I could just scream need to vent

Hello Gang.. As most of you may/may not know I had an internal bleed about 2 weeks ago requiring a 4-day all inclusive stay at the luxurious Rockville Hospital for 3 blood transfusions..etc.. etc... This week I started having a searing pain across my mid section going straight across (below my pouch)  The Gastric Specialist I'm working with has been an angel...& is just wonderful...she sent me for an emergency Cat-Scan earlier today... She's calling me at by 5 to go over the results & is insistent I see Dr. Barba my gastric by pass Dr... I have been leaving messages since yesterday with the "assurance he'll call me back"... this obviously isn't good....  HIS STAFF SUCKS... all I got to say about that I was insistent about getting an emergency appoint... "NOPE" he'll call you what the heck??? I go for a 1/2 day of Ultra Sounds & small bowel series next Tuesday... Obviously there is more to this than what was originally thought of as an ulcer.. & I will update you all once I hear back from the 1 Dr. that seems to care.   I was told by the assist that my gall bladder is in bad shape.. I told her that couldn't be because Dr. B removed it when I had the by-pass....3 years ago... OMG!!  What a friggin nightmare..I was told it was to be removed back then because it was shot... WHAT THE HECK... I am not panicking I'm just VERY pissed off & frustrated with the lack of concern Dr Barba's office is giving.  the other DR.s office stated that if I cannot get a emergency consult w/Dr B that she will contact him personally.  (OK... I am panicking a little because the C-Scan must be showing something beside a rotten gall bladder.) I have been a very very good by-pass patient following the rules pretty much to a T since the day of the surgery.. The one time I really need my physician it's like I'm not of value & "Oh well attitude".. When this mess is done... I'm seriously thinking about moving on to another Gastric B-pass surgeon & staff who will actually call when they say they will, listen, & have a sense of urgency for obviously a serious issue.   It's too bad... I LOVE Dr. Barba just that the sense of urgency & caring is definately lacking.  If I hear one more time "he'll call you sweetie" I will have an out of body explosion. Stay tuned for more drama of the new hit TV show... "As Mickey's Pouch Churns" I will laugh over this soon, Hugs, Mickey 

Oh man Mickey! Hope they figure out what is going on. I know the feeling of not feeling good and not knowing what's going on. Just had a trip to the E.R. and a nice 2 day stay at Middlesex cause my doc was not on call. Once he found out about me everything was taken care of.

Kathy, what happened???

I have a Schatzki's Ring. IT's a type of esophageal web. It's a blockage and not WLS related. I had a scope done three weeks ago and just had another done today. I am hoping this one takes care of it since I am NOT the best at getting I.V.'s thanks to veins that like to hide.

Mickey - This is horrible that you have to have this added stress to your problem - I hope you get it resolved soon and I would definitely let Dr. Barba know exactly what you think (I would print this post out and mail it to him).

