bad colo-rectal surgeon?

Hey all...

So after suffering with UC for the past 4 years+ (and I mean ACTIVE suffering, etc..) and trying everything from Salofalk to Prednisone to Remicade to alternate medicines to Humira just two months ago (so-so results so far), I decided to start the process toward getting "the surgery" and met up with a local Montreal surgeon for that very reason.

The man was BEYOND old school and seemed ready to CUT ME UP as soon as I walked into his office. They had told me to take some ENEMAS before going over, but I had made it clear to both his secretary and my GI, that I only wanted a CONSULTATION and some questions for this meeting (also, I already have about 6-12 BMs a day, so why would I need an enema??). So after asking 2-3 questions, he said "Let me examine you in the next room", and before I knew it, the man was elbow-deep into my anus with God knows what (needless to say, it was EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE). The whole thing lasted about a minute, after which I went back into his office.

The man said NOTHING about what he just did in his examining room, NOR why he did what he did. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy about the situation, but got right to my questions, which were about 6 in total.

He answered most of them with SHORT RESPONSES and YES/NO type answers. When I was almost done, he said "Is that about it?", and started speaking into his small RECORDER about the session as I was walking away.

I STILL don't know exactly what the surgery would be like EXACTLY (he never elaborated), and needless to say, I'm not gonna be choosing this doofus, but is this what most colon-rectal surgeons are like???

PS: Right before I left his office, I turned to him and said "By the way, did you find anything in the examining room?" (since he never addressed it, one way or the other), and he replied, "No, your anus was a little inflamed, but that's normal." Considering that I wasn't even CLOSE to doing the surgery just yet, I wonder why he did that examination. Does anyone know?

I had an exam at my surgical consultation too but it was AFTER we talked about the possibility of surgery.

Sue

---

dx proctitis in 1987
dx UC in 1991, was stable until 1998

1998 started prednisone, asacol, pentasa, nortriptylene, ativan, 6MP, rowasa enemas and suppositories, hydrocortisone enemas, tried the SCD diet, being a vegetarian, omega 3s, flax, pranic healing, yoga, acupuncture, probiotics

2000 lost all my B-12 stores and became anemic

2001 opted for j-pouch surgery- now living life med-free

One surgeon I talked to did a quick exam (I think she stuck her finger up my butt...) and the other just checked my stomach/abs for pain.

And yeah, definitely go see a different surgeon. The surgeons I saw kept telling me to ask questions and were very open about everything.

---

Female, Age 19

9 Asacol, Rowasa, 1000 mg Canasa, Proctofoam, Rifaximin 2/day

Digestive Advantage (Crohn's & Colitis), 1 Florastor, 50 mg 6MP,1 Primadophilus reuteri, Remicade (4 infusions), 2.4 g Lialda, 1 Forvia, 6 Colazal/day, 2 Anucort

     Wow...what a wacko you went to.  I saw a colorectal surgeon in August.  A Dr. Mark Pello here in south Jersey.   He was wonderful!  At the time I saw him, I was tapered off the pred for only two weeks but started feeling the flare coming on ...again.  I was hospitalized for ten days in May.  Now, mind you, this guy makes his living off of operations.  He listened intently to my woes, looked at my colonoscopy report and hospital report.  He then asked if he could look up my rectum.  No sigmoidoscopy, just a look.  I agreed.  He said I was inflamed, but not too bad.  The exam was a tad uncomfortable, but not unbearable.  His expert opinion was that I was NOT yet a candidate for surgery.  He then elaborated on what the entire surgery would entail and that since on a bad day, I go about six times, while good days only twice, but I do bleed and have urgency, patients who are candidates go in upwards of sometimes 20 times a day, with bleeding, urgency, severe loss of weight.  I have lost about 15 lbs since April.  He also was very thorough in explaining the complications of this surgery. 

     Needless to say, I was very impressed with this most professional and compassionate man.  He added that sometimes UC has a way of burning itself out, and he was hoping it would happen for me.  He was in total agreement with the treatment I am receiving from my GI doctor and has no affiliation with him.  This is a disease of unknown origin and no known cure other than the removal of the colon.  Should my symptoms worsen or become intolerable, I most certainly will see this surgeon again.  Let's hope that doesn't happen.

---

62 yr old granny. South Jersey

Diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis in 1998 in hospital

Hospitalized (2nd time) in May 2008

Still flaring.   Afraid that I am pred dependant.  Back on Pred 40 mgm for five days, then taper.  Other meds...Colazal, 6MP, Nexium, Cort enemas, Canasa suppository, Benicar, Toprol xl, water pill.

Calcium, Probiotic, Flaxseed oil capsule, multivitamin with Iron

Also have osteoporosis and high blood pressure

Remicade NOT an option. Not a candidate for surgery yet..says surgeon.