Colo-Rectal Surgeon?

[The Cunning Linguist]

Anybody know a good colo-rectal surgeon?

I have been "plagued" with anal/rectal abscesses for last 3 years. I've probably had 7 or 8 of them, all requiring emergency room surgery to drain them. Anybody who has had them knows they are no joke, as they are extremely painful and debilitating, as they are usually accompanied by fever and extreme fatigue.

Except for this last one, all have been treated with a local anesthetic, and drained in a suture room in emergency. Needless to say, this hurts like hell. I read once that there more nerves per square centimetre in the anus than there is in the head of a penis. I have no trouble believing this.

I've done a lot of research on this, and nearly all the advice on different forums emphasize the need to use a colo-rectal surgeon, not a general surgeon to get a permanent fix for this. My GP is useless for this kind of thing.....the last time he sent me to a specialist, he sent me to a guy who was well into his late 60's, and semi-retired. I knew more about my diabetes and current therapies than he did.

Anyway....I reach out to the great TERB community for some advice and recommendations, or, at least some sympathy. The pain from this I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

 

[Gentle Ben]

Dr Wes Stephen, MacMaster University Hospital
Very busy, long wait to get in to see him if not an emergency, , a long wait for surgery, but very worth the wait IMO.
Know several people that have had surgery done by him, nothing but very high regards for the man.
Im currently patient of his,for possible surgery.
http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/surgery/faculty/directory/stephen_wesley.html

 

[LancsLad]

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION



ccf.org



.

 

[The Cunning Linguist]

Thank you gentlemen so far.

Let me add the caveat that I would be looking for a surgeon in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) if possible, although I would travel to Hamilton (McMaster guy) if he is the best. Ben, if you don't mind, would you be seeing him for the same thing? Respond via PM if you would rather.

Cyberdoc - actually, I'm a pretty quick healer for a recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic. I don't think I have a fistula yet(knock wood), even after all those surgeries, everything( gas, feces) seems to be coming out of the opening nature intended, and I have no evidence of drainage. I use Metamucil for a stool softener, eat plenty of fibre as well, and take sitz baths after bowel movements whenever possible. I have disposable baby wipes to use at my office instead of the sandpaper toilet paper supplied there. My blood sugar is under good control. I'm due to have a routine colonoscopy in Jan 2009.

I'm just really fed up with getting these infections. When I go to the ER, I sense an undercurrent that I'm not being treated seriously, even sometimes with an undercurrent that I'm being laughed at. Since these infections are very deep, they don't present well on digital examination, so I think the ER docs think I'm overstating the pain I'm in. Once I was accused of narcotic seeking when I asked for something for the pain. At work, there is the embarrassment of explaining my absences.

This last episode, they actually took me to an operating room. Because I'm a big guy (300lbs +), the anesthesiologist had a hissy fit, and wouldn't give me a general. He wanted to to just give me a local, then start cutting. I replied that if I was just going to get another local, then why wait all day for an opening in the OR schedule? He got pissed off and just left. They brought in another guy, who also wouldn't give me a general, but suggested a spinal instead. I had the spinal, they put me on the table, and tipped me bottoms up in the air. It was all over in less than five minutes. Two hours in recovery waiting for the spinal to wear off, then two more hours in regular room, and then they released me with a prescription for percocets and instructions on sitz baths, and how to care for the wound.

Anyway, sorry to make the Lounge sound like medical forum, but to everyone else, your advice is appreciated.

 

[oldjones]

My GP sent me to the Rudd Clinic in downtown TO. They specialize in colo-rectal stuff. I've been quite satisfied w/ my doc there (Dr. Hamilton) but wouldn't know if he's what you need. But you might start there, he's one of four or five.

ER care, no matter how expert is focussed on getting the patient stable enough to discharge, not on cures. If you can't make your GP shape up his referrals list, you need to start looking for a new GP. You should not be reduced to ERs for a chronic issue.

 

[The Cunning Linguist]

My GP sent me to the Rudd Clinic in downtown TO. They specialize in colo-rectal stuff. I've been quite satisfied w/ my doc there (Dr. Hamilton) but wouldn't know if he's what you need. But you might start there, he's one of four or five.

ER care, no matter how expert is focussed on getting the patient stable enough to discharge, not on cures. If you can't make your GP shape up his referrals list, you need to start looking for a new GP. You should not be reduced to ERs for a chronic issue.

Thanks for this, I Googled the Rudd Clinic, and this may be exactly what I need.

It's interesting your comment about my GP. When I was a kid (I'm 49), the family doctor treated as much as possible in his office. Now everything is a trip to a specialist. My GP is more like a traffic cop...he just directs traffic in his office somewhere else to have it looked at. I suppose that has it's good points, but sometimes I think he doesn't want to ever get his hands dirty...he won't even remove a mole or treat a ingrown toenail. I have a tendency to get staph infections and had a bad one in my right leg several months ago. When I showed it to him, as my follow-up after treatment at ER, he went "eww..." then promptly made a referral to another specialist. I guess the practice of medicine just is a different animal these days.

 

[oldjones]

You're quite right about the modern GP being a referrals centre—well maybe she does checkups—but the bottom line is it's your care and you should be happy with it. If you have chronic issues, like recurring staph infections, that are predictable, not emergencies, then you and your GP should develop a better plan for dealing with them than showing up at emerg. You may have to bump her out of her comfy inertia, but she's not interested, I'd start looking for a new GP.

 

[The Cunning Linguist]

You're quite right about the modern GP being a referrals centre—well maybe she does checkups—but the bottom line is it's your care and you should be happy with it. If you have chronic issues, like recurring staph infections, that are predictable, not emergencies, then you and your GP should develop a better plan for dealing with them than showing up at emerg. You may have to bump her out of her comfy inertia, but she's not interested, I'd start looking for a new GP.

Not to nit pick, but is there a reason you keep referring to my GP in the feminine gender?

My doc is a "he".

 

[oldjones]

Why not? No reason I can see for automatically assuming male gender and using masculine pronouns.