A difficult choice - Experience or Continuity

[Lost Sheep]

Wow! So much to think about. Thank you, all who have responded so far.

Jerryf and Devid_R, I may see this guy for years, or not. The VA has more control over that than I do. But your point is well taken. An ongoing relationship is worth much. But I don't have that here.

Sliphill. My local guy has been doing implants (though I do not know how many since before Viagra was approved.

Radioradio, yes, confidence and rapport with the surgeon is important. I don't really have much of that with either option, having never met Dr. Ostrowski, only heard a little about Dr. Walsh (now withdrawing from VA practice, but he is the one who mentored Dr. Ostrowski). I was examined Aug 21 by a resident urologist who has assisted the surgeries, but even he will not be there, ending his rotation at the end of this month. My local surgeon has no rapport in his repertoire at all.

David_R, the one patient my local surgeon asked to call me never has. The VA Doctors have not offered to ask any of their patients to contact me.

Zxylpk, having questions answered is problematic with either of my available choices. My local surgeon's assistant(s) answer no medical questions at all. The VA support system is through a computerized web-based messaging system in writing only. Even with the time delays (at least one day per message) and the limitations of text-based conversations, it is, at least, available.

[Lost Sheep]

Additional information:

My local surgeon has no bedside manner, and admits this. He resists talking to me about the surgery and factors which influence his decisions. But then, surgeons often are like this while being GREAT mechanics (as Dr. Eid put it: "In love with his craft" and dedicated to the best possible outcome), but not comfortable with Patient-Doctor interaction.

But I ask a lot of questions, which he does not tolerate well. His assistant(s) are not conversant with the medical issues, always referring me back to the doctor. So, I am pretty much on my own with information.

Going with the Seattle surgeon is not much better. Communication with the VA Healthcare system is almost exclusively by the system's secure messaging system and live consult pretty much out of the question.

So, either option lacks live person-to-person contact.

I am pretty much OK with that, though. I have educated myself with medical journal articles and the members here on FrankTalk have been a GREAT resource of the information I wish I could get from my surgeon.

Being able to debrief former patients of the VA (Seattle) patients is not an option I have been offered. The one patient my local surgeon offered to have contact me has not. So testimonials from former patients are nil.

I have a concern about the procedure. The Seattle surgeon trained under Dr. Walsh (a good sign, as he has been mentioned here as being good), but their standard procedure is to remove all cavernosum tissue and not attempt to preserve any residual erectile function. This is a medically controversial point and I am not really medically qualified to have an opinion, but it is my dick, so I do. Many surgeons practice a cavernosum-preserving technique as it has proved to (possibly) result in reduced operating time, reduced recovery pain and time, less length loss and enhancing the sexual experience in the final analysis.

One reason for going to Seattle was that I supposed the surgical team would be able to select AMS LGX or CX or Coloplast Titan at the time of surgery. But I found that is not the case and they have already chosen the LGX for me based on a short physical exam. Not that I have a preference, but I would like for their preference be based on a more thorough examination (during surgery) than the cursory clinical exam I have received so far. And they do not have a choice of device at the time of surgery either in Anchorage or Seattle, having to coordinate with the factory representative prior to surgery. Dr. Eid warned against this practice, as he does not choose the device until ready to implant during surgery. So far, only Eid and Kramer seem to follow this practice.

As Radioradio said

I would (and did) go with option "A". I think what happens during the half hour or so between the time of the incision and the time of the close is probably far more important than what happens post operatively.

but neither Anchorage nor Seattle match the options in the operating room that Baltimore or New York can provide.

[Anonymous3]

Iam so glad I have Medicare and not have to go thru the bullshit with the VA. In 08 * had a bad hip joint the ball was flat. Before they would even consider a replacement I would have haf to endure 6 months of PT. The 9nlyn5h8ng Inuse therm for is meds , hearing aids, glases an inserts for my feet

[TheProfessor]

I'm currently facing this decision. The amazing doc who did my RP is now in Phoenix (I'm in central KY). Do I fly out there to have my trusted doc do the surgery or find a new one here? These posts have been helpful in helping me make a decision.

TheProfessor

[radiodec]

Try looking up Dr. David Morris of Urology Associates in TN. He is not a big name but has done a good job for me the first time and again when the plumbing went bad on the first and a revision was in order. I am recovering from the revision right now.

He works out of the Gallatin, TN, and Hendersonville, TN offices of Urology Associates (Gallatin, Hendersonville, Nashville). This group has multiple good urological surgeons, but he is the one I am familiar with and he has done an excellent job for me twice.

For me it has been continuity for me both times as I had a good surgeon as a choice.

David