Importance of having your surgeon close...

Hello everyone,

As I am sure most of you know, I am Dr. Roller's nurse and I post as often as I can. I am also his patient and am proud of the weight loss achievements I have made so far 105.5# in 8 months...yay!!!.
I wanted to tell you about something that happened to me over the weekend last week. I was at a friend's house and we were watching the Super Bowl. I had not eaten anything that I wasn't supposed to and I definitely had not been drinking anything but lemonade with Splenda. I was just sitting there and I got the worst pain in my belly. It took my breath away and I was a little scared at first. I went thru all the questions that I would ask any patient that calls with abdominal pain and I couldn't figure out what the problem was. I picked up my cell and sent a text to Dr. Roller and told him what was going on. I could not even stand up straight it hurt so bad. He and I text'd for a while going thru all the questions that he wanted to know and I finally had to go home and take some Tylenol and go to bed. I turned out to be just a spasm in my belly but I am glad I was close to him when it happened in case I had to go to the hospital. I know that our pt's can't text Dr. Roller but they can call and have him or me paged 24/7 and I am just glad that I am here and he is close in case I do ever need him for an emergency.

Just my 2 cents...

Wendi

Hi Wendi,

OK, this brought back some terrible memories for me. A year ago I started having pains that had me out flat. Seriously, couldn't walk type pain. I finally made it home from work, but Gary was gone and in an area with no cell service, so 911 it was. After two trips to the ER in one weekend, a week of tests, ya da ya da, turned out I not only had a bad gallbladder and a hernia, but a small bowel obstruction that was becoming necrotic by the time Gibbs got in there!  I'm so glad your story had a better ending than mine.

This is the reason that I have concerns with lap banding. I know that most doctors won't treat other doctor's banded patients, even for fills. What happens if you need/want to move? Who's going to take care of you then? What if your doctor dies, retires or moves?  I suppose in that case he'd have collegues that would take his patients, but it is a concern to me that I gently try to explain to prespective banders.  In your opinion is this a valad concern?

So glad you're feeling better and you didn't have to have a 8 in*****ision to do it!

Susan,

Thanks and yes I am also glad I didn't have to have more surgery. That is a very valid concern about what will happen to pt's of other surgeons. Especially lap banders that want to go to Mexico to get a band and then have someone here follow them. I am quite sure that no qualified surgeon will take care of a band patient that went to Mexico. As for people that move here or any of the other reasons that you mentioned...most places have a transfer policy in place for that reason. We have one at our office.

I am glad you are better and back on the boards!!!

Wendi