My surgery was scheduled for tomorrow, 10/15. I made arrangements with work, travel, recuperation, etc. bought the stuff I am supposed to eat in the days/weeks following the surgery + checked into the hotel where I will be staying for at least one week after surgery to recuperate, etc. (not to mention Optifast for 2 weeks). So this morning I get a call from my doctor's office. They wanted to change the location of my surgery from Trinity Medical Center - a hospital - to a "surgery center" a few minutes away from the hospital. Why, I asked. Because my doctor (Frank Veninga in Carrollton, TX) is having a conflict with the hospital over a patient care issue and therefore wants to move the surgeries from the Trinity Medical Center to the surgery center. I want my procedure done in a hospital. So then doctor's assistant said that I could have it done in the hospital if I want to wait until first week in November. (How that makes sense with the whole doctor-hospital conflict re: patient care, I don't understand.) So I asked about two more weeks of Optifast and she said "Oh, we could not ask you to do that because you've been on it two weeks and that would not be fair." And I said "Forget fair, I want to do what is medically necessary so do I need to do Optifast two weeks before the new date because it is required medically?" And she said no and that all you really need to do to shrink the liver is to follow Optifast for two days prior to the surgery!!!! The rest of the time (other 12 days) is to get a jump start on weight loss so before/after the surgery when the patient will feel like she has already accomplished something.

I am so bummed about so many things. Yes, the surgery date, but also the fact that my doctor would want me to go to a surgical center when one of the main reasons I selected him was because he does his surgeries at a hospital. Also, the fact that they waited less then 24 hours before the scheduled surgery to spring this on me. (After I traveled 300 miles to Dallas, after I checked into hotel and moved in enough stuff to live for a while, after 2 weeks of Optifast, after I scheduled a service to deliver me to/escort me in and return me from the hospital and escort me to my hotel room and the morning of my pre-op meeting at the hospital!!!)

So now I am down on the whole surgery. I am having so many doubts. And that makes me thing that I should not go into such a life altering procedure if I have these doubts. And then the superstitious part of me thinks that these are "signs" that I should not have the surgery.

I am very confused and stressed and that makes me want my comfort food. So far I've downed 2 of the optifast shakes this morning. My stomach is not hungry. My head wants a huge chicken cesar salad.

Any thoughts?

Any regrets?

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

That's crazy! How did they leave it, are they supposed to contact with more options? Do they know what you've been through? I would be sooooooooooooooo ticked!

I told the doc's office that I needed to look at my calendar and that I would get back to them. I am frustrated, angry, disappointed, etc. I am thinking about just getting more Optifast and continuing with that for another two to three weeks and then making up my mind.

That just stinks! I'm so sorry!!!!

Keep your chin up! Don't give up. If this is what you really want to do, then do it. Don't let anything stand in your way. I'm sorry you had to do all that planning, and for what??? You are in my thoughts. Good Luck!!!

Hey there, I'm in the Band...... I'm sorry for all the trouble you are having. It must be very frustrating. Do you mind me asking why you object to the surgical center? Is it like at a clinic or what..? I had to have my surgery at a hospital because there was a chance that I would need a full incision rather that laproscopic and it would be easier to do the hospital right away. And that is what happened. I was 4 days in the hospital and have an 11 inch incision. But things are good. However, I wouldn't have been upset to have had mine in the clinic surgi-center. So, I'm interested in why you chose the hospital... And don't get me wrong .... I'm not criticizing, just asking. Everyone is different and has reasons for what they want.. Good luck to you... Julie

Edited October 14, 200817 yr by Mrs. Bubba

Dr. Veninga is an excellent doctor with a fantastic reputation. I am pretty sure the surgery center he wants to use is the same one that TLCEdge uses, as he does surgeries for them as well. It is the newest facility in the DFW metroplex and is state-of-the-art with the hospital a very short ambulance ride away if there were complications needing something a surgery center can't offer.

Are you aware it is less risky to use a surgery center than a hospital in terms of infection risk and quality of care?

I can understand your fear and frustration, but I would seek to assure you that Dr. Veninga has a great reputation and if the surgery center is one I am thinking of, it does as well...it specializes in bariatric surgeries and is even better equiped for your surgery than the hospital would be.

I had mine done at a surgery center and I'm glad that I did...their were like 2 other people in the waiting room. Their weren't sick people there...and their visitors...it was comforting to know that everyone there was there for the same reason as me and that all of the doctors/nurses only did lapband surgeries!!!! I liked it more and if you have a surgeon that you're happy with then go for it!!!! Good luck

I am a nurse, and there is no way I would have surgery at a hospital that had patient care issues with their patients. I want to be some where that is following the doctors orders.

