I posted before about my infections and wanted to provide an update. DOS Thanksgiving 09 stayed 2 days @ Facility and 2 days @ recovery house.

I dont want to interject emotion but rather present the facts that have occurred to me thus far. The last time I posted I mentioned that I was disappointed that none reached out to me and surprise - the day after a posting here - i got a call from both Shirley and ISIS - but only spoke to ISIS. ISIS was sweet but made it clear that an infection is a risk of surgery. I agree HOWEVER the fact that there have been consistent infections coming out of that facility leads me to belive that there is either a procedure or instrument that is allowing contamination, That they had a responsibility to address that. I reminded ISIS that Shirley did not want me spread it but that she said that Dr. Betancourt felt that there was probably a package os stiches was "compromised" and they were throwing them away. No patient knew about that!

I was hospitalized December 3rd and I AM STILL HERE. I am being transferred to a larger facility.

1) Post surgery I NEVER WAS WITHOUT A FEVER

2) The largest incision was the first to get infected but afterwards, FOUR out of FIVE became infected

3) I was immediately placed on hi doses on the strongest antibiotics. Some of which included ampicillen, vankomicin, jeez i have so many if you want i am happy to list as i am getting a copy of everything before the transfer.

4)in the battle of fighting the infection - my fevers never relented! with last night being 103. My White blood counts have been as high as 18000 and are currently 15,000

5) i have had FOUR CT Scans where they see the stomach enflammed, pancreas enflamed and liquid in my lungs. The reason for this is one of 2 reasons - side effect to mega doses os antibiotics or 2 there is a leak or problem with the sleeve itslef. OMG I am scared I am angry.

I have 2 autistic children at home and one asked me yesterday crying if i was going to die. Yes I wanted to be thin YES i asked the right questions about leak rates, suturing vs stapling i felt i did my research, I AM NOT ALONE. I ave PM's that the facility has asked patients not to post about their infections. IF THATS TRUE SHAME ON THEM. I am willing to provide personal details to anyone who feels they need it. I LOVED DR BETANCOURT, SHIRLEY, DR ALONZO AND DR HUGO. The FACILIY WAS JOLLY and you felt cared for. The residence house was not as plesant because we had no heat on (just my luck a 65 degree night) Shirley took care of that right away! There was not 24 hour care because the 16 year old nurse was not in our house. We fenned for ourself for the most part - but no matter what she was a SWEETIE. I am sooooo HURT and disappointed but mostly ABANDONED and SCARED.

I SWEAR I HAVE NO MOTIVE AND LIKELY HAVE NO RECOURSE - I SAY THIS SO THAT ALL CAN CONSIDER THIS INFORMATION, EVEN IF I aM one in a million - i would have wanted to know.

MARIA

Ok, this may be wrong and I'm sorry if I offend anyone, but these threads sound like they are the same person writing it, but just changing the names. . . whoever writes these sound like "they" are very, very angry for whatever reason and are trying to discourage anyone else and/or are trying to destroy another person's life. . . if they are horrible they will eventually destroy their own lives, I am very sorry if these are indeed genuine people who have had a bad turn with their surgeries. . . but it was after all you who chose this hospital and this physician . . . they didn't pick you . . . sorry your surgeries didn't work, or you were waiting for a miracle and it wasn't want you expected . . . but maybe a bit more research would have been needed on your part. . . always check out your physician and the hospital beforehand. . . .

oh sweetie i'm sorry you had to experince that. thanks for sharing.

xoxo,

nikki

Ryansgirl

I hope that reply of yours was not to Greg! He has been posting his crap on here before and got banned from the site. I'm really surprised that he has been allowed back, well he does have a different screen name so that is probably how he slipped thru the cracks. Don't mean to be so blunt but we go way back and it has not been a happy friendship.

FabBy50,

What does this person have to gain by lying about this doctor or his practice? I really don't think that people come here just to make up stories.

The crazy man story does sound a bit....well....crazy.

So you claim he is lying? What evidence do you have to back that up?

OMG here we go again, this guy has been banned before for doing this exact thing!! Do any of you honestly believe any of that??? Do any of you believe a person would fall off of a table during surgery? I actually tried to go back and find some of his original posts and they along with his original screen name are gone. He did not even remember who his surgeon was?? How many of you go into a surgery and don't know the surgeons name? This is exactly why I quit coming to the boards a while ago, too many people coming up with out of this world stories and others believing them. It all starts when someone posts something good about my Dr the haters come out of the woodwork to discredit it. Anyway I WILL NOT go down this road again, it has caused me way too much stress in the past.

PS read the "story" for what it is worth: how many Dr's feed you a huge Breakfast and then do a bypass on you the same day???? And how many patients would eat a breakfast knowing they were having surgery that day!!!!!

