Re: Doctors and Hospitals

[Guest guest]

- when we ask about names of doctors and hospitals or where you live it is

to help you - not to trash the people. Many people get recommended to small

town, inexperienced hospitals who don't know what they are doing. We have

(collectively) been 'around' enough to know the best of the best and like to

help out with recommendations for new people.

I have to say that I'm AMAZED that someone at UPMC did a Nissen wrap as in 2008

I had my esophagus removed there by Dr. Luketich - head of the Heart, Lung

and Esophageal Surgery Institute (HLESI) and one of the factors he cited in

recommending the -ectomy was the fact that I had had a Nissen wrap back in 1989.

If UPMC is convenient for you, I would recommend seeing him and of course get a

2nd opinion at TCC with Dr. Rice. Perhaps they can 'take down' the wrap and give

you a few more years with your E.

Please let us know what we can do to help. It's what we are here for and keep us

posted.

As a side note, if there are doctors or hospitals who do not do well - we like

to know, not so as to bash them, but so we don't send anyone to them. Achalasia

is rare and often complicated, we like to stay with the best.

Best to you

~ in NC

>

> Dear Members,

> When I am asked on here where I have had my myotomy and partial wrap done,

I don't know whether it is right to respond or not.Let it suffice to say it was

one of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centers.That is where I had my

manometry tests done also.Then they referred me to there Doctor.I didn't find

much about him on the internet.He did three of these operations the day I was

there.

> Sometimes I feel I have too much faith in doctors because I have had

such good luck over the years.I am thin to begin with (6'3 " 185 lbs), and I

don't have a lot of weight to lose.When I had my intake with my Achalasia

surgeon he looked at his counterpart and said Marfans and then continued as if

he had said nothing.This was a slap in my face.If he wanted to mention this he

should have included me in the conversation.I do have a lot of Marfans symptons

but I don't have Marfans.I just want to get better and so far after surgery

things have not gone in that direction and I am not pleased.

> To give names of doctors or actual hospitals especially if the outcome

of surgery is not satisfactory may be an insult to them, so I will not mention

specifics.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear , sharing doctor information is one of the key parts of this group. We

get some lively discussions about doctors sometimes. The main thing is that

someone with achalasia is going to a really experienced achalasia doctor.

A doctor doing three in one day, that is an unusually high number, I'd think

unless it was one of the regular doctors here. Maybe they were doing three

fundoplications for GERD or maybe a gastric bypass.

Sometimes people get referred to a good gi surgeon at a major hospital that is

not an achalasia specialist. Most of us, probably all, highly recommend going

to the top surgeon or gi at that hospital to get the doctor with the most

experience. Not always true, but a good starting point.

So I looked up Marfars, likely your weight is related to achalasia? Interesting

they thought that, why would you consider it a slap in the face? Maybe they

should have asked if you had been tested, if there is a test? Just curious.

Doctors are not known for their bedside manner. We all have to bite our tongues

sometimes.

If that hospital is close, then I assume you are on the East Coast, and there

are others you could go to? You might find a better personality match at

another hospital.

Sometimes it seems like the head doctors will keep a resident or someone around

them to help with their lack of personalities. I remember a great resident or

fellow that seemed very smart, but had more time and answered more questions

when I was in my druggy fog after surgery. He made sure to smile and take off

some of the rough edges of the other doctors.

Good luck, let us know how things go and what you decide to do. It is easy to

get really discouraged with achalasia. MOst of us have had setbacks and

symptoms return.

Sandy

>

> Dear Members,

> When I am asked on here where I have had my myotomy and partial wrap done,

I don't know whether it is right to respond or not.Let it suffice to say it was

one of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centers.That is where I had my

manometry tests done also.Then they referred me to there Doctor.I didn't find

much about him on the internet.He did three of these operations the day I was

there.

> Sometimes I feel I have too much faith in doctors because I have had

such good luck over the years.I am thin to begin with (6'3 " 185 lbs), and I

don't have a lot of weight to lose.When I had my intake with my Achalasia

surgeon he looked at his counterpart and said Marfans and then continued as if

he had said nothing.This was a slap in my face.If he wanted to mention this he

should have included me in the conversation.I do have a lot of Marfans symptons

but I don't have Marfans.I just want to get better and so far after surgery

things have not gone in that direction and I am not pleased.

> To give names of doctors or actual hospitals especially if the outcome

of surgery is not satisfactory may be an insult to them, so I will not mention

specifics.

>

>