Expert: Jacqueline Jacques, ND - 6/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: My daughter is 28 yrs old and hospitalized 8 times in the last 10 months for perforated ulcer, other ulcer, hernia, etc and a revision of the original surgery.  She is still in such excruciating pain that we are seeking a second opinion, but all options are pointing to a complete reversal.  Do you know anything about this or where or who I can go to research?  Thank you.

ANSWER: Sue -

I am so sorry your daughter has had such as struggle.

Can I ask where you are located and where she had her original surgery?  That way I might be able to help you with a good referral for a second opinion.

In Health,

Dr. Jacques

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We are in Coral Springs, Florida area.  We have a second opinion with chief of surgery at Univ of Miami - Dr. Alan Livingston; her emergency surgery was performed by Shillingford/Wizman team and they have performed her subsequent surgeries.  Her original surgery was done by Dr. Tomasello (who may be retired).  I just wish I could alleviate her pain.  Thank you for your response.


Answer
Sue,

The first thing I would consider is getting a second opinion with another bariatric surgeon.  You have several very good surgeons in the Miami/Ft Lauderdale area.  I would most strongly recommend an opinion with Dr Raul Rosenthal at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston.  They are a research center and a certified Center of Excellence - and Dr Rosenthal is one of the most well-respected bariatric surgeons in the country.  He is likely to be out of town at the annual conference of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery from June 21-26.

The contact there is:
Bariatric Institute at Cleveland Clinic Florida
2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd.
Weston, FL 33331
954-659-5239

If this does not work for you, a list of other certified Centers of Excellence in your area can be found here: http://www.surgicalreview.org/locate.aspx?state=US-FL#srchResults

Please let me know if you have additional questions.

In Health,

Dr. Jacques