Edited December 28, 200916 yr by FabBy50

Fab by 50 - I am with you. I have left these boards myself due to the slander that goes on on these boards. When I disucssed it with my surgeon, he told me that many of these boards are owned and operated by MX surgeons who hire staff to post terrible things about US surgeons in an attempt to dissuade them from using US hospitals. They have done the research to prove the location/IP addresses of the posts. I myself have been subject to this hatred and have been very dissapointed. I came here looking for help and support and to provide information on my experience and have gotten nothing but stress as a result. I am sure this post will get the same response. There is some helpful information here, but it is hard to sift out the real info from the fake.

My opinion on the matter is if it's so stressing, and so bothersome then why even bother reading it? It's like self-inflicting, self-destructive behavior, and I'm pretty positive that's just as unhealthy as the people who post lies, or "make-up" stories to get attention.

I take everything posted on an internet forum with a grain of salt. If I did my own research, and am happy, content, and pleased with my experience, then there would be zero ill-effects from people posting craptastic threads.

It's the internet, we're all adults, and should be able to ignore posts, disregard any drama, and move forward in our lives. I've never understood getting so bent out of shape over something posted on this or any other forum. If someone has a bad experience, and they post it, there is no reason to attempt to discredit their experience anymore than you (in the general sense) would want your great experience discredited.

This same controversy regarding Dr. Betancourt is also discussed on the Obesityhelp.com web site. I haven't read so much controversy regarding any other facility or doctor. Really, I have read none at all regarding any other bariatric surgeon in the USA or MX, except for this facility/Dr. That is part of the reason I chose my surgeon, because there are no negative reports regarding Dr Cirangle or Jossart at LapSF or the hospitals they perform the surgery at. They are real hosp, w/real ICU, specialists, etc., right there. Buyer beware. If you can't do real, legitimate research, except for hearsay and what the patient coordinator advertises, how do you trust them? Yes, a few have rave testimonials and few have horrible, horrible testimonials. God help us all to have this surgery safely. I pray for those who are going through a rough time after surgery, and I pray you get the very best medical care possible. God bless you.

This same controversy regarding Dr. Betancourt is also discussed on the Obesityhelp.com web site.

It is discussed ONLY by the same people discussing it here! Look carefully. It may appear that there are postings by "many" people. Actually there are many postings by the same people!

I know your surgeon. He has a very good reputation, but he, like all the rest of the bariatric surgeons, have had complications too!

My opinion on the matter is if it's so stressing, and so bothersome then why even bother reading it? It's like self-inflicting, self-destructive behavior, and I'm pretty positive that's just as unhealthy as the people who post lies, or "make-up" stories to get attention.

I take everything posted on an internet forum with a grain of salt. If I did my own research, and am happy, content, and pleased with my experience, then there would be zero ill-effects from people posting craptastic threads.

It's the internet, we're all adults, and should be able to ignore posts, disregard any drama, and move forward in our lives. I've never understood getting so bent out of shape over something posted on this or any other forum. If someone has a bad experience, and they post it, there is no reason to attempt to discredit their experience anymore than you (in the general sense) would want your great experience discredited.

Right on Tiff.

Thank you Molly for your response, I have yet to understand why coming to these boards has to become such a drama!! I first started posting back in January when I was still doing research. I mentioned thinking about going to my surgeon and I was viciously attacked!! There are a few people that have a vendetta against him and they have NEVER been there, so go figure. Just happens that EVERY one of them had the same Dr!!! Just a little fishy to me! Anyway I came back on here once again to get support before surgery, but not sure if it is worth the hassle. I only post what I know is fact, I don't say "so and so said" I don't believe in that. I posted my wonderful experience I had and when I get done with surgery on Wednesday I will post again on my experience.

Thanks for listening!

Bernadette

Fab by 50 - I am with you. I have left these boards myself due to the slander that goes on on these boards. When I disucssed it with my surgeon, he told me that many of these boards are owned and operated by MX surgeons who hire staff to post terrible things about US surgeons in an attempt to dissuade them from using US hospitals. They have done the research to prove the location/IP addresses of the posts. I myself have been subject to this hatred and have been very dissapointed. I came here looking for help and support and to provide information on my experience and have gotten nothing but stress as a result. I am sure this post will get the same response. There is some helpful information here, but it is hard to sift out the real info from the fake.

i agree with tiff and steph123. I wish i never went there. i will never go over seas or aboard again i will pay the double and have my tummy tuck and thigh lift at home. and it really is the "internet" i do know my probs were very real. And as i mention before i don't blame them for what happen to me it was really my luck but i was not happy about how it was handle if they took my temp they would know i had a temp of 101. noone ever call to check on me. get your money kick you out that how i feel about this place and i always will but do i spend my time spewing there name. i have better things to do and i could care less if anyone calls me a lie at this point i would not lose any sleep and as for these boards i have really learnt to make it not that big of a deal. take it for what it worth. moving on im down 80 pounds and i'm doing very well and i have no regrets with my sleeve.

xoxo,

nikki

Just a gentle reminder that people should only post their personal experiences with physicians. Please do not let this thread get out of hand.