Speak up those with leaks & infections!

[Tiffykins 673]

Donna, I commend you on being brave enough to share Linda's story. I, too, have known of this situation with your sister for months, and never mentioned anything to anyone because it was not my place. But, the one thing I can say is that I will never feel bad for stating my opinion about this facility regardless if I have ever been there or not.

It sickens me that your family has had to endure this all in the sake of "making a buck". I have kept y'all in my thoughts and prayers since I found out about this tragedy.

I can only pray that this post is not deleted from the board.

Thank you again for sharing Linda's story with us.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

If this Donna's post gets deleted, it will be a tragedy. People need to know these facts. This is a first hand experience which people have been asking for, in order to have a clear understanding of what can possibly go wrong.

I can only hope that Donna's honesty will be appreciated by the administrators here.

[ryansgirl 1]

thanks for sharing donna and you are my prays,

xoxo (double),

nikki willaims

[Itstime 0]

Donna,

I am so sorry for all that Linda has had to go through and that you almost lost her from complications. Thank you for coming forward and I too hope that this is not deleted. I am so sorry for the double talk and excuses that are made to cover up negligence. My prayers are with you and your family.

[Sandy Johnson 15]

Even though Donna is not a client of mine, I know she is absolutely a real person and I believe her about her sister. I?m very sorry this happened to her and my prayers go to out to her and her family for a speedy recovery.

The ONLY issue I have with her post is stating that ?there have been many, 20 I heard? complications since December?. That number is not anywhere near accurate! I know she is very upset about her sister. I would be too. But this is just not true. Also, it is not MY job to do damage control and NO ONE controls me! I also don?t ?distance myself or cover up anything?.

I have said before, I have NO problem whatsoever with anyone posting their personal experiences. I do have a problem when information is disseminated that is not true. Clearly the complication Stoongal?s sister had is true.

Unfortunately a leak is a complication that can happen. When it does, it?s usually very bad! Why do you think it?s in all the literature that it is a possible complication? Because it IS a possible complication! It sounds like what Stoongal is describing IS a leak. Everyone, including all of you that are post op on this board, was told and probably signed something informing you about the possible complications. However, when it happens all of you are surprised, want to know why and practically want the surgeon?s head on a platter!

I know some will say, ?But there are so many leaks posted that came from this facility?. Where? This is one. Where are the others?

I would challenge ANYONE that really wants to get a feel for complication statistics to call several, or more, bariatric surgeons in the U.S. Ask them about complication rates. You don?t have to ask them about their complication rate in particular, but ask them about it in general. They will tell you that if you have this surgery, you risk having a complication. Then ask them if they will give you percentages of the chance that each patient having a surgery will have a complication. Ask them what is the percentage chance of a leak?

It?s very apparent that some here are delighted that this happened and was posted. It somehow makes you feel vindicated. Some of you somehow feel that if you choose a different surgeon, there will be no possibility that you may have a leak, infection or anything else. This is false! Spending another $4000 will NOT guarantee that this won?t happen!

What I don?t want to do is minimize Stoongal?s or her sister?s pain. It?s not her fault. But to assume it?s the fault of the doctor is misrepresentative. Did the current treating physician say it was the surgeon?s fault? Did another bariatric surgeon say it was Dr. Almanza?s fault? I think they will say that she was one of the unfortunate ones that had this complication.

[BJean 16]

Donna's post is valuable for many reasons.

And damage control is exactly what you are doing, Sandy. And that is understandable, of course. But to deny that it is your purpose for posting is disengenuous.

And again, whether other doctors have complications is really irrelevant to this discussion. We're not talking about other doctors. We're talking about a very specific doctor and clinic. You are not denying it happened. So okay, let it go. It happened and people are talking about it. At this point I think you've probably said about all you can to defend the practice. More of the same just really doesn't sound good. It almost sounds like you're complicit in your posts. Or as if a leak is an expected and acceptable complication, which we all know it is not.

Sure they happen. But there are ways and means to keep leaks from happening and they are infrequent or non-existent when doctors do everything possible to ensure that their patients do not develop a leak. I'm not saying that Dr. Alamanza didn't do everything possible but for you to say that complications are just a part of doing business doesn't help to instill confidence in him.

People are glad that Donna told her story. But not because they want to see Dr. Alamanza fail or for his reputation to be ruined. They are happy to know the truth about one of the things that prompted all this chatter. People can handle the truth. It is the fear of the unknown that they can't handle.

[Swiftflow 6]

Dismayed at the size of the new clinic, and I was even more dismayed that Dr Almanza was so over-booked! My sister Linda went in for her sleeve after 10 pm at night, the 6th of the day! I was worried about that as it was so overcrowded in the clinic and so little room for anyone to maneuver, but held my tongue as we expected the best outcome.

Sorry to have to say it, but yes this is in fact in the Clinic and Dr's control. I'm an excellent Support engineer most of the time, when I'm tired and overworked I make mistakes--hopefully mine can be repaired with a good restore from backup--peoples lives are a little more serious than this. You can't really chalk this up to the "expected complication rate". I mean you can't honor this as a valid experience without reading the whole of the experience.

Don't write up a nice reply to this--if you want to write, go write a Jerry McGuire "Less Clients, better service" paper and hand it out! Run the place like a good business and everyone will refer people there. Common--I was willing to let this go into the internet forum category of "a bunch of hype" until I read the story. You can fix this! 10 pm starting the surgery I mean COMMON!

