-
Dr. Michele Loor – Houston, TX?
Hello everyone, has anyone had surgery with Dr. Michele Loor in Houston, TX? On her website (Baylor), her primary interest is in hernia surgeries. I am still searching for someone locally who is willing to perform a non-mesh surgery on me. I found a plastic surgeon/peripheral nerve surgeon; however, he cuts the genitofemoral nerve routinely in his surgery (says he buries it in the muscle tissue as I recall). However, I do not want any nerves cut unless absolutely necessary. To routinely cut a nerve just because the surgeon says that it is the most likely to cause pain post surgery just seems unreasonable. I’ve been to about 10 surgeons here, the majority only do mesh. For many reasons, travel is close to impossible (I’ve posted here before and go through periods where I want surgery and then when I am satisfied to leave things alone). I did see Dr. Loor about 4 years ago and thought she seemed nice and competent, but have not seen many online reviews on her.
-
10 Replies
-
Also – out of state is impossible – out of the country is really impossible. As much as I would like to win the lotto to take care of all my issues with the best surgeons available – if you don’t have the money, you just don’t have the money. It doesn’t grow on trees last I looked – lol.
-
Hi Chuck – thanks for your input. I didn’t know that about Yunis. Believe me – I understand a botched surgery. I have a rare spinal nerve condition called Tarlov Cyst Disease. Back in 2012, I elected to have surgery and selected a surgeon that was supposed to be the best in this procedure (it’s very rare and I also had a hard time getting it approved by insurance). He had to do a sacral laminectomy in order to perform the surgery. Unfortunately, he used a “reabsorbable mesh” to close the laminectomy. Me bad – I should have done more research – I even asked him if this ever caused any issues. Of course, he answered it did not. Well – it does. And it’s not even approved for use in the spine! In addition, as it “dissolves” since it creates more scar tissue, it also can entrap nerve roots. You cannot remove it once it has started dissolving. However, the mesh also causes inflammatory and autoimmune responses in certain individuals. So – lucky me – I developed the further complication of adhesive arachnoiditis and several autoimmune conditions. I haven’t even considered suing – as you said – lawyers don’t want to take it on. The waivers you have to sign before surgery are so iron-clad. So, I do not want mesh in me ever again. But… with my connective tissue disease, I don’t know if I will have a choice. And I already have issues with entrapped nerves elsewhere in my body (tarsal tunnel – bilaterally and left peroneal nerve issues near the lateral knee) which I think have resulted from the connective tissue disease. So, I am not at all taking any surgery lightly. But I am also afraid that the larger it gets, the more difficult the repair and the harder it would be for any surgeon to do it without some type of reinforcement.
-
Hi Chuck, I watched a video on this forum with Dr. Towfigh and Dr. Yunis – it was very informative. I do think he would be an excellent option but… what if I have complications once I return home? I won’t have easy access to help unless I fly back to Florida. That is one thing that really concerns me. I do have some type of connective tissue disorder which complicates matters, as well. I will do more research on Dr. Yunis and see if he takes my insurance. That would be one big hurdle. But I would also want to be able to book a consult and surgery for the same trip and I don’t know if that’s possible. There are just so many things that get so complicated when you consider out of state possibilities. But your concern is most appreciated and I am so happy to have so many knowledgeable people respond to my post even though they are not familiar with Dr. Loor.
-
Hi Good Intentions – Thanks so much for sending this video. I’d love to have Dr. Towfigh’s insight on what is said in the video and if she thinks females have more success (at least from what she has seen in her practice) with the MIS approach vs. the open approach.
-
Hi Chuck, I totally get it about the travel – but both health issues and money is involved – otherwise I wouldn’t think twice about it. I do agree that this surgery (like so many others) can ruin your life. Trust me – I’ve had one that did. So, I do not take this decision lightly or I would have already had it done locally without a second thought. There are no shortages of general surgeons in Houston, TX! Hernia specialists – haven’t found one I’m comfortable with yet.
-
Hello Katherine. Here is a video that you might get some value from watching. I’ve included the link to a Topic I just created. I wish that it was more positive but the reality is that it seems to show that you are at even more risk than a man, in choosing to have a hernia repaired. But, conversely, maybe you can contact the presenter and get some good advice. Good luck.
https://herniatalk.com/forums/topic/gender-specific-hernia-repair/
-
Hi Watchful, yes it is Dr. Echo. I have actually seen him twice and both times he said he would cut the genital nerve branch. So I presume he cuts it in most everyone if you say it is common practice in men and I’m female. I wasn’t really clear which method he would perform – perhaps a combination of the two? He did mention the first time studying under Dr. Muschaweck. I’m sure he is a very good surgeon, but he was also very quick in his delivery. I think had it not been for the fact that he cuts the nerve, I may have gone with him because of his background in plastic surgery. Your last comments are exactly why I have not had it done. However, it does continue to get larger and I fear that I may run into the situation where a pure tissue repair would not be feasible. When I had my first surgery done on my left side back in 1994 (this unrepaired hernia is on my right side), I saw several doctors and many of them were starting to use the mesh at that time. I went to an “old school” doctor that didn’t and am so happy that I did. Unfortunately, he’s long retired or passed on (he was older when he did my surgery). I appreciate this forum so much. It has educated me – but it has also frightened me. It’s not an easy decision and I find it so ironic that it is presented as an “easy” surgery by so many general surgeons. Are you in Houston, by chance or just familiar with Dr. Echo through this forum? You can PM me if you would like.
-
Cutting the genital nerve branch is common practice in men in some tissue repairs such as Shouldice and Muschaweck (you must be talking about Dr. Echo who does the Muschaweck repair.) The Shouldice Hospital cuts it in thousands of people every year, and so do other surgeons who follow the original Shouldice procedure such as Dr. Sbayi and Dr. Reinhorn. I’m not sure if and when it’s cut in women, though.
It seems excessive to do it in everyone, and there’s no agreement among surgeons on this subject. Just one thing among many where there are conflicting opinions, and no good answers. Have surgery done only if you really need it because it’s fraught with danger, and the “cure” can easily be worse than the disease. Definitely not an easy decision in many cases.
-
Thank you, Dr. Towfigh! It if weren’t for your informative posts and this forum, I would not know the information that I do. Dr. Loor is not the one that cuts the nerve – it is another surgeon that I saw that does this (just for clarification). I just wish someone knew of a great hernia surgeon in Houston, TX. You would think with our established medical center, there would be at least one doctor that was an expert. I guess that is why I posted my question about Dr. Loor – it appears that hernia surgery does seem to be her primary interest, but I don’t know of anyone that has had surgery with her. It is so hard when you have had a failed surgery before (not hernia surgery) – it truly gives you PTSD for any surgery in the future.
-
Good for rejecting neurectomy during elective hernia repair. Your logic is correct.
Log in to reply.