to schedule surgery. "   Why not just schedule the surgery? The botox will

buy you some time, most likely. So unless here is a very compelling reason to

delay the surgery, just go for the surgery then. There are mixed reports as to

whether or not having botox first might complicate the surgery.  Notan is

very knowledgeable about that.

>

>

>

>

>

> ____________ _________ _________ __

> From: blicky77 <blicky77@.. .>

> achalasia@grou ps.com

> Sent: Wed, March 10, 2010 3:00:33 PM

> Subject: Anyone deal w/Dr. Richter at Temple University Hospital?

>

>  

> My first appt. was w/Dr. Cohen at Jefferson University Hospital and I'm going

to get a second opinion from Dr. Richter at Temple University Hosipital. I was

just wondering of anyone has heard anything about them. Dr. Cohen said he

doesn't do dialations anymore due to the risk of tearing the esophagus. He

advised me to get botox then to schedule surgery. Dr. Richter said he still does

dialations.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>