So frustrated with Weight Wise appt today!

 I had bypass with Dr.Birch on June 12 and was suppose to have a 3 week follow up appointment after surgery.  It was cancelled because he was away.  Today I went for my follow up (2 months after).  After waiting 2 hours, another doctor came in who said he was a new fellow working with Dr. Birch.  He was very quick and I asked him if he was there during my surgery.  He replied that he had just started.  He told me to keep doing what I was doing and then got up to leave.  On the way out by the door he asked oh your not diabetic are you?  I replied I was and had been taken off my medication and wanted to talk to Dr. Birch about it.  He said oh your good come see him in 3 months!

I am very angry that I waited 2 hours to not see Dr. Birch.  I wanted my follow up appointment with him and since my nurse is no longer there, I fel cheated. Not to mention they sent someone in who did not even read my file!

Anyone have any advice?

I'd probably just have my GP do my aftercare. I had my surgery in Mexico and my GP is being really great about my aftercare - and he *knows* me and my family, so I feel comfortable talking to him about anything I need to.
I loved my nurse and dietitian when I was in the clinic, and Dr Birch seems like someone who'd be really comfortable to talk to, but I totally understand your frustration. Were you assigned another nurse?
How are you doing since your surgery? You don't have a ticker for me to admire. (yet)

Kelly-Anne

Dr. Birch was wonderful for me, and he was always there - but I think they stretch him and some of the other long term docs right to the limit.  That said, I had several nurses, several dietitians.  That was my biggest complaint with the clinic is that there was no consistency, especially when I started.  Now my nurse is also gone and I've been transitioned out into the "real" world and it's frightening as my general practitioner doctor has no clue about bariatrics and really no interest, other than to say, "glad you lost some weight".  She gives conflicting advice on medications and vitamins vs. what the clinic advises me. I've had a lot of issues with reactive hypoglycemia and poor management of it led me to regain some weight that I am now working off - but everyone told me it's just "regain", and not to worry - well I worry!!   So I've pretty much taken things into my own hands and do a LOT of research, on this site and others to be sure I am doing what I think is best for me, and then I question everything.  Since you are still new - be vocal, push them to give you the service you need to be successful.  I've often asked to rebook and appointment much sooner then they suggested because I felt I wasn't heard or properly dealt with.  I've had better luck the last several months before being transitioned out of the clinic, but before that I really had to be my own advocate.  Good luck.

I just want to say that this is strictly my opinion, but I feel it's important to get it out there in case others are feeling the same way:

I haven't wanted to talk negatively about Dr. Birch (there was another post asking about opinions of him) because I don't believe that a lot of it was his fault... directly.  However, I had many times where I had appointments with him only to have his fellow come in and just skim over what I either wanted to talk about or stuff I felt needed to be addressed.  I went to my family doctor to take care of the more pressing stuff, but because my family doctor isn't a bariatric specialist I don't recommend doing that.  I feel the clinic AND Dr. Birch himself should have taken care of me.  I don't agree that a GP is your best option, no matter how comfortable you are with them, they mostly deal with the minor things (sore throats, ear aches etc.) and because of lack of daily experience, they don't know how to handle the big stuff (I'm generalizing).

My most amazing nurse, Cory (Cory isn't there anymore, which is highly unfortunate to those just going into the clinic), told me that there were many, many complaints about Dr. Birch and his fellow and if I wasn't happy that I should write a letter to the clinic outlining my concerns.  He had told me that the nurses voicing those concerns could only go so far.

I didn't end up writing the letter, probably because I didn't want to make waves, after all, Dr. Birch did something amazing for me by doing the surgery.  Maybe I should have written the letter and it would make a difference?  I'm not sure.  All I know is that they are very busy people and probably can't commit to the time it takes for proper follow-up.  I think this is a major downside to pushing people through the clinic like they do now!  I think the fast tracking is a huge mistake for all parties involved.

I pretty much only talked to Dr. Birch once that was when I agreed to the surgery, then I passed him in the hallway when they wheeled me in to the operating room.  That's the extent of my dealings with him, I don't think that's right given that I'm putting my life in his (capable) hands.

