Debra's Guestbook

P.S., Debra, One of my biggest concerns pre-op was that the surgeon might be unavailable due to illness or emergency reasons the day of my operation and they'd get someone else to do it, and I'd already be too doped up to argue. I wanted only the surgeon I'd chosen. So I asked them, and they said their policy is that if my chosen surgeon wasn't available my operation would be postponed until he was. They said they'd never assign another surgeon to my case (except in an emergency) until I'd consulted with him first. THAT'S the sign of a great hospital. BTW the surgeon and hospital I've been heaping all this praise on are Dr. Glenn Barnhart at Swedish Medical Center. Alas for you, they're all the way up in Seattle.

Hi Debra, Here's my absolute first rule in all this: if it doesn't feel right to YOU, it ISN'T right. You're in charge here. Don't ever let anyone talk you into anything. A really good provider will simply present the facts of your condition as s/he sees them, then tell you your options, then let you make the decision. They'll never make it for you (unless it's an absolute emergency, of course). My own surgeon and team were superb in this regard--as well as highly rated on the consumer websites--that's why I went with them. I did a lot of research covering all parts of the U.S. before I settled on them. But it was worth it. I encourage you to do research too about your condition and options so you can go into consultations "armed." If the provider is a good one, s/he'll be happy that you've done your homework. If they're not good, they'll have the attitude that THEY'RE the professionals so why is this layperson debating with me? BTW, you also want a surgeon who's done a LOT of these operations. As my own surgeon said, you want one who does it a few times a week, not once every month or so. Please keep one other thing in mind: post-op you'll want them to be there too, visiting with you and being readily responsive to any questions/concerns you might have. You can tell if they will be by the way they treat you in pre-op consultations. Best wishes to you for what I'm confident will be a wonderful outcome, because they've got these procedures down pat.