"I found Dr. Rehnke to be a very sweet, mild mannered man who was very friendly and nice. His office staff is professional, helpful and there to get the surgery approved. Patty is terrific with the paperwork and her follow-up with me was very timely. I had my list of questions for the doctor and that was the first thing we did after introductions. He then went on to explain the risks of the surgery. I told him I had done many, many months of research on this type of surgery. Perhaps that was the reason we never got into any deep discussion of the actual procedure. He informed me that he would require me to attend a group support meeting before and after the surgery. Since I brought every medical record and diet history needed including the required psychological evaluation and letter from my PCP, I was immediately given a surgery date that would fall between the 2 group meetings pending insurance approval. I believe this was also done since I am traveling from TN to FL just so Dr. Rehnke can do my surgery. I think Dr. Rehnke's prime concern is for his patients well-being. I believe him to be a very skilled surgeon and feel extremely comfortable with his hands performing my surgery. Of course these are just my personal opinions.
Now that I am 7 weeks postop I would like to add a few comments. I never saw Dr. Rehnke before being put under before surgery nor did I see even once in the hospital stay of 7 days. His nurse, Julie came in on the weekdays and another doctor came in on the weekends. I found the aftercare lacking. Dr. Rehnke does not use the "belly banding" which at my size I think should have been used as did the nursing staff. I knew there were other types of beds available so I asked nurse Julie if I could get one that would be more comfortable for me, particularly the Barricare bed so it would be easier for me to get in and out of. I was told I should use the regular one I was in. I later spoke with someone I know on staff about the situation and she informed me that that bed would not be suitable for me as I am short, 5'4". Thankfully though she listened to my pleas and saw to it that I got to use a gel bed. It was quite comfortable but my body molded to it making it even more difficult for me to move or even get up. This person also ordered an air bed for me which was comfy also but is not made for a sheet to be put on top. But if it had not been for her I would have felt like I was up a creek without a paddle. I asked for a prescription for a hospital bed at home and a home health aide to assist in personal hygiene and was refused that as well. I had a great deal of incisional leaking even upon being discharged and was told I could not have a wound care nurse at home either. When I asked to speak to a wound care specialist at the hospital, it was finally approved for a one week period.
When the time came for the staples to be removed I was still leaking in several places. Dr. Rehnke removed all but 5 staples and told me to come back in 1 week never telling me there was a "hole" at the bottom of my incision that you could look in to. I was never told how to care for it either. I later learned from another one of his patients I had met who had a similar problem.
Although I believe Dr. Rehnke is a good surgeon, I believe if I had it to do all over again I would look into Dr. Butler. He is now doing a lot of these surgeries in Pinellas County and is much easier to get along with for aftercare.
Also if you have Dr. Butler do your surgery at Palms of Pasadena Hospital you probably would be put on their Bariatric unit where the staff is trained for WLS patients. Dr. Rehnke will not put his patients on that wing. I don't know why.
These are all just my humble opinions of course."
