Good morning
I am being treated at the Mayo Clinic, and my GI recommended removing my entire gut, closing off the rectum, and making a permanent ileostomy.
He referred me to a colorectal surgeon whom I am seeing in 2 weeks.
I tried doing some online research on the surgeon and found no reviews.
Has anyone used Dr. McKenna? Or can anyone share their experience with a surgeon they were or were not happy with at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN?
Thank you for your time 🙏
I also treat at Mayo in Rochester.
My surgeon, who is not a colorectal surgeon, is absolutely the best human I have ever met, on top of being a skilled surgeon who saved my life (Dr. David Turay). He recommended that I see Dr. Scott Kelly in colorectal surgery, but the guy is insanely busy, and I've been waiting since March to even hear from Dr. Kelly about an appointment. So, I will be seeing Dr. McKenna in October. I have not heard anything bad about him, and I know Dr. Turay wouldn't have me see anyone that he wouldn't see himself!
I've spent a lot of the last 2 years at Mayo with several GI surgeries - it's my home away from home! Please don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions at all - even like places for your loved ones to stay and eat, etc.
Best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery!
Kim
P.S. I have a colostomy, so I can't really help with the specifics of the ileostomy.
Â
Â
MeetAnOstoMate is a remarkable community of 41,451 members.
“I mostly read and still feel like I belong.”
“Doctors took notes; they want others to find this website.”
“From midnight blowouts to big wins, there’s always a hand to hold.”
Hi Crossley. Ya know, I think it’s all about feelings. I don’t mean the pain feelings which could control everything. I mean the feelings inside our heads, our hearts and even our souls. I mean the feelings of who we are now compared to who we were; how we accept our situation or maybe we don’t. My wife asked how I felt and I said, “like crap”. She asked what hurt and I answered, “Nothing hurts, well, everything hurts, I don’t know, It all sucks.” That was a long time ago. You question if your feelings are normal. How normal is it to relocate your butt hole to your belly where it’s usually in the way of your belt and, you know. But that’s where we are and for lots of us we are so much better off than we were before, physically. Emotionally, psychologically, well, that might be a different story. I believe talk therapy is wonderful if we could find a real empathic or sympathetic listener. So guess what! I found MAO and began “talking” with a keyboard with some of the wisest, kindest most sympathetic and compassionate folks on the planet. Regardless of where we’ve been, lots of folks here have been there and worse places and found their way back healthier and happier. We really do help each other.
Keep “talking”,
Mike
Thank you, Kim
I do have some more questions; I'll take it private from here!
Really appreciate your help.
This was a great idea to post this. I am not near Mayo - I live near the Twin Cities in MN but have also been struggling to find information on surgeons for my hernia/abdominal wall repair surgery that I will soon need - like you said, so many worries!
My excellent colorectal surgeon referred me to a general surgeon who I met with, and I wasn't that impressed. I could only find 2 terrible reviews online about this general surgeon...so I am confused, because I love my colorectal surgeon and he referred me to this person. So I have set up a second opinion with a different surgeon who I was able to find many wonderful reviews on - I see that surgeon on August 9, but any recommendations from people who have had firsthand experience with a surgeon is always best in my book!
I don't mean to hijack your thread here but if anyone reading this in MN has any experience with a surgeon who does abdominal wall reconstruction (or has experience repairing large ventral hernias) near the Metro area - I would appreciate it!!! Thanks and best of luck with your upcoming surgery :)
MPLS, St. Paul magazine puts out a yearly issue rating the best doctors in Minnesota; you could check recent and past doctors. That's how I found a good one.
