I Need Your Advice
Hello Everyone,
I’m having a problem and I need all of your advice. I am 16 days post-op and
doing as well as can be expected. I’ve already posted my dietary concerns and
have gotten such good advice from you. Now I have a medical question.
My surgeon is 6 hours north in Chicago. I believe that he did a wonderful job
with the surgery. He is an award winning lap surgeon. However, after surgery
he did not manage my pain at all. I did not even see him until the night of the
second day in the hospital. He was condescending and rude to me. All he did
was lecture me on how I shouldn’t be in that much pain, that he hasn’t promised
I wouldn’t be in any pain (like I’m a complete idiot) and if I would just get
out of bed I’d feel much better. At the end of his lecture he looked at me and
said, “Now Smile at me” and he was dead serious.
I’ve spoken with my general doctor here at home and I’m set up with a
gastrointerologist here also, who I met before my surgery and who said he would
handle me after the surgery. I would really like to just give the Chicago
surgeon the boot and not ever see him again. In fact, I’d like to make a formal
complaint to the hospital. However, my father thinks that I should go to the 1
month appointment incase something should go wrong in the first few months. I
don’t know if his opinion is legal or what. My thoughts are that even if I did
need further surgery why would I want a doctor who wouldn’t manage my pain?
What I need from you is your advice about either going to see this jerk or
trusting my doctors here at home. What would you do?
thanks for you continuing help. Karen
June 30th, 2003 at 4:00 pm
hmmmm…You say your Dr. Is a JERK because he wanted you to get up and get
moving around. I know what it is like to be in pain after a surgery…so I
understand your anger…But Getting up and walking IS supposed to help. Some
Doctors seem to not like giving so much pain medication. Do not be so hard
on him. I also agree that you should stick with him for the time being. You
trusted him to do the surgery, trust him to provide aftercare as well. Good
luck
})i({August St. Amand- Maine})i({
Lap RNY Oct. 15, 2001 -120 lbs!!!
Dr. PA Aslam- Augusta Maine
July 1st, 2003 at 10:45 am
Does the gastroenteriologist have a background in RNY? Is he familiar with
your surgery? Some gastros aren’t. If he is however and understands
precisely what happened to your body then I would say go with the gastro but
you should also let your surgeon know why you are not coming back and have
your records transferred to the new doctor. If the gastro doesn’t know then
I would return to the surgeon until you find someone who is familiar. Either
way though at least do one followup with your surgeon before leaving.
Denise Rasley
mailto:drasley@…
BTC, Columbus, 10/7/98
Lost over 90% of excess and maintaining
Gained a beautiful daughter on 8/9/00
July 3rd, 2003 at 4:52 am
I think you are right also. My docotor is another one
who could be seen as mean or pushing too hard but the
reason they want you us so fast is that we are at a
higher risk for blood clots and the faster and more
often we walk, the more we lessen our chances of
having a clot. Please don’t be so harsh on him. He was
probably trying to help you start moving. I understand
the pain thing. I am allergic to many meds and have
been told that I have what appears to be
Hyper-sensitive skin. But I am prepared because I know
what to expect and I know it will not be easy and I
will have to do things I may not feel like doing. This
surgery is my choice and I did enough research ahead
of time to know what’s in store. It’s hard work. And
give your doc another chance. Maybe, you should tell
him how you felt and see what his explanation for the
way he was acting was. If you don’t tell him that he
hurt your feelings then he will never know. Sometimes
you have to tell people how you feel and maybe it will
help him to better his treatment of his other patients
as well. If he is rude about it then you know he is
really just a jerk. But if he is sorry or apologizes
then maybe he was just having a bad day. Hope this
helps.
Amber
July 4th, 2003 at 4:42 pm
Hello again all,
I was just thinking about my time in the hospital. This was the first time
for me to be the patient… I had been through alot of other surgeries, but
my husband was always the patient. You know I never saw anyone get him up
and walk him only a few hours after surgery and he goes to a big university
learning hospital… whereas I was in the small Illinois BTC. Well, about my
first walk… it was my first real moment of consciousness that I remember
after surgery. I don’t remember recovery, except that I believe I said a few
choice words and called some names… I think?? ha, ha. Anyway, when they
got me up to walk I was very, very dizzy and unsteady. I couldn’t have
walked on my own at all at that point. I don’t remember how many nurses were
helping, but it seems they were on all sides of me… at least 3-4 of them.
They had to hold me up every step of the way, and I knew that I needed that.
I cooperated by not complaining and doing all I could to go along with what I
had heard would happen. Anyway, I was in a fairly large room and only made
it just outside the doorway before I started to get vomitty and they let me
turn around and walked me back to bed. I was so thank-ful to lay down and
slept for most of the afternoon, but when I woke up again I knew I should
walk again and called for help and walked down the hall and back!! I feel
now that even though it seemed like the nurses did all the work with my walk
that it did help. I had a good recovery… things hurt… duh… but no
complications and after that 1st day I was determined to learn how to get
into and out of bed myself and worked on that… then walked myself the rest
of the days I was in there. Anyway, I thought they were nuts at first, but
now that I am 10 months out and being able to look back I really think that
first walk helped me to recover at a good and steady rate. My husband also
agrees, as he has been through many long recoveries and saw the benefits of
my extra care. Well, just another view of that first walk!
Sharon S
July 5th, 2003 at 7:23 pm
Ray,
I agree. I didn’t get back to my room from Recovery
until midnight so I didn’t take my first walk until the
next morning. The walk itself felt pretty good, but
getting out of and back into bed was the pits. It isn’t
fun after being cut open at 261 pounds either! But I
have to say that was the worst of it, so it was a small
price to pay.
Donna in NJ
Open Rny 12/10/01