I went to the seminar at my local hospital & then started the steps to follow thru their program & got as far as meeting the surgeon last Friday, but sorry to say, it wasn't a good experience at all. The surgeon was wonderful & I would have this surgery with him in a heartbeat BUT when I was at the clinic attached to the hospital, I was so disgusted by how filthy it was in there. Nothing to do with the surgeon but the 2 rooms I had been brought to first, were just nauseating! I had to complain immediately because I sat there crying for the first 30 mins (while waiting). My husband was with me & wanted us to leave but I didn't want to leave without meeting the surgeon. Anyway....long story short, they were in the process of having someone clean that exam room from hell before I even left, after I raised a big fuss, but you know how it is, now it's the only thing on my mind. I can't seem to forget what I saw & no matter how much I'd want that surgeon to do my sleeve, I'm looking into another facility, just in case I decide to change my mind.

So tomorrow I start all over again at a different hospital & have to start with the seminar. I'm so bummed. Thankfully any medical testing I've had done, I can bring copies but other than that, I have to follow their program steps now. I currently have a surgery date of mid July at the "filthy" hospital but am hoping this new hospital can offer me a summer date as well so I can cancel at the dirty facility. Please wish me luck.

Yikes! That's awful...I hope the new place works out!

Before you switch, maybe stop back into the original hospital and see if things have changed? Maybe there was a staffing issue that day (unexpected turnaround, etc...). Especially if you liked the surgeon, it might be worth a second chance checking it out again?

Good luck with your decision.

Yikes! That's awful...I hope the new place works out!

Thanks Southernsoul! I hope so too. At least this other facility is only 10 mins from my home. The other one is in a bad area about 40 mins away.

Does that surgeon also work at any other hospital? I used to manage a surgery practice (not WLS) and they had operating privileges at two different hospitals. Just an idea. Good luck.

Does that surgeon also work at any other hospital? I used to manage a surgery practice (not WLS) and they had operating privileges at two different hospitals. Just an idea. Good luck.

I thought the same thing... a lot of drs use more than 1 hospital...

Before you switch, maybe stop back into the original hospital and see if things have changed? Maybe there was a staffing issue that day (unexpected turnaround, etc...). Especially if you liked the surgeon, it might be worth a second chance checking it out again?

Good luck with your decision.

I'm a reasonable woman & think you offered great advice, BUT just the dust bunnies alone were near golf ball sized, sooooo doesn't look like it was just one missed cleaning type error. There was sticky bodily Fluid looking matter stuck on the chair I was sitting on...thankfully, it was a bariatric chair so it was nearly the size of a love seat & I was able to fit my XXL A$$ on one side away from that "matter" stuck to the chair. The scale I had to step on was so disgusting when the nurse asked me to take my shoes off to be weighed, I nearly jumped back in shock! I did take my shoes off & stepped on that just horribly dirty scale with my white bleached socks, but threw them away when I got home. I know everyone's standard of "clean" is subjective but in my opinion this would have made anyone run for the hills! Unfortunately, the surgeon told me I was the first to complain??!!! WHAT???!!! He also looked around & said "this room is unacceptable" & we moved to another room which was passable but I still saw lots of areas that needed a good cleaning. My husband was holding a reusable bag with my big notebook in it & Water bottles for us, & he just kept it on his lap. The surgeon said "you can place the bag down if you wish" & my husband said "not on your life, it's disgusting in here!" Actually, that's when the surgeon said "lets move to another room." My husband still didn't put the bag down on the floor even in the new room. So sad that a hospital facility was that disgusting.

Does that surgeon also work at any other hospital? I used to manage a surgery practice (not WLS) and they had operating privileges at two different hospitals. Just an idea. Good luck.

Unfortunately, not. He's even the director of this center. It's a MAJOR Detroit hospital too.

oooohhh, not good. Sending good wishes for all to work out for you.

An operating room should be clean enough to eat off the floor. I'm surprised that a reputable surgeon would practice in a dirty place, and even more surprised that it's like that since he's the director. In my experience, surgeons only want to work in the best looking places with the newest equipment. Anyway, good thing you live near the D, because the options are abundant to find good hospitals with reputable surgeons. There is no way I'd be going to that place you described, good on you for checking it out.

You should try St. Mary's in Livonia. Dr. Zeni & Dr. Roberts are WONDERFUL!!! They also just refurbished the surgery floor at St. Mary's and so the patient rooms there are nice and new and the doctor offices are right there in the hospital.

Reminds me of a clinic I went to once where I had bloodwork done, and the "lab" was just a tiny room full of storage and cardboard boxes. I couldn't believe it. It gave me the creeps so bad, I never went back there again. I think you gotta go with your gut, and if the place gave you the willies you need to find a place you're comfortable with

WOW that sucks but i think your better off with someone else.I think they will probably let you make an appt with dr. immediately tell them you already went to a seminar. i dont think you have to do that again.

An operating room should be clean enough to eat off the floor. I'm surprised that a reputable surgeon would practice in a dirty place, and even more surprised that it's like that since he's the director. In my experience, surgeons only want to work in the best looking places with the newest equipment. Anyway, good thing you live near the D, because the options are abundant to find good hospitals with reputable surgeons. There is no way I'd be going to that place you described, good on you for checking it out.

Well, I never did see the O.R., but I did ask if I could see a patient room but they said they don't offer tours. Hmm....well, I went there to meet the surgeon, & several other people pertaining to this surgery & was supposed to meet with the NUT but turns out she didn't come in that day. That place I went to that I found filthy was one of the most notable hospitals in the "D". Now I'm looking out in the 'burbs where I live.

You should try St. Mary's in Livonia. Dr. Zeni & Dr. Roberts are WONDERFUL!!! They also just refurbished the surgery floor at St. Mary's and so the patient rooms there are nice and new and the doctor offices are right there in the hospital.

Thank you. I will keep St. Mary's in mind, but Livonia is waaaaaaaay on the other side of town for us. Altho, I would consider it versus going downtown.

Reminds me of a clinic I went to once where I had bloodwork done, and the "lab" was just a tiny room full of storage and cardboard boxes. I couldn't believe it. It gave me the creeps so bad, I never went back there again. I think you gotta go with your gut, and if the place gave you the willies you need to find a place you're comfortable with

That's exactly what I mean! After seeing how dirty this clinic was, attached to the hospital I'd be having major surgery in, it gave me the creeps (& nausea too) & now I don't want to return! Why did it take ME to bring it to their attention how disgusting it was in there? Why didn't a doctor, a nurse, or anyone else that worked there notice & make a call to have the rooms cleaned up? Don't they realize that patients are going to see these rooms & find it horrifying? I'm just still surprised...