Pissed at my Surgeon

Friends: I think I shared that my surgeon has moved on to Knoxville. I went today and was seen for my one year by Dr. Nighbert who runs the Center for Weight Loss Surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington. Early in our conversation, I mentioned that I liked that his firm now included Dr. Talifero Richardson, an Internist and Hospitalist. Doc Richardson kept my ass alive after my surgery because I "crashed " big time on the table. My heart went to extended periods of 20 beats per minute. I think the anesthesiologist overlooked the dose of coreg (beta blocker) I took, as directed, the night before surgery. Richardson saw that I was stabilized and stayed on top of my case for 30 hours. I spent 2 days ($10,000+) in cardiac care. My surgeon discounted the severity, but I was drugged, and I remember he was somewhat indignant when I quizzed him. Marge was out when he saw me and I let things pass. Today, Dr Nighbert read my surgeon's discharge summary to me indicating that my surgery was "uneventful." No mention whatsoever of my issues. I chose that guy because of his "track" record. Hopefully, he has been honest in his other reporting. Still, I'm now thinking that the self-reporting system Docs use with OH is only as good as the docs are truthful. I like Nighbert and he's going to get up close and friendly with my colon in a few weeks (colonoscopy: remember, I'm 56 and it's beyond time). THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT: I feel better now. **** happens and I am not going to be the ****tee! Dave

Dave- That is terrible. Yo have every right to be angry-- Not only b/c of the track record thing, but the incident should be documented in the report for health reasons. Follow up and see if you can amend your records. Sorry to hear about that-- but SOOO glad you made it through and are here to chat with us on the boards. Andrea

Thank you, Andrea: Dx from the Men's board suggested requesting the surgeon's notes from the hospital. They supposedly detail the specifics of the surgery and are more difficult to fudge. We'll see. Dave

Dave, That is quite the story but I imagine it is more common than we would think. I think we all hold doctors and surgeons even more is in such high esteem. I'm sure some of them measure there success by their 'track record' and that is a shame. I do not blame you for being angry. I would be too!! Shannan