Making Rounds
Harnett surgeons handle more than operations
When you talk to Marla West, it’s easy to forget that she’s 86 years old. With a sharp memory and youthful sense of humor, the Lillington resident loves hunting for antique-shop treasures and keeping her garden in bloom.
But for most of her life, there’s been one thing that has sometimes slowed her down.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had problems with constipation,” she said. “I would go a few days with nothing happening, but then I’d take a laxative, and it would be fine.”
This continued into adulthood, with patience and laxatives usually taking care of the problem. But in recent years, West found that medication sometimes made things even worse.
“I have a very bad hip,” she said, “and the medication I took for that pain made me so constipated. I think that’s where it really became a problem.”
The problem started with some minor belly pain one night.
“I just had a little stomachache,” she said. “And I thought, oh, it was probably something I ate. I’ll be fine.”
But by midnight, it hadn’t gone away. When her daughter, Robin, said they should probably go to the hospital, West was still sure it was nothing.
“But we went anyway,” she said, “and I’m so glad we did.”
At Central Harnett Hospital, she quickly learned that her discomfort was something much more serious. She’d been so constipated, for so long, that her colon had perforated. West remembers hearing someone say how dangerous it was, especially at her age, and that she’d need an emergency colostomy. She was quickly transferred to Betsy Johnson Hospital for the surgery.
“And then Dr. Hall came in and talked to me,” she said, “and I just can’t tell you how wonderful she is.”
Rachel Hall, DO, is a board-certified general surgeon at Cape Fear Valley General Surgery in Dunn. The practice offers what they call “a family-type environment,” where patient and provider get to know each other before surgery. But in West’s emergency, the introductions were swift with no time to spare.
“Everything happened very quickly,” said West. “But I knew she was a very skilled surgeon, and more than that, she was just a very nice person. After we talked about what was going to happen, I just knew I was going to be OK.”
After a three-hour surgery, West woke up feeling groggy but relieved. She spent 10 days recovering. Visits from Dr. Hall helped keep her spirits up.
“She said they were still keeping an eye on me, and I wasn’t out of the woods yet,” said West, “but I was never really afraid because she was just so positive.”
Seven months later, West is back to antiquing and gardening with her daughter. She has even made peace with her colostomy bag, something she’d feared would be very hard to get used to.
“It just takes a little extra time every day,” she said. “I’m used to just undressing and jumping in the shower, but you have to remove and clean everything. I just get started before everybody else does if we’re going somewhere.”
While she wouldn’t wish a scary night like that on anyone, West said she’s glad she followed her daughter’s advice to go to the hospital. And she’s grateful Dr. Hall was there.
“I just can’t tell you how wonderful she is,” said West. “I mean, my gosh, she saved my life.”
Sanford W. Hawkins-Rivers, MD, works with Dr. Hall at Cape Fear Valley General Surgery in Dunn and recently was awarded the Physician of the Year award from the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Caduceus Society. For another patient, one of his best skills was knowing when you don’t need to operate.
Sandra Mahiquez, who lives in Benson, struggled for months with a worsening pain in her wrist and thumb. Friends and family recommended Dr. Hawkins-Rivers. At her first appointment, she braced for a conversation about surgery. But she was pleasantly surprised.
“He said what I needed was just a steroid shot,” she said. “So I got that, and that alone made it 80 percent better.”
She received another shot in a follow-up visit, and by her third visit, she was back to 100 percent.
“I don’t even think about it anymore,” she said. “All that pain, just gone.”
Now Mahiquez happily recommends Dr. Hawkins-Rivers to anyone who asks, and not just because he helped her avoid surgery.
“He’s very confident,” she said, “but he’s pleasant too. He jokes around and makes you feel really comfortable. I hope I never do need surgery, but if I do, that’s where I’m going.”
Cape Fear Valley General Surgery – Dunn offers advanced laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgeries. If you have questions, call the office
at (910) 892-1550.