Wow! What a bummer!:laugh: I would be so upset but am also w/you on the part that maybe this isn't meant to be for you right now. How could you not help think that?

As far as having the surgery in a hospital I do understand where you are coming from b/c I was the same way when I found out my Dr. does all his procedures in a surgery center. However, I just wanted to point out a few things to think about. Most surgery centers are connected to a hospital but usually newer and nicer. Second, a lot of Drs. prefer surgery centers over hospitals b/c there aren't as many germs,sick ppl,etc. I had my surgery done at a surgery center 2 wks ago and had a great experience. My experience at the surgery center was more pleasant than any hospital stay I've ever had. Just thought I would pass this on in hopes it may make the decision easier for you.:huh2:

Good luck!

Go for it... You are ready. That is the most important part.. I'm so happy with my band I would have done anywhere. If the doctor is that concerned about the patient it must be good... This is so worth it.. My money says do it girl... Start your new life.

I agree with most of the other posters, at the surgery center, they are ONLY doing surgery. They don't have sick people and the germs that come with them. I have heard that it is a lot healthier (germ wise) to have your surgery done there rather than the hospital. Only you can make up your mind, but I would go for it with the surgery center. If the doctor was having trouble with patient care at the hospital, then I would trust his judgement. You were trusting him to cut you open, why not trust that he has your best interests at heart with the change in venue. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I've worked at hospitals for the last 15 years and I can tell you I'd rather have surgery at a surgery center. I'd just go forward now at the surgery center. Trust me, less risk.

Thanks for all the information. It is very helpful as I am trying to decide what to do.

I think I am most rattled by the fact that (1) the proposed change in venue is so last minute and (2) one of the reasons I selected the doctor I did was because he does his surgeries at a hospital. I wanted an experienced, reputable doctor who performed surgeries in a hospital and I found one and I was very happy about that. Then it was all changing less than 24 hours before the surgery.

My preference for a hospital is probably based on two things (1) no prior experience with surgeries, etc. and (2) when I researched doctors and locations, etc. I found quite a few who sounded like they just opened up shop in a strip mall and started doing surgeries. So that made me decide I wanted to be in a hospital. If anything goes wrong, or if anything unexpected occurs, I want to be in a place that is the best equipped (with machines, instruments and staff, physicians), etc. to handle whatever the emergent situation is.

Also, having -0- medical background and -0- experience with any type of surgeries or hospital stays, I don't really understand (1) what it means that a doctor has a dispute with a hospital over patient care or (2) why that dispute means I can't have my surgery on 10/15, but can have it on 11/03. What type of dispute has a planned resolution set to occur two weeks out?

Again, thank you for all the info. I haven't made a final decision on how to proceed, but I appreciate all comments and info!!

Go for the surgery center. You will still be in the good hands of the doctor you selected, just at a different location. And like many others have posted the center is all about surgery. You are there, you have made all of the needed arrangements, don't worry, just relax and go with it. My prayers are with you. Let us know what you decide.

The dispute over patient care could be anything, but likely it is a screw up with scheduling your surgery...likely, the OR you were supposed to be in got booked for someone else, some other doctor, and your doctor is pissed. Wanting you to proceed as scheduled, he called the surgery center, who were able to accomodate him (and you) in the time frame that he committed to you for. He is trying to keep his commitment to YOU because the hospital probably messed something up. If he is implying he may not use the hospital at all any more for surgeries, it is possible to likely that the hospital itself has done this to him before and he is giving up his assigned surgery slots at the hospital in favor of utilizing the surgery center. This would explain why you cannot have it there tomorrow but could in two weeks. In other words, if you are set on having it at the hospital, he can do that for you, but it is not possible to do it tomorrow, because more likely than not this is a situation where the OR schedule got messed up. They do have to reserve operating rooms in advance and if that did not happen appropriately, you can't have your surgery tomorrow. If something like this did occur, you would likely be given a simplified explanation that comes down to "good patient care" issues rather than going into all the gory convoluted details of what it takes to schedule a surgery at a hospital and for all the pieces to fall into place just so. It could also be that the anesthesiologist is not available at the hospital but IS at the surgery center. All things that come down to patient care and that your doctor really has little control over.

A surgery center is better equiped, more organized, perfectly capable of handling ANY surgical emergency and is far less likely to be an infectious risk.

I am sorry you are frustrated. The surgery center really is a better choice all the way around even without this hiccup in plans. I wish you the best...let us know how you do!

Edited October 14, 200817 yr by gentylwind