Edited April 16, 2010 by Swiftflow

[jodoza 0]

Okay so really freaking out now! I have my cashiers check for Dr Almanza and am due to catch the shuttle down their tomorrow morning for my surgery. I have spent all of this money to get here and now want to change my surgeon. Gosssssshhhhh what to do what to do. I have the money to change however that surgeon will not be here until the 21st. today is the 15th. I so do not know what to do. I need to call my bank and see what I cand o with this cashiers check and try and get a payment to thgis other doctor. I am seriously scared now because I know Stoongirl is genune as I can tell from reading all her posts in the past.

Sandy I have a question, just how many leaks have their been in the last four months from this clinic, you should know since you are a corrdinator. How many infections in the last four months? I am getting misguided information from the corrdinators there. Please let me know I would appreciate it.

Joanie

[Sandy Johnson 15]

And damage control is exactly what you are doing, Sandy. And that is understandable, of course. But to deny that it is your purpose for posting is disengenuous.

Believe what you want. But you know nothing about me and you have no right to judge me. Do you know anything about my own weight loss surgery journey and my 2 surgeries? I really don't need to do damage control. The truth be told I would estimate that no more than 5% of my business comes from forums. So if this was all about money I wouldn?t be spending this much energy on forums posting.

And again, whether other doctors have complications is really irrelevant to this discussion. We're not talking about other doctors. We're talking about a very specific doctor and clinic.

It is relevant because the tone here is that Dr. Almanza is the only surgeon with complications.

... Or as if a leak is an expected and acceptable complication, which we all know it is not.

Expected and acceptable? I don't think I said that. What I said is that it?s unfortunate that it happens.

there are ways and means to keep leaks from happening and they are infrequent or non-existent when doctors do everything possible to ensure that their patients do not develop a leak.

There are ways and means to REDUCE the rate of leaks, not to keep them from happening. Infrequent...YES. Non-existent... ABSOLUTLY NOT!

to say that complications are just a part of doing business doesn't help to instill confidence in him.

Shall I say there is no chance of ever having a complication? The fact is that complications are a part of doing surgery. Most patients will not have them, however a small amount will.

I don't know of any way to be clearer. If it you want to believe that Dr. Almanza is the only surgeon to ever have a leak, there is nothing I can say to change your mind.

It's unfortunate that Donna's sister's misfortune has been turned into such a debate. This poor woman had a serious complication of which all bariatric patients risk when having surgery. Read the literature published by the ASMBS. When something like this happens, there is a lot of anger and it's natural to want to place the blame on someone. I will still pray for her and wish her well. I wish and hope no one would ever have a leak after surgery, but that is only a fairy tale.

If it makes you feel better to call me names or makes someone feel better to say that this would never happen with their surgeon, then so be it. People are scared to have surgery. It?s not fun and most people do understand the risk. It makes it easier if they can say that they are safe from complications because they are NOT going to Dr. Almanza. I understand that.

I?m think I?m through posting. If anyone would like to ask me anything that I can help with, please call or email me.

I wish all of you the best of health and happiness!

[Can.sleeved 1]

The site policy (which is really bogus) says that unless it is your story it is hearsay.

So the poor soul that just shared the story of the terrible happening with Linda is HEARSAY right? While although it may qualify as hearsay I believe it has merit. That's why when I stated reports of people that were "standing in front of me" or in other words I was with them it was still hearsay.

I hope that people that are thinking of taking the lowest price will read these posts in earnest.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I find it a little hard to believe that a nick out of the stomach and a body cavity full of pus is a common complication.

Starting surgery at 10 pm seems risky to begin with. Then the aftercare person pulls out the drain and fluids gushed out and this person did not think to call a doctor?

That is why so many of us want to be in a real hospital with trained nurses where 2 doctors com to check on the patient 3 times a day.

[LAN2k 18]

I find it a little hard to believe that a nick out of the stomach and a body cavity full of pus is a common complication.

Starting surgery at 10 pm seems risky to begin with. Then the aftercare person pulls out the drain and fluids gushed out and this person did not think to call a doctor?

That is why so many of us want to be in a real hospital with trained nurses where 2 doctors com to check on the patient 3 times a day.

This is true and vital that people recognize these points. When stuff like this happens in the states it's a long and difficult fight to hold a surgeon accountable. Having something like this happen outside of the US, not only is there no recourse but w/o medical insurance it can be financially devastating.

[BJean 16]

Sandy you're really off base here. I did not call you names. As far as I know, no one has called you names. So why would you suggest that they have?

And the reason percentages of all doctors doing surgery is irrelevant is because we weren't talking about all doctors, we were talking about Dr. Alamanza and his clinic. Now if you really want to go there, perhaps we can somehow get some verifiable data on just how many complications have been seen in his patients. You say a certain percentage - that isn't very helpful. What is the exact number? If we have that, plus the number of surgeries he does, then we would have more accurate information.

And the other thing is that I never accused you of trying to make money. I never accused you of posting anything for profit. All I said is that you were doing damage control. What's wrong with that? Somebody's got to try to do it at this point or people will be bailing out like crazy.

And lastly, I do not blame you for choosing to quit posting on this thread. You don't seem to be able to handle the heat.

But I do hope that you don't take anything I posted as a negative toward you. I have no idea who you are or what you do for a living. I was merely commenting on posts that you have made here.

[BJean 16]

Joanie, I hope you can take your time and figure out how to best handle your situation. I would be uptight too if I were in your shoes right this moment. Hang in there and please keep us posted. We're all pulling for you and we care very much about how you're doing!

[Robbiehage 1]

Heartwrenching story Stoongal, so sorry to hear it. I will pray for your sister and that other members accept and respect your candor.