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Thanks Ladies... I appreciate your kind words & letting me vent.. I'm still not a happy camper however Dr. B did call & we spoke for 20 minutes or so... Update:  The C-Scan showed my rotten gall bladder & (I knew it was something serious)  two knotted/twisted small intestines looped all around each other causing the pain etc... So what I was treated for wasn't an ulcer but a twisted mess on the inside... UNBELIEVABLE... I asked the Gastric Specialist why a C-Scan wasn't done like it was suppose to be while I was in the hospital... she said based on the other Dr's "opinion" that looked after me it was the symptom of an ulcer... OPINION?  OMG...to top it off.. a C-Scan was ordered for me while my stay took place at the Hospital... this could have been taken care of two weeks ago!!  I am sooo disappointed with Rockville Hosp right now. There is a big long medical term for what happened to me.. however I'm told it's very very rare & if it was going to happen to anyone.. it'll happen to me.. LOL. So game plan as follows:  SURGERY... Basically a new reroute for me probably end of next week beginning of the following... providing I can hack where I'm at physically & I don't start bleeding or get in any more pain than I'm in.. In the event things get worse over the weekend I'm to call Dr B's office immediately & head to St Francis. Otherwise Dr. B is calling me Monday to follow up with how I'm doing.  Tuesday I have a battery of tests at Rockville Hosp set up by the Gastric Specialist... if I can survive this long.. then Thursday I see Dr B & go over everything & plan the surgery.. It should be done relatively quickly as the bowl is "constricted" and basically dying off... UGH...  So that is why the new re-route needs to be done.. out with the old in with the new. I'll be a 'brand new" By-Pass patient once this mess is done...shouldn't have to touch the pouch unless it was affected... he can make that puppy smaller it wouldn't bother me in the least.. :-)  & hallelujah the Insurance will have to cover it this time around due to the situation.  At this point I don't care just want to get it taken care of.   I'm on phase two of gastric eating until surgery... mushy & liquidy foods.  I'm going to have to suppliment with protein drinks for a bit as I can't really eat much.. it hurts after it gets out of the pouch.  So this weekend is just a wait & see game to see how it goes internally.. the hint I'm taking a down hill slide.. I'll be off for my luxury spa stay at St. Francis.. :)  I was suppose to return to work full time next week.. Need to find out how long this little set back is going to keep me out of work & in the hospital.  GOOD TIMES...  Husband is ticked off at the whole thing.. feels like I do this mess could have been taken cared of while I was in Rockville.... had they done the scan as planned they would have seen it.. & I would have been of to St. Francis for treatment... (sigh) At least we know & can move forward... Dr B did apologize for the delay in calling me back however I plan on having a very candid conversation with him over the "reality" of how I felt I was treated as a patient while needing his attention.  Husband really likes Dr B alot also... but he feels that his practice is too big and situations that require immediate attention get "lost" or not given the urgency needed.   So that sums things up for my Friday... For those looking or going through the process of RNY surgery.. believe me this is a really flukey thing that has happened to me..it'll get fixed & I'll go back to my new life... I have absolutely no regrets over my surgery & do it tomorrow.. (well technically next week) if I have to.   Hugs, Mickey     

I would be having a fit about the gall bladder!!! Good luck next week.

I am so glad that he called you back and are going to get everything taken care of - so sorry you have to go through so much.........Wow what a difference in attention that Rich pointed out? Being a patient of Dr. Barba's myself I have to say as a person I believe he's caring and smart - but I've never been impressed with the way his office is run, thankfully I've never had an emergency situation so it's just been an annoyance.

I think having a candid conversation is a great idea - as a matter of fact - I would print out Rich's response to your post and let him read that so he can see what his "competition" is capable of, afterall it's not as if Dr. Arnow is just starting out and NEEDS to be that way to grow his practice - he's very well established already.....

Best of luck next week -

When I get home and feeling up to sitting down infront of a computer (who knows HOW long that will be) - I'll look forward to seeing your progress!

Mickey, I am 11 days post-op and a patient of Dr. Aranow. Here is an example of what kind of doctor he is: This past Tuesday I was concerned about a possible infection in my incision so I called his office at 1:00 pm and spoke to Lois and told her my problem. She said Dr. Aranow was in surgery and she would talk with him and get back to me. At 4:30 she calls me back and says he wants to see me and could I come in on Wedensday(the next day) at 11:45. I arrive and when he comes into the exam room I tell him I have also been nauseous since Tuesday morning. He looks at me and says "of course you are because you are dehydrated". He then tells me I have to go to the hospital for some iv fluids. He checks my incision, says I have the start of an infection and prescribes some anti-biotics. He also said he wants a cat scan done of my pouch just to be safe. He gets on the phone and  on talks to the triage nurse  to expect me and what he wants done. I am there getting my iv and suddenly he shows up and asks how I am doing. This is about 4 hours after being seen by him in his office. He leaves, I get the cat scan, get more fluids and guess what? He calls an hour later from his son's piano recital to get the test results and to see how I am feeling. I just want you to know what other doc's and their staff are like. You deserve proper care and attention. Happy doc shopping,

Doctor Aranow Rocks! hope you feel better soon!