A bit disgruntled.....

Hi guys, it's been a while since I have posted on here, but I wanted to find out how many people have been having these problems since thier WLS. I had my surgery with Dr. Overcash back in 2004. Since then, I have been dealing with 2 ulcers, several strictures, and have been dealing with lower abdomen pain for more than 6 months. I had gone to the hospital several times in agony where they have done ct's, xrays, MRI's, everything and have found nothing. I have gone to my ob/gyn as well as my gastro dr, and they found nothing, except a cyst on my ovary which she removed the whole ovary thinking that would fix my pain. Well, it didn't. Everyone telling me they can't find anything was wearing on me to the point where I thought I was losing my freaking mind, and when all the dr's found out I was bi-polar, well they seemed to chalk it up to it's all in my mind it seems. Well, went back to Dr O last week, and he too said, "don't think I will find anything, but will do exploratory to see what's going on". This made me even madder because I thought if ANYONE would believe me, it would be him. He made me feel like I was freaking crazy too! He even seemed to have a serious attitude about even having to look at it! Well, morning of surgery, again, he came in seemingly aggitated about having to do this, and said " I really don't think we are going to find anything". Asked him about the possibility of it being IBS, his response was "could be, that is usually with someone that is female and is mentally unstable". OMG. I just wanted to cry! Well, he did the surgery and behold, found ADHESIONS!!!! Guess what? I wasn't making it up and it wasn't in my mind! Do I not have a right to be mad here? I am sitting here 2 days post op, in pain, and wondering what I did wrong to cause him and others to think I would have made this stuff up! I don't like being in pain and certainly hate hospitals and starting to hate doctors as well. Anyone care to comment?

I am so sorry, Tammy. You do have a right to be upset when medical professionals disregard things too easily. Does it remind you of the days pre-op when no matter what was wrong doctors say "just lose weight?" I read a profile a few days ago where a post-op almost died because no one believed her. I'm proud of you for staying the course even when the professionals offended you! Don't let anyone discourage you when you're having serious problems; your health is the most important thing. Now after the procedure I probably would have yelled "IN YO FACE!" at the doctor. lol. Tacky, I know. He deserves it and you deserve an apology.

You should get a written hard copy of this final Procedure and the Closing notes, for your own records. Then you might think of sharing copies with all of those other doctors for your charts/files of yours in their offices.

I want to so bad tell them all I told you so. I am so torn up over this now that all I want to do is sit here and cry. I know that adhesions isn't a major complication, but I don't understand why it took so long for someone to take the time to find it. Even then, he made me feel like crap for looking! I wish so much that I can reverse this WLS now. I have lost about 150 lbs so now I stay around 120lbs, but it has come at a big price for me. Dr. Overcash won't reverse but I don't want to be sick anymore. Sometimes I get to feeling so bad that I do get stupidly mentally unstable thinking i'd rather die than be sick anymore!

Tammy- You have certainly been put through the mill, but now that this surgery is done, you should start feeling better. As you well know adhesions can cause a great deal of pain as well as a myriad of other problems. If your surgeon is not respectful and dillegent in providing you with good after care why not see if you can see another bariatric surgeon for your post-op care. Good luck. I hope you are feeling lots better real soon. Red

As Mike already suggested, get a copy of your operative report to share with other docs. A far as the in-your-face doubting and "unstable" crack, I would think that you were owed an apology. I am glad that you finally on the road to recovery. Kristen

It would be difficult for me to tell my Dr he owed me an apology or at least tell him how I felt but I actually think it would benefit, him you and other patients if you did. Surgeons in my experience get very focused and are not generally the best with people skills. Just my opinion. Sorry you have had such a rough time. laurie

Laurie, are you coming to the OH Conference next Saturday May 5th in Orlando?

Dear Tammy, Wow, you've really been put through the wringer. Not at all fair for you. You're right to feel what you do. Please feel the compassion we share towards you and this aweful situation. I reccommend you find a local support group that maybe able to redirect your future follow up care to a more compassionate surgeon. If you were in my area (Broward/West Palm Beach counties) I would strongly reccommend Dr. Wizman. www.DrWizman.com In our last monthly support group meeting he hosted, he informed us that even the referrals he gives us to other MDs for specialty follow up will only be to the very best in their field & in addition, he makes certain they're MDs with excellent bedside manners. You're in my thoughts, Kim Boca Raton, FL