Maybe you should book another appointment, even if you have to meet with your nurse first (whichever one they give you now) and get them to say you need to see Dr. Birch directly.  The nurses should be your advocate and also keep pushing your own cause.  Maybe you should take Cory's advice and write a letter to the clinic and voice your concerns.  Maybe you will make the difference because being silent about it just lets it slide.

Again, these are my opinions only.

Jill

 I agree totally with the comment on fast tracking.  I retook some of the modules, just to keep myself accountable, I couldn't believe how fast some are getting through the process, sadly I don't think it gives you time to mentally adjust to everything.  I do wish I had more details about my surgery.  Some people know how big their pouch is, how long their bypass is etc.  the only info I really got was it is a bypass!

 ... Alas, this is the way our health care system works in general. Dr. Birch was highly recommended as a surgeon to me.  I am in the medical field.  He did an awesome job, but surgeons, in general, are not going to be doing the follow up.  Their residents, interns, fellows, etc will see you.  Any big issues related directly to the surgery then likely the surgeon will see you.  It really is the expectation that your general physician will follow you for medication changes, etc.

 My nurse also changed and I was disappointed.  People change jobs and duties ... Part of life.  I've been very happy with the Weight Wise clinic ... and consider myself very lucky to live in Alberta where these surgeries are available, covered by health care, and timely.  As for waiting for appointments ... Yes, very frustrating... But also very common everywhere where surgeons and their fellows are multitasking and called for emergencies, etc.  Not an excuse, but .... Again part of our system.  

I do understand the frustration.  It's our job to educate ourselves in places like these forums, books, etc., and hopefully find a family physician who will work with us. I'm sorry that your follow up experience has been frustrating for you and hope it gets better ......

I agree with bjalberta. The surgeon's job is to do surgery, and from what I've heard, Dr Birch is very, very good at doing just that. He's a specialist in surgical procedures, not diabetes or any other non-surgical areas of medicine. Your GP, the internists at the clinic, the fabulous nurses - their job is to take care of you after surgery.

I had my surgery in Mexicali and Dr Aceves popped in to see me twice a day while I was there, but it's his aftercare person Gaby that I call if I have questions. Dr Aceves is busy doing more surgeries and popping in on those patients.

For my regular blood work (with a few extra things watched) and keeping track of medications I need I go to my GP. Because I want to be successful both at losing weight and keeping it off, it's my job to educate myself, make needed diet and lifestyle changes and tell my GP about any problems I need him to check into. 3 weeks ago I showed up at his office with very low BP, dizziness, weakness and disorientation - he told me to stop taking my Micardis for a week, sent me for lab work and saw me a week later. I don't need BP meds anymore and I had a low grade UTI. A week on drugs and I'm a new woman.

I've had other surgeries and normally the follow up appointment is so the surgeon can check your incisions to see how they're healing and answer any questions directly related to the surgery, like "When can I rejoin my water polo team?" He doesn't have anything to do with issues like getting off diabetes meds. (or in my case, all pain meds AND my BP meds! Huzzah!)

 Everyone at the clinic has been great.  As far as the diabetes, Dr. Birch is the one who stopped all of medication and I have been following up with my Gp.  I absolutely understand that you need to be your own advocate however I was frustrated when the fellow came in to discuss my surgery and did not know my medical history or the issues that came up during my surgery. He had to leave the room to discuss with Dr. Birch.  That is what I was frustrated at.  Also my nurse, psychologist and psychiatrist have all left for various reasons so I wasnt able to express my concerns with them.  

I can certainly understand your frustration and discouragement. Is your internist still there? How about your dietitian? I really liked my internist, nurse and dietitian when I was attending the clinic.

 i am fairly new to the weight wise clinic but my experience has been great so far - they all seem genuine and very thorough.  i do think that there is too much pressure put on the the "surgeons"  they are busy trying to accomodate all the many many people wanting surgery - if you need support - see your dr, the nurse or the psycologist available.  I want surgery soon - so lets keep them busy in the OR and allow the others to do teh follow up.