Appointment with Dr. Malik

I'm not quite sure how it went!  We had to re-schedule my morning appointment for the afternoon as he had emergency surgery.  My appointment in the p.m. was at 3:45 and I got in to see him at 5:00 p.m.  He walked in, shook my hand and launched in to all kinds of questions (how long have I been overweight, what diets have I tried, what illnesses do I have, how do I think my weight has affected my life, etc).  He then checked the glands in my throat and checked for a belly button hernia.  Then he said that I have to have a whole raft of tests (psychiatrist, colonoscopy, dietician, and others).  He said that I have to keep an exercise journal and an eating journal and when I see him next he wants to see a significant increase in exercise and a significant decrease in weight.  He also said that he could fix my stomach, but couldn't "fix my head" so I had to do something to fix my emotional eating and learn to live on less food.

Having said all that he stood up, said see you in three months and walked out. 

I kind of sat there, stunned for a minute.  He had refused to look at the test results from my GP and Lung Specialist that I brought ("Just give them to my secretary" he said after he at first bluntly said, "I don't want them").  I could hardly get a word in edge-wise and didn't get to ask any of my questions that I had. 

I was quite discouraged when I walked out.  I am trying to cut him some slack for having an emergency surgery that screwed up his whole day and then made his afternoon slammed with clients. 

On the other hand, I thought he was abrupt and, to be honest, I felt that he thought I was pretty much wasting his time.

I don't understand these doctors who are "specialists" in obesity.  Do they think that I woke up one morning and thought, "Whoo hoo - I'm going to become really, really FAT just for the heck of it".  I have been made to feel by doctors that I am a total waste of space and should just get on with it. 

So I will see my GP - he is going to send her a letter listing all of the bloody tests - and have the tests done and start my exercise and eating journals and go back in January. 

Hopefully my next appointment will go better than this one!



I did not have a chance to say a word or

Aww that really sucks!!! Your not the only person who's been upset with the way he handles things either! Almost everyone who's seen him haven't been happy.

Here's a link to a local group, where I actually started a thread kind of along these lines.

www.blazeonline.com/wls/

chale how frustrating for you. I had almost the same experience 10 years ago with Dr Amson, although to be honest, Dr Malek sounds like he spent a whole lot more time with you & at least went over quite a few items.  

Don't give up - in some ways these types of experiences can be good for everyone in the long run.   They test your commitment to the decision & reinforce it or weed those out who are either not ready for whatever their reasons might be, or perhaps better suited to another alternative.  There are those who pursue WLS as a "quick fix" which we know it is not.

I had hoped Dr Malek would step in and actually "replace" Dr Rusnak for those who are waiting & yet to come, but that was naive of me.   Obviously they are very different & its just too bad there isn't another Dr R out there right now .  He was so awesome I can't say enough positive things about him.  

Anyhow back to your situation, keep talking in this & other forums where those who understand first hand what it is like can share & empathisize.  You can get through this & get what you want & need.  Just remember that.  And let's not forget that Dr Malek works for you .. for all of the taxpayers in BC.  It is our health plan that pays him, so stay in the driver's seat!

I just had my Gastric Bypass on the 8th of Sept.  Dr.Malik was terrific.  He treated me with respect and kindness.  I am grateful that I did not have to go through all my tests again, after seeing Dr.Amson some 4 years ago.  I came home on the 10th Sept and am doing fine.  Trying very hard to get the fluids in, but I find that the info says don't drink 30-40 min prior to eating and 1 hour after eating.  Take 20-30 min to eat and eat 6 times a day.  Oye.  This could become my new full time job.LOL.

Having to have a lot of tests didn't bother me - I was fully expecting to spend the next three months doing that.  It was more the attitude and the "Oh God, not another one" look on his face that threw me off. 

But, as I said, he had a horrifying morning and was trying to see as many people as he could, so I'm willing to think that the personality was a one-off.  I'll wait and see what happens in January....

Cynthia

 

Melissa, congrats on your surgery !!!
May I ask when you first seen Dr Rusnak? and when you got your surgery date?

I also saw Dr. Malik on Sept 16Th, what a disappointment.  I thought he was having a real bad day.  I had come down from Kelowna for my apt. I have a lap band as of July 08, have only been able to get one fill, and that was god bless him, Dr. Rusnak, after two previous attempts by other Dr's. who did not have assecce to a fluoroscope machine. So I figured I was going to have my second fill.  But Malik seemed very angry about something, told me to go see a diet ion.  I thought he was a jerk. I would never go to him again and feels he is in the wrong field.  My opinion.  I also sat and waited 1and half hours.  We should have been in the bad mood not him  Liz aka ppdog