Dr. Scholten

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/23/01 5:17:31 AM Central Standard Time,

duodenalswitch writes:

<< I then found a surgeon here in West Michigan, Dr. Scholten, who not

only does the DS (although he primarily does RNY), but is also a

preferred provider in my PPO. >>

I just checked and Dr. Scholten is a preferred provider in my PPO too. So

far the only other DS surgeon I have found on my PPO's list is Dr. Rabkin in

San Francisco. Could you (or anyone else) tell me more about Dr. Scholten's

experience doing DS surgery or about your personal experience with him? Is he

conveniently located for someone coming from out of town? (I'm from Chicago.)

What hospital does he use, and do they have any special arrangements for

patients coming from out of town?

Thanks for any info you can supply!

[Guest guest]

Dear Renae,

I understand precisely how you feel...I'd feel the same way. And I wouldn't

hesitate for a minute to file suit if need be. I don't know which state you

live it, but if you're serious about this, move quickly. There is a statute

of limitations on medical malpractice. It's one year in the State of

Ohio...you need to consult an attorney to find out the laws of your state.

There are a few tricks that will buy you a bit more time, but they too must

be put into motion before the 12 months are past.

Michele B.

> .

> I am actually going to talk to some attorneys to inquire about suing if

> I

> don't lose any more weight. I am 5'2 " and 173 lbs is still a lot of weight

> for me to carry. I pray this will not have to happen, I like everyone else

> went through so much to have this done

[Guest guest]

Everyone who responded,

Thank you for the wonderful words of encouragement. I am so blue

over this,I am already a revision from a failed VBG so that makes it worse

this time around. Now my problem is that because of the DS I cannot secure

insurance from anyone other than Blue Cross, which is about $550.00 per

month for my husband and I. I am hoping by January I will be able to get my

policy started.

Renae

>From: ruisha@...

>Reply-To: duodenalswitch

>To: duodenalswitch

>Subject: Re: Re: Dr. Scholten

>Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 08:11:43 EST

>

>

>In a message dated 11/30/01 7:17:25 AM, duodenalswitch

>writes:

>

><< I am actually going to talk to some attorneys to inquire about suing if

>I

>don't lose any more weight. I am 5'2 " and 173 lbs is still a lot of weight

>for me to carry. I pray this will not have to happen, I like everyone else

>went through so much to have this done, and I didn't do that to have to go

>back and have it revised. In my consult I attempted to discuss the length

>of

>the common channel with him and he refused to give me an answer, he replied

>with " I never decide the length until I am in the actual surgery " . Maybe I

>am jumping the gun here, but I have not lost but gained 7 pounds in the

>last

>6 weeks and it is very upsetting.

> >>

>

>Renae: I think you are TOTALLY justified to ask about the common channel

>length. Honestly, he should know better! Most surgeons will not go over

>100

>cm because, as explained to me by my surgeon, the weight loss is slowed

>wheras it doesn't really offer such extra protection against malapsorption.

>

>I remember asking Dr. Gagner whether I should have a slightly longer common

>channel - I have spastic colon/IBS and I was worried this might be

>exacerbated after surgery. He explained the 100 cm common channel he does

>(which is standard for his practice although I think he has gone less than

>that in certain instances -- Other surgeons have different methods such as

>taking precise measurements and determing common channel length based on

>that) would be sufficient. Anything above that would interfere with weight

>loss....

>

>I would be FURIOUS that this surgeon did not answer my question directly

>nor

>did he explain how he got that 125 cm common channel... Did he take precise

>measurements of your intestines to get that? How the heck did he come up

>with 125? That is quite long. Have you been able to contact any of his

>other post-op DS patients? I wonder if they experience similar things...

>If

>so, you could really have ammunition....

>

>Please keep us posted and updated. Hang in there! I certainly hope

>the

>weight loss picks up for you. Just remember -- all is NOT lost. If indeed

>your common channel is too long it *IS* possible to get a revision and

>reduce

>it. So, you didn't go through the surgery for nothing and to not

>experience

>any results. Granted, no one wants to have to undergo a SECOND surgery due

>to a surgeon's inaccuracy and inexperience but I just wanted to tell you to

>keep your head up and there ARE positive future outcomes...

>

>All the best,

>

>lap ds with gallbladder removal

>January 25, 2001

>Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

>

>10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

>

>preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

>now: 201 lbs/size sweet 16

>

>

>----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

I've got my pre-op consult with Dr. Scholten on Dec 6th. When I

first contacted his office (in late July), he was the only DS surgeon

that was listed as a preferred provider by my PPO.

So far the only contact I've had with his office is with Anne, one of

the patient services reps, and she has been wonderful. But Renae is

correct in that everything in his office in geared to the RNY, which

is a bit unnerving when you know you want the DS. As a matter of

fact, I was told NOT to mention that I was interested in having

a " different kind of surgery. " And at the orientation meeting I

attended back in August when someone mentioned DS, and again at one

of his support group meetings, questions about the DS are either

ignored or the DS is made to sound uninviting (malnutrition, smelly

gas and unsatisfactory long-term success were mentioned). Because I

had been here and researched DS for a while by then, I knew better

than to believe this. I spoke to the people asking about DS after the

orientation and support group meeting and steered them to the DS site

and here, but still, the other people in the room were being steered

away from a better alternative than the RNY.

Anyway, I was already going into this consult with some trepidation

because he is so pro-RNY. After reading Renae's post about the

length of her common channel, I'm even more concerned. I too am 5'2 "

and was 237 at my highest weight. I'm now at 225. I agree with

Renae, 175 is too much to carry around on a 5'2 " frame. Renae, how

long is your friends common channel, how far out from surgery is she

and how is her weight loss going, if I may ask?

I will be sure to bring up the common channel length issue with Dr.

Scholten at my consult and see what answer I get. I also plan on

asking him what size he leaves the stomach during the reduction and

how much duodenum he leaves attached to the pylorus for vitamin

absorption.

To answer some of the other questions from the original poster. Dr.

Scholten uses what used to be Butterworth Hospital but is now called

Spectrum Health Downtown Campus. It is a wonderful hospital, I had

my son there 4 years ago. But, like everywhere else in the country,

they too are hit by the nursing shortage and the patiets are subject

to the nurses all-too-natural responses to being overworked.

Dr. Scholten has a website if you want to look at it:

http://www.aawmi.com.

Any suggestions for thigs to ask, or ammunition to use, at my consult

with this very pro-RNY doctor would be most appreciated.

> Everyone who responded,

> Thank you for the wonderful words of encouragement. I am so

blue

> over this,I am already a revision from a failed VBG so that makes

it worse

> this time around. Now my problem is that because of the DS I cannot

secure

> insurance from anyone other than Blue Cross, which is about $550.00

per

> month for my husband and I. I am hoping by January I will be able

to get my

> policy started.

>

> Renae