Abandoned for a "Support Group" Meeting

I had a vertical gastrectomy performed by Dr. Paul Cirangle, MD of LAPSF on March 22, 2007. I would spend the night at the hospital and get discharged the next day.  I selected Dr. Cirangle based on his presentation during one of the free seminars he continually gives -- up and down the state and in Hawaii, too.  I was a 53 year-old 6'5" morbidly obese man who had most of the co-morbidities that are associated with diabetes II.  For me, this was going to be a life-altering operation because I felt that it would help me live longer.  I figured that I'd over-indulged the first 53 years of my life and I could sacrifice eating a lot for the last 20 years of my life.  I was charmed by his well-practiced presentation, plus his ponytail reminded me of a time when I could wear, too.   He was slick and seemed to know his sh*t.  His literature claimed that he was considered to be pioneer in the field of minimally-invasive bariatric surgery, having performed over 1600 operations.   For the procedure I wanted, Dr. Cirangle seemed to be the perfect choice.  I bought his line and made an appointment with him.  I jumped through all the hoops that he required and paid his large fee.   His "Free Seminar on WLS" and his "Support Group" meetings are actually one and the same.  I figured this out the first time I attended a "Support Group" when I noticed the resemblance between it and the free seminar advertised in Sacramento Bee.  I realized that it was a well rehearsed marketing strategy to designed to farm new patients from a growing population of obese and morbidly obese patients.  The first hour, he gives his sales pitch and the second "hour" is supposed to be for his post-op patients.   The only reason I mention this is that I had expected to see my surgeon the next day before he discharged me from the hospital.  I was told that he'd gone to one of his many "Support Group" meetings and that I was selfish to expect him not to support people who'd used him for WLS.  He left his PA to discuss the surgery and how well it went, but that Dr. Cirangle had to support his previous patients. I find his behavior to be very unprofessional and demeaning.  He refused Medicare and ensured that the hospital(s) he performs bariatric surgery did too.  We took a home equity loan to cover the cost since I have the Veterans Administration as my health care insurer. So watch out for Dr. Cirangle.  I find his methods too rigid, leaving no room for flexibility; he's more like Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde once you've paid his surgeon's fee and have scheduled surgery.  He hates arguing with his patients, not because he really cares about you, it's just that in my impression, he always thinks he is right and denied ever doing anything wrong. He yelled at me when I complained that he wasn't in the hospital to check up on me and right the discharge orders.  He called me selfish and defended his right and duty to attend to his post-op patients at their so-called Support Group meeting.  So in my opinion, if you want an attentive doctor and surgeon to perform one of the myriad WLS procedures, look elsewhere and select a doctor who cares more for you as a person and not as a customer or number to be tabulated.

Did you tell him to "Kiss My Arse?"  LMAO

Dear SusanA, No, I didn't have time to tell him that through the rest of the expletives I used.  I told him he was an excellent surgeon, but that he was a lousy doctor with the bedside manner of Dr. Josef Mengeles.

I'm so sorry you had such an awful experience.  But sharing your story may save someone else a lot of grief.   Good Luck to you! Jeni 

Sorry your so bitter, I have not read anything good from you, are you not happy that you have lost 135 pounds? I'm not really sure why it is important for you to keep posting about it. I would think once for us to read would be sufficient, Just MY opinion. And yep, everyone has them....

You Know Darlene, I'm not really bitter.  I am ecstatic that I went from huge to skinny in such a short amount of time.  I continue to post my experience as a warning to others.  A majority of surgeons stick around to see how their current patients are doing... they don't leave that job to an underling so that he can drum up more business for himself. If that doesn't have a ring of narcissism to it, then don't read my posts.  I just wanted a doctor who would be honest with me, that's all.  With Dr. Cirangle, I didn't get one.

Well.this is the first time I've heard this.  Interesting timing, too.  I am planning to go to one of his Free Seminars tonight.  Guess I better stick around for the support group meeting and see just how supportive he is for his post-ops.  Thanks for the head's up.  D2K

When you go, he might have brought someone skilled as a dietician, or hand out some free samples of awful tasting, but high in protein, crap that passes for food for bariatric patients, but see how long he spends talking to and answering questions of prospective clients versus the amount of time he presents his post-op patients.  If you listen carefully, he will probably announce the "Support Group" meeting's time is due, BUT he will invite prospective customers to stay while he trots out his post-op patients in his now famous Dog & Pony show. There are many bariatric surgeons in California.  Cirangle is a feather merchant.  His surgical skills ARE good, but that's the only thing nice I can think to say about him.  His post-op care, after waiting the usual one to three hours he will be late for his patients, lasts maybe 10 minutes and includes the all-important weigh-in. There certainly are more concerned surgeons in Northern - Central California who can perform the surgery as well as he can... and they most likely will be there for you when you come out of surgery, too.  Good luck!

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but I don't see any wrong-doing on the part of your surgeon.  My surgeon was not present to discharge me from the hospital, there was a PA who wrote my discharge orders.  I don't see this as neglect or abandonment.

When I've had follow-up visits, I've had them with my surgeon and sometimes one his PAs, who are more than qualified to address my questions. . 

The surgeon is only one person he can't hand-hold every single one of his patients through the entire process. .....and yes, there is a business element to medicine.  That's just the relaity of healthcare in this country.  So yes, he does have to market and seek out new business and remain profitable.  If the surgeon is practicing sound medicine and his patients are sucessful like you are, I don't see the issue.

I think the best advice to give to a potential WLS patient is to 'do your home work'.  Read up on the experiences of many patients, not just one negative view.

Opinions, as they say, are just like a**holes, because everyone has them.  Thanks for your opinion and keep up the great weight loss!