I heard a rumor

CherylS.
on 2/4/05 10:43 pm - Burlington, CT
I heard we lost someone in CT yesterday or Thursday. Anyone else hear this? I hope not. I saw it on the Main board and then the post was removed. Cheryl
Maggie S.
on 2/4/05 10:51 pm - Norwich, CT
This is the first I have heard of this. I hope it is only a rumor. Maggie
JoniL
on 2/5/05 12:59 am - Southington, CT
I havent heard anything yet. It is really disappointing if it was removed from the board. Editing things like this puts a slant on these surgeries. Now it makes you wonder if the main purpose of this board is to make money and not be an unbias board. Advertisers would be upset with listing adverse info and that may be the case. I did hear that a man died at St. Francis. His wife was a nurse there also. I heard this recently-about 2 weeks ago- but I dont know when it happened. He had the rny. Joanne
Lauren M.
on 2/5/05 1:49 am - Plymouth, CT
I also heard about the guy who died in Hartford about 3 weeks ago. He was 37 years old. My husband was doing something for the insurance for his wife I believe. This was just prior to my surgery so he was a little upset about it. He discussed it with Dr. Bell. Here is what Dr. Bell said and to the question about being qualified to do lap rny. and I quote. He said, " I went and took 2 years off my practicing life to study how to do lap rny's in New York. I wanted to know how to do them this way. They are less invasive to the body. However, I have a great deal of respect for doctors that refuse to do lap rny's because they dont know how. They only know how to do open and they stick to it. However, there are doctors that take a class over a weekend on laproscopic technique and THINK they are qualified to do them. They are not. It took me years to learn this technique. I would not trust a doctor that is performing them and had minimal training. You have to ask the right questions when looking for a doctor." When my husband spoke of this man dieing, I said that he probably went to one of those doctors, that Dr. Bell had mentioned. One that took the weekend kram course and thought they were qualified. When we went for the informational meeting. There were about 50 people in that room, and I boldly asked him in front of everyone, how many people have you operated on that have died. You know no one was going to ask that question. but I had the guts to ask it. and I will bet you that there are others on this board that went for this surgery and NEVER asked their surgeon that question. Why on earth would you have this surgery and not ask that question, and other questions like how many lap surgeries have you done, how long did you train to do laps, how many of you patients have had leaks, complications, what kind of complications. Listen folks, you have to ask the hard questions. and you have to do your homework. You want a surgeon that is tried and true. You DO NOT want to be somebodies guinea pig for this surgery. Its too risky. Even if you have to travel. Go to someone who has EXPERIENCE. I suspect that there are so many people out there that just want that quick fix surgery, want to look great that they dont even bother doing the research or the homework on the doctor. These will also be the people who gain all their weight back because they have no intention of making a lifestyle change. I quess you have all now discovered my pet peeve. I pray that someone considering this surgery reads this. Its so important. By the way, Im 11 days post op and feeling great. 20lbs down already. Lauren
Lauren M.
on 2/5/05 2:00 am - Plymouth, CT
I stand corrected, my husband just said he was 47. He said he will get the details for me. Either its the same guy, or there are 2 men that have died within that past few weeks. L
JoniL
on 2/5/05 2:10 am - Southington, CT
Was it Hartford Hospital. I think their program is fairly new. I dont know of the experience of the doctors at Htfd Hosp doing the surgery.
CherylS.
on 2/5/05 4:20 am - Burlington, CT
Actually, I am not sure where in CT. There are many qualifed docs here in our state. The thing is, many many more people are having this surgery with more and more co-morbids. The risk is high in the best of cir****tances. Honestly, the last time I was in FL I saw they advertise the surgery on Billboards for God's sake. In Sarasota there were at least two Centers that I saw. I didn't mean to start something, I was just concerned. We are a close family here on the CT board. Love to all Cheryl
Cherokee S.
on 2/6/05 12:30 pm - Wolf Den, CT
The doc I had my surgery with at Hartford Hospital is board certified in Lap technique..and not a weekend seminar,,years of training in laproscopic technique in general and hundreds of lap bariatric surgeries. Darren TishlerMD to be exact..and at the time of my surgery he had 0 deaths and 0 serious complications...I don't know if any other Doc's are doing the bariatric surgery out of CT surgical group..afterall..Hartford Hospital is a big hospital..but I ain't dead yet and have now lost 20 pounds at 2 and a half weeks out. I don't think it is quite fair to make the assumption or cast the aspersion that because a program is new..that must be where the casualties are...all programs were new at one time or another...I think I would wait on the facts if it were me....as for stats..stuff happens! Sad but true! Sher'
Gayle S.
on 2/6/05 1:09 am - North Haven, CT
Lauren is so right about asking the surgeon about their experience. As a nurse-attorney who has been practicing in the malpractice field in this state for 20 years (both defense and plaintiffs) I can tell you first hand about unfortunate outcomes as a result of inexperienced hospital and medical staff attempting something they shouldn't. The most important question to ask your surgeon before any surgery is "how many times have you done this same procedure that you are recommending?" Studies show that patients can dramatically improve their chances of survival by picking a surgeon who has performed the operation frequently. In one study of 474,108 patients who had cardiac or cancer surgery, the number of procedures the surgeon had performed made a dramatic difference in mortality rates in every case. You can ask several surgeons how many they've done and make a comparison. You want to be sure that the hospital staff is expereinced with these procedures also--They will be taking care of you post-operatively and reporting your progress to the surgeon. You want them to be experienced and to be able to recognize complications that may arise. These are hard questions to ask, but well worth it. In good health--Gayle
Maggie S.
on 2/5/05 6:36 am - Norwich, CT
I agree Cheryl. Everyone should research their sugeon, but it all comes down to the surgery carries a risk. Even if a surgeon has had no deaths, that doesn't guarantee that you will make it. A lot depends on the person's health going into it. You can never predict 110% what will happen to someone during surgery. For me it was just that I stood a good chance at dying without the surgery and a chance at a second chance at life. If it is true that these people died recently, I am truly saddened by it. Hugs, Maggie
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