Major porthole pain

I had lap-band surgery on 4/20/06 by Dr. Fisher at Surgical Associates. I have not had a saline injection in over a year because 1.) I have not needed it and 2) I did not have insurance..I just now got my insurance back and made an appointment but they can't fit me in until a week from Thursday. For the past few days I've had major pain and sensitivity in my porthole area! It hurt so bad I went to the minor ER yesterday but all they did was give me a shot and told me to talk to my doctor. I left a message for Dr.Fisher's nurse to see if she would call me in a prescription or something to last until the 7th but shes out of the office today! I am in so much pain and worried..I'm almost panicking, I don't know what else to do :( Is this normal? Could it have slipped?

The nurse on call was so rude to me. She wouldnt approve anything since I had not seen Dr.Fisher since August 2006. Dr.Fisher and his nurse are both out of the office until tomorrow. His nurse is not very nice either. I started crying a little bit when she told me she couldnt help me. I'm so frustrated and nauseated. They wouldnt help me in the ER and they won't help me with my surgeon either. My primary care physician will not help me becuse she was against my getting the surgery in the first place..What if something is really wrong? What if this kills me?! My appointment isnt until Thursday august 7th and they won't help me until then..I can't take the pain anymore.

There should be a doctor filling in for yours. If you are in that much pain I would either go to the doctors office and make a scene until they help you or go to ER again and tell them you are in excruciating pain and need to be admitted. Don't wait - you know your body better than anyone else and it sounds like something serious to me. Be assertive and stand up for yourself. Hope you get relief today, Cindy

Yes your band could have slipped or you could have adhesions and this situation has to be addressed. You need to get this checked ASAP and if need be you may need to check and see if you can find another surgeon. Unfortunately you may need to have a revision or the band removed which can be a very tricky undertaking. Good luck and let me know how you are doing, but don't panic you may need to see your PCP who can direct you further or possibly get some tests done to determine what is happening. Please let me know what happens Barbara

Can you believe that there were no bariatric surgeons on call? It was awful..I finally drove down to the minor ER thats close to my house. I was in and out in 45 minutes! with a prescription for a very powerful narcotic painkiller. they took my blood (to make sure my pancreas wasnt perforated) I'm keeping my appointment on the 7th. Hes a really good surgeon but his staff is just..awful..I'll talk to him and tell him my concerns and my feelings of "helplessness,panic, and abandonment" and after I see him and make sure I'm alright, then I think I will go to another clinic.

I don't blame you for looking for another clinic. I work for a doctor and we are not that way we always try to accomodate our patient's issues. I have worked in the medical field for 16 years and unfortunately some medical providers and their staff give you the impression that they are doing you a favor by agreeing to see you when in fact your visits and payments from insurance and copays keep money in their pockets and food on their table. I have seen doctors offices go bankrupt because of the staff and patient's taking their business and medical needs elsewhere. Good luck and let me know how you do. My personal e-mail is [email protected] Barbara

Wow thanks Barbara! I'll let you know how it ends up! I get the feeling his staff thinks that we are all uneducated losers just because we are overweight and treat us at such..