Asking for a friend: Anybody got advice on picking a competent hernia surgeon?
And/or tips on good elective surgical programs in the Boston area, or the Northeast generally?
This post is in: Bleg, World's Best Healthcare (If You Can Afford It)
Asking for a friend: Anybody got advice on picking a competent hernia surgeon?
And/or tips on good elective surgical programs in the Boston area, or the Northeast generally?
Comments are closed.
Cermet
They need to demonstrate that they will sign the area that will be cut so they know exactly were to perform the procedure; would be funny if this type of error didn’t occur so often. In other words, a person that accepts responsibility but isn’t arrogant. For instance, my MD will consult with a Sharma if required. That made me realize they were both brilliant and modest.
aimai
This is too funny since Mr. Aimai also needs Hernia surgery. We are probably seeing a guy with the riduclous name of something like Gutwiler or Gutbender. At Mt. Auburn hospital. The only thing to know is that the person should do five or six of these surgeries a week.
p.a.
what type of hernia? mayo clinic site always good for info.
The Dangerman
I’m West Coast, so can’t help you in your direct request, but will share that my repair (1999) was something called the Lichtenstein Method (damn, Google in Graduate School would have been so nice); relatively easy recovery and no problems at all with it (and I had a major tear, much bigger than the Surgeon expected on going in).
egorelick
Go to Canada. Seriously.
raven
I’m having inguinal hernia surgery in January. I went to the surgeon that my MD recommended after looking at as many reviews of him I could find.
raven
@The Dangerman:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1534321-overview
raven
Is this emergency surgery?
Hal
@egorelick: Your comment reminded me of an old New Yorker article.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1998/03/30/no-mistake
raven
@Hal: Old is right.
Anne Laurie
@raven: Not yet, but he’s been putting it off for months, and it’s not gonna heal on its own.
JPL
@Anne Laurie: Have a friend who is going to have surgery next week, in the Boston area. I’ll check with him, but might not be able to let you know until Sunday. They are away for the weekend
Keith P.
I had an inguinal patch surgery done in 2002 and the double cinching in 1977. No advice on surgery other than get lots of ibuprofen.
Anne Laurie
@JPL: Thanks, I’d really appreciate that!
raven
@Anne Laurie: Welcome to the club. I have zero symptoms but I am going to go ahead. . . in a bit.
Bloix
@egorelick: My father went to Shouldice in Toronto for his hernia repair. That was a couple of decades ago – but it’s worth considering.
http://www.shouldice.com/
J R in WV
We have had the same competent family practice Dr for 35 years, he went on t become board cert in Gerontology when he realized that his older patients would soon be needing that expertise.
He knows the various specialists in this area who have a history of good outcomes, and so when I needed shoulder replacements, he recommended the surgeon here who only does knee, shoulder and hip replacements. That all he does, 30% shoulders, 30% hips, 40% knees. I have had a great outcome, and Mrs J has too with a knee replacement.
So go to a local Dr the patient trusts and ask for a recommendation, you want a Dr who specializes in the exact work you need, who does them all the time. In some areas there are only “general surgeons” who do a little of everything. You don’t want a guy who did his last hernia repair two weeks ago. You want a guy who does 2 or 3 a day, 2 or 3 days a week.
My shoulder guy does joint replacements all day long Mondays and Wednesdays IIRC, and office visits Tuesdays and Thursdays. No ER trauma work at 2 am, just joint replacements on a regular schedule.
FlyingToaster
Does your friend have a PCP? They can usually generate the list of “these are the specialists in X” really fast.
For all of HerrDoctor’s surgeries, our PCP practice provided a list of 3 (each time) who were covered by our insurance. And a pointer to the ones at our hospital (Mount Auburn) who did nothing else all day :)
Tom D
Had laparoscopic in Berkeley, entry thru naval. PIece of cake, as it were. Guy did several/day. Given an experienced surgeon, you should probably be as focused on the anesthesiologist.
laura
Please make sure that all med staff are in your plan network! You want to avoid the nasty surprise of an out of network cost such as anesthesiologist.
Good wishes for better health and well being.
Feathers
Not Somerville Hospital. The ex had his hernia surgery there and the surgical team got into an argument and were yelling at each other in front of him while he was prepped for surgery. He didn’t complain or get up and leave. Unbelievable. He does tell all his other doctors about it now. They gather round and are kindof thrilled by the story, to be honest.
Ruckus
Had old style mesh surgery 3 yrs ago. VA doc, this is what he does. Asked about laparoscopic, said he does it rarely because it has a higher failure rate because it is harder to place and suture the mesh in place properly. I’ve had a shoulder scoped – torn rotator and really the recovery was easier in the hernia surgery.
So unless your friend is in the VA system in socal there really isn’t anything to tell you. Note though that in the VA you get the surgeon they assign to you. You can request a different doc but you may have to wait for a time slot, all over again. Thing is I’ve been pretty happy with all the docs I’ve seen.
Jon H
Had an umbilical hernia fixed a few years ago at Midstate Hospital in Meriden CT. Unfortunately I can’t remember the surgeon’s name and the hospital’s “find a doctor” page isn’t working. He had close-shaved red hair and a picture of Howdy Doodie on the other side of his ID badge.
Also when I first met with him it was in an exam room with a lot of cartoons involving butt humor, and he called it “The butt room”.
I’d definitely use him again.
Mudge
William Meyers at Jefferson in Philadelphia does loads of sports hernias. http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/dr-william-meyers-gets-right-to-the-core-of-athletes-injuries-120215
Central Planning
I had a coworker who had surgery for a triple hernia. Recovered fine. Make sure your friend has snug fighting underwear.
Yutsano
@J R in WV: Guy who replaced my hips literally does no other orthopædic surgeries. He did fantastic on mine. But he’s in Seattle so no real help there.
Mnemosyne
@laura:
In California, that is now regulated — if the surgeon and hospital are in network, any additional personnel must also be considered in network by the insurance company. If there’s a price difference, the insurance company has to eat it (though usually they make the hospital at least split it).
It’s nice living in a state that’s trying to make health insurance work. We still have problems in smaller cities and less populated areas, but the state government is working on it.
stinger
Anyway, not this guy:
An amateur surgeon in Australia has pleaded guilty to removing the left testicle of a man who could not afford professional medical treatment. Allan George Matthews, 56, admitted to “removing tissue” from the man “without consent or authority” at a motel in Port Macquarie, north of Sydney. Police said the 52-year-old victim posted an online ad “requesting assistance with a medical issue”.
He had been suffering for years after being kicked in the groin by a horse.
Police became aware of the case in June when the man attended hospital after the wound he suffered during the operation became infected. Officers raided Matthews’ home and seized medical equipment, firearms and four bottles of what they suspected to be amyl nitrate.
Prosecutors alleged that Matthews was not authorised to perform such a procedure as he was not a qualified or registered medical practitioner. He also pleaded guilty in court this week to illegally possessing a gun and two counts of possessing or attempting to prescribe a restricted substance.
–BBC
(Trollhattan
July 14, 2016 at 1:53 pm)
Linkmeister
In 1998 I had mesh surgery for an inguinal hernia first diagnosed in 1990. My Honolulu surgeon was named Dr. Mark Grief, I kid you not.
Elisabeth
In the Hartford CT area, the best general surgeon is Ibrahim Daoud at St Francis. He came recommended by a bevy of nurses. The nurses always know who the good doctors are.