Gallbladder Surgery Complication - Long VENT

Yesterday morning at 7:30am I had surgery to remove my gallbladder. It was over in 40 minutes. **I was discharged from the hospital at 10:30am,** a scant three hours later. I had heard that I might go home the same day, but three hours later? The surgeon did NOT come to see me either pre-op or post-op, either. I was given a scrip for Tylenol w/Coedine elixer for pain management. I took the 2T (directions, every 6 hours for pain) at 1:00pm. By 3:00pm, I had intense gas pain. After my RNY I had it in my left shoulder; after the GB sugery it was stabbing in my right shoulder and also in one of the GB incision sites. I was in complete and utter agony. I couldn't take more Tylenol with Coedine yet, so I called the surgeon for guidance. I was told that he was in surgery and would call me back. So I quietly suffered for two hours. I walked. By this time I had taken three Gas-X. I sipped a cup of warm herbal tea. Tried (unsuccessfully) to move my bowels and burp. By 5:50pm I was quite literally howling in agony. No position was tolerable, never mind comfortable. Tears were streaming down my face. My DH called the surgeon back (who had yet to return my first phone call). We were directed to go to his hospital's ER, 30 minutes away. My mother (a retired RN) told me to take more of the Tylenol w/Coedine before the trip - there was no way that I could make it without another dose. I protested, but DH insisted (thank GOD for my DH!!) We arrived at the ER at 6:30pm and was triaged right away. At 7:45pm (and still in the waiting room), DH went to see what the hold up was. The surgeon had *finally* called the ER staff back with directions. I couldn't believe that he wasn't going to come in - I *never* saw this man today (while conscious)! Unbelievable. I was ushered into a testing room (the ER was packed to the gills) and they started an IV with pain med. I don't remember the name of the med, but the wonderful RN told me that it was stronger than Morphine. The pain was starting to become tolerable, but not manageable yet. The surgeon had ordered a CT scan of my abdomen. I was to drink 64 ounces of red fluid. I asked if I had to drink it all - hello? The surgeon knew I was a RNY patient with diminished pouch capacity. Yes, was the answer - and I had to gulp/drink it quickly. I couldn't speak. My on-the-ball DH then asked if there was sugar in it. Yes, was the answer. I said NO WAY, and briefly explained about dumping. The doc in the ER then overrode the surgeon's orders and ordered X-Rays to confirm gas. No problem - and they were positive for gas pockets. The surgeon called the ER and wanted to speak with me. He told me that he had done "thousands" of these operations and I "was the *only* one who ever had to revisit the ER for gas pain." I was astounded - pain is incredibly individual! Tolerable to one person is agony to someone else. And I have an average to above-average pain tolerance threshold! He was a condescending jerk. To make along story short (too late), he said that he was *not* going to send me home with any other pain medication. He'd order one more of the super shot (the one stronger than Morphine) but that was it. My option was to stay in the hospital and have the sugar-laden CT scan. When I again said NO (and why), he informed me that he had done "more gastric bypass surgeries" than my RNY surgeon and that "he knew what he was doing." Note: When my RNY surgeon referred me to this guy, I was warned that he had a "disconnect between his brain and his mouth" and that he could be perceived as insensitive - but had excellent physical surgical skills. I was also told that he had done three (3) RNY's before deciding against adding them to his repertoire. FYI, my RNY surgeon is one of ten people in the US that can teach the RNY/DS. He knows his way around a gut. But I digress. I was *stunned*. Now, my husband is a rocket scientist at Cape Canaveral (no joke). He is very even-keeled in all types of stressful situations. He lost it. When the nurse came in, he asked to see the patient ombudsman ASAP. The nurse asked if there was anything that she could do to help. I calmly told her about the surgeon's phone call. She was very professional, but we could tell that even she was stunned - she had seen me doubled-over in triage earlier. The next thing I knew, I had a prescription from the ER doctor for Percocet - he was amazed that I wasn't being sent home with anything stronger than Tylenol 3 when the X-Rays revealed obviously painful gas pockets. He was not going to send me home when in two hours I'd be in agony again. At midnight, I took a Percocet for the returning pain. I know that my body will get rid of the gas in 24-48 hours. When the gas is gone, I am planning on flushing the remaining Percocet. I just couldn't get to sleep tonight/this morning without venting about this situation. Rest assured (excuse the pun) I will be speaking to my RNY surgeon *and* the patient ombusman first thing this morning. What a horrible experience. I am thankful - very thankful - for my DH, Mom, and the professional hospital staff who jumped in to help me. Good night, all. Kristen Lap RNY 10-25-04 278/181/120

Wow that is so terrible. I can't believe it. I really hope you are feeling better now. I can't imagine having to go through that pain and that sugeon. Patty

That is awful. My surgeron took out my gall bladder and appendics when he did my gastric bypass. He said there was a high likelyhood that I would be back in a year otherwise and didn't want me to have to go through the pain of another surgery like that! Hope you get better soon! Danielle

it annoyes the @%^$ outta me when people get such a big head and display such arrogance. Someone needs to go back to bedside manners 101 . Wonder how they would feel if someone treated their husband wife like he treated you?

Hi! Kristen, You should write a letter to the board of directors at the hospital and make a formal complaint against this doctor. Probably won't do any good; however, it might make you feel better, who knows. Jerks like that are a dime a dozen, but one day he'll get knocked back down to his size. God does have a sense of humor and those who are jerks will pay later on. Sorry for all the problems you've been through but the good news for you is its all up hill now and hopefully your battle has been won. Stay focus, positive and don't let people like him get to you, missery loves company and you're no part of it. Take care, in my prayers for a speedy recovery and successful WLS Journey. v

. Kind of makes you wonder about the kind of person that makes it into med school, and then chooses general surgery. OK - many are nice, but a greater-than-statistically-probable proportion of surgeons have a real god complex and have had their own manners surgically removed. .