Frustrated with post care-LONG post
Hello all,
It's been a long time since I've posted on the CT board, though I do my share of stalking 
...
Anyhooo. My weight loss is going well, I'm down about 95 pounds since the day of surgery (I'd lost about 21 or 22 before that).
However, I still have the ulcer, according to my last scope. I'm having another scope on May 6, and I'm really hoping it's gone, but who knows.
My frustration is with my aftercare, and specifically, getting any kind of cohesive response from Dr. Barba's office, and I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same?
Make no mistake, I think Dr. Barba is a terrific surgeon and has amazing bedside manner. His skill as both a bariartic surgeon and a trauma surgeon is what made me comfortable enough to not freak out on day of surgery.
Having said that, I'm ready to pull out my already thinning hair today because once again, my phone call went unanswered.
I tried to get my prevacid refilled at CVS and they called me this am. and said the doc's office wouldn't refill it, that I needed to be seen. Well, I was seen, last week! So I called the office and got what I think is the young secretary, and she was less than helpful. She couldn't do anything because she can't refill scrips and Felix wasn't there. That's just ludicrous; isn't there ANYONE ELSE who could do it? And if not, why not? And just what about the staff on the fourth floor, do they play ANY role in this office anymore??
Anyway, she said Doc B would be in this afternoon and I asked if he could call it in and she said she'd give him the message. I told her, I have an ulcer, I need this medicine. She said she's pass on the message. Well, to no one's shock, when I went to CVS, sure enough, the scrip hadn't been refilled. They gave me enough for tomorrow (I take 2 a day) and my first dose Thursday. So I'll have to be on the horn in the morning again.
Also, I should point out, that this staff does not answer the phone after 5 p.m., even though they're in the office!!! I know this, because at my appt last week, I asked why the wait was so long (an HOUR) and the girl got huffy and told me how busy the doctor is. I told her I knew that and that's why I had called at 5:45 (my appt was at 615 p.m.) to see how late he was running, and no one answered. And she was like, Well, huh, we don't ANSWER the phones after 5!! I said why not, that's SILLY! YOu're there aren't you? Boy did she get pis-sy!
My incredible rage over this is that there seems to be NO cOMMUNICATION between this staff and the doctor. A case in point is my previous unreturned phone calls, and, for example, the fact that at my last visit, he seemed to have no idea why I was there (I was four months out) and hadn't reviewed any of my endoscopy results (I've had THREE).
So folks, am I being unreasonable here? Has anyone else had the same experiences with this office? What about the patients of other docs, does this sound normal to you, or what's your doc and his/her staff like?
Thanks in advance, and if you made it this far, thanks double!
Heather
328/233/160
...
Anyhooo. My weight loss is going well, I'm down about 95 pounds since the day of surgery (I'd lost about 21 or 22 before that).
However, I still have the ulcer, according to my last scope. I'm having another scope on May 6, and I'm really hoping it's gone, but who knows.
My frustration is with my aftercare, and specifically, getting any kind of cohesive response from Dr. Barba's office, and I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same?
Make no mistake, I think Dr. Barba is a terrific surgeon and has amazing bedside manner. His skill as both a bariartic surgeon and a trauma surgeon is what made me comfortable enough to not freak out on day of surgery.
Having said that, I'm ready to pull out my already thinning hair today because once again, my phone call went unanswered.
I tried to get my prevacid refilled at CVS and they called me this am. and said the doc's office wouldn't refill it, that I needed to be seen. Well, I was seen, last week! So I called the office and got what I think is the young secretary, and she was less than helpful. She couldn't do anything because she can't refill scrips and Felix wasn't there. That's just ludicrous; isn't there ANYONE ELSE who could do it? And if not, why not? And just what about the staff on the fourth floor, do they play ANY role in this office anymore??
Anyway, she said Doc B would be in this afternoon and I asked if he could call it in and she said she'd give him the message. I told her, I have an ulcer, I need this medicine. She said she's pass on the message. Well, to no one's shock, when I went to CVS, sure enough, the scrip hadn't been refilled. They gave me enough for tomorrow (I take 2 a day) and my first dose Thursday. So I'll have to be on the horn in the morning again.
Also, I should point out, that this staff does not answer the phone after 5 p.m., even though they're in the office!!! I know this, because at my appt last week, I asked why the wait was so long (an HOUR) and the girl got huffy and told me how busy the doctor is. I told her I knew that and that's why I had called at 5:45 (my appt was at 615 p.m.) to see how late he was running, and no one answered. And she was like, Well, huh, we don't ANSWER the phones after 5!! I said why not, that's SILLY! YOu're there aren't you? Boy did she get pis-sy!
My incredible rage over this is that there seems to be NO cOMMUNICATION between this staff and the doctor. A case in point is my previous unreturned phone calls, and, for example, the fact that at my last visit, he seemed to have no idea why I was there (I was four months out) and hadn't reviewed any of my endoscopy results (I've had THREE).
So folks, am I being unreasonable here? Has anyone else had the same experiences with this office? What about the patients of other docs, does this sound normal to you, or what's your doc and his/her staff like?
Thanks in advance, and if you made it this far, thanks double!
Heather
328/233/160 Heather,
I am so sorry to hear about the troubles you are experiencing. My experience has been the opposite with the 2nd floor office. They have simply been wonderful, where there were issues with the 4th floor office.
I wouldn't have gone to another surgeon after I think all that has transpired, even with having a complication. And the office staff was the reason things were resolved.
It is my fervent hope that things go better for you and soon.
If you need to chat or vent, please feel free to email me directly.
Hang in there,
NA
You're not the only one dealing with this, I've complained several times. No one answers the phone most of the time, so I have to leave a message. No one calls back most of the time. Felix promised to fill scripts for me, make appointments, etc, and almost never did. I am persistent - I call every hour until someone calls me back. Twice, I had him stay on the phone with me while he dialed the pharmacy with another phone. THat saved me another trip to CVS to pick up a prescription that never got called in. I also use my PCP to get scripts for me.
You need to tell Carolyn in the old office about this, since she is responsible for the overall program. She always returns calls and has the ability to make things move along.
This was never the case when they were all together upstairs. I think one of the problems is that there are more patients than doctors, and more appointments needed than time permits. The doctor does his best, but sometimes surgery goes longer than expected, or a complication could throw off his whole day. I'm not saying this is acceptable, becuase they can at least call you back and acknowledge you. But having been there, done that, I can tell you that the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
--Steve
Hi Folks,
Steve and NA, thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. NA, I think you're very lucky, because my experience has been much more on par with Steve's!
Steve, I did call the fourth floor today and Carolyn called in my scrip for me. It was kind of funny (in a sad way!) that she thought I was a month out. BUt she was very nice when I told her what was going on and how I am having this complication.
As far as future appt's, I don't know. I think I will just continue to see my gastro doc and my internist and hope for the best.
Thanks again,
Heather
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