Disappointed with CHRIAS

Dr. Irgau did my surgery on August 10th 2009. Since then I've lost 138lbs and I feel amazing. I work out six days a week and love it. However my journey has not been without problems.

Shortly after surgery in November I started experiencing abdominal pain. I went to the ER a CTscan was done and Dr . Irgau had me admited so he could do an EGD the next day to look for ulcers. To make a long story short. Since then I've had many episodes of the horrible abdominal pain that comes and goes with no rhyme or reason.. I've had 6 CT scans, 1 Small Bowel Follow Through, 1 EGD, Many ER trips, IVs and even emergency surgery in December where Dr. Irgau corrected an internal hernia and adhesion. The pain didn't stop though. I've also had a HIDA scan and ultra sound of my gall bladder. Everything, every single test, has come back fine. 

My last trip to the ER actually resulted in Dr. Peters coming into the ER on a weekend to see me and be there as they did the CTscan (which was "pretty") as he put it. Dr. Peters thinks I am experiencing an intermiitent intususseptcion (bowel telescopes on itself) he recommended I discuss another exploratory surgery with Dr. Irgau. I made and appointment and Dr. Irgau really doesn't want to do another surgery on me (and I can't say I disagree) because aside from this random pain I'm doing so friggin well. He even offered to help me get a second opinion from other bariatric surgeons in Philly or Baltimore if I'm getting frustrated. I don't want to do that I trust Chrias and Dr. Irgau. He told me to try and "tough out" the pain. Unless I develop a fever or vomiting during it. Or if it lasts for a long period of time 4+ hours. I'm to the point where I'm begning to think this is all in my head. I feel like a pest now.I do feel like now I am becoming a pain. I feel like I'm bothering them now.

On Sunday I started experiencing something new. pain whenever I ate or drank. I dealt with it all through Sunday. Monday I called and left a message for Dr. Irgau and he called me back. He sounded I dont know... maybe annoyed..He just didn't sound like the nice guy he always does. But he scheduled me for another EGD which he did on Tuesday and LOW AND BEHOLD I have an ulcer in my pouch. I don't smoke and I don't take NSAIDS but yep I have an ulcer. So he perscriped Nexium. Which I dropped off immediately at CVS to be filled. I was called and told that NEXIUM requires a PRE AUTH by the doctor to be approved by insurance.

Here is the part that has me disappointed. I called CHRIAS 3 times, left 3 messages for Natasha the RN and apparently the only one who could do the pre auth. She never bothered to call me back one single time. So I called at the end of the day and spoke to somone named Kerry (not familiar with her). and she tells me that Natasha is trying to get out the door and will try to do the pre auth tomorrow (today). She also exploains they were swamped today with patients waiting even in the hallway. Well I understand that, but I'm a patient too. I'm in pain, I'm not even interested in eating or drinking because it hurts but I force myself to because I have to. So now I wait and see if Natasha can make time for me to put this pre auth in. Three days since the medicine was perscribed I still haven't gotten to take it yet to start treating this ulcer.

Sorry for the long post. I have always always spoke highly of the staff at Chrias as they have always treated me wonderful. But yesterday just pissed me off and I needed to vent.

I too have experienced many problems with the CHRIAS staff, waiting 5 days for Natasha to call in a prescription and very rude staff members who answer the phones and treat you like you are bothering them, especially the appointment scheduler - Kathy.  I think that the whole practice has grown so big, so fast that they don't have the staff to handle it and they overbook...the last two out of three appointments I waited 60-90 minutes to be seen.  People with weight issues are already insecure and the last thing we need is to be made to feel as if we are bothering people.  It has gotten to the point that the dread having an appointment because it turns into a 2 to 3 hour ordeal.  I feel your pain and hope that you get your medication soon.

See I have never had a problem there. Everyone has always been very pleasent and fiendly witth me. They always compliment me on my success and everything. But I agree the practice has gotten huge. People come from surrounding states just to go to CHRIAS for WLS.

Like I said I even notice a little bit of a change in Dr. Irgau who I love to death. I think he is an amazing doctor and a wonderful surgeon. I don't know if it's because he's frustrated with my situation and not being able to give me an answer as to whats wrong or if he is just tired of hearing from me everytime I have pain. I hope it's not the second.

Thank god for my PCP. I decided to stop screwing around with Natasha at CHRIAS and called my PCP. They are going to take care of the prior auth for me and give me a month supply of samples I can get started on.

I am saddened that this happened to you.  I go to my pcp for all of my follow-up.  When she is in doubt she sends me to specialists without a second thought.   I love Dr Irgau and Dr Peters....they are both awesome doctors but I do believe that their practice has gotten so big that it can feel unmanageable.  

I have heard of people waiting hours...like an entire morning or even an entire day to see a pain management specialist or a surgeon.  Sometimes emergencies come up and the schedules go out of wack because of an emergency.  I am okay with waiting because I know that if I become that emergency they will be there for me spending that time with me.  I will not let a doctor rush me because they are trying to make up time.    

Usually when the specialist is behind, the person behind the desk has given me a heads-up.  My knee surgeon's office will even post a sign showing how long you may need to wait for your appointment depending on which doctor you are seeing.  

Best advice.....try to get the very first appointment.  The earlier the better and the less time you will be waiting.  Also....pain is your body trying to tell you something....listen to your body....you deserve to be healthy and painfree. 

 

My last appointment was in the North Wilmington office. I waited about 2 minutes. It was wonderful. I was pleasantly surprised.  No pressure. Not crazy. Close to home.
 
I have been  extremely lucky. Only 1 issue where I had a constricted stoma, an EGD and a stretch was all I needed to get me gong again. 

I left 2 Dr's practices because of ignorant nurses/staff.  The Dentist did call me and I shared my story with them. Too late. Trust me they don't want to loose you as a patient. You can thank your insurance Company for the pre-Auth's. I just went round and round with the drug store, the Dr's office and Medicare for meds for my Mother. Meanwhie she went without her Asthma meds for a week. Ultimately it was all Hospice's  fault.  But  the drug store wanted to make sure they would get paid. There a are all kinds of horror stories out there. 
I can't  wait for OBAMA/Care. It'll get worse and we'll all be ****ed off.

Bottom line we all go into this with doubt , knowing there could be issues. Sorry it had to be you.
((HUGS)) Elissa

Like I said this has been my first bad experience with Chrias. I also understand about emergency because I have been one of those emergencues. I do plan to mention something to Dr. Irgau at my next appointment.

I don't go to my PCP for my follow ups, just because I feel more comfortable being with Dr. Irgau on those things since he is the expert and he knows what's best for us RNY patients.

I've never waited longer then a few minutes for any of my appointments. Everyone has been generally friendly. I understand also that the nurses travel from the different offices with the surgeons as well, and that while I was in pain there may have been emergencies ahead of me.

However it's now Friday and I still have not gotten so much as a call back from Natasha. Not that it matters now because my PCP took care of everything.

Oh and I know it's the insurance companies fault that I had to deal with this nightmare but CHRIAS could've helped me out a bit.

For the amount of patients they are treating and with the practice growing by leaps and bounds it seems to me that they need to take a deep breath and get more tactical.  They need to hire more help - real help - Natasha shouldn't be the only one handling the prescription/refill line.  In most cases patients should not have to wait more than 24 hours to have a prescription called in or get a call back from Natasha - waiting 3 to 5 days is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!! 

Maybe the doctors need to survey some of their patients to get feedback - get a survey going!

I agree it's absolutely absurd that Natasha is the only one that handles presciprtions. Here it is Friday 4 days from the time the script was written for me and I still haven't heard a peep from Natasha.