Dr Shina
Well, I have been a strong Shina fan, until last week. Let me tell you a story, I am no longer recomending him to ANYONE. I have a friend who made an appt with him who now cancelled.
I had signs of a hernia (bulge under skin that you can push back in). I told Dr Shina in December when I saw him and he said well 2 weeks before your 6 month appt in March call in to schedule a CT scan.
Well 1 week ago today, last Sunday, that spot started hurting me pretty badly. I dealt with the pain Sunday and Monday then Monday after work I went to the immediate care center where the doc felt my belly and said yep a hernia call your surgeon. I said well I have an appt in March and she said no this is urgent call him now. So I called Dr Shina's office Tuesday morning. They made an appt for me at his Louisville office at 2pm.
I get there in the room and Dr Shina felt my belly (I had been doubled over in pain for the better part of 2 days now). And told him that the ICC Dr said I had a hernia. He looked at me and meanly said I do not believe for one second that you have a hernia. I said well I dont know what the cause of the pain is but my belly hurts. He then walked out of the room and his nurse walked in. And she said they would schedule a CT scan for me when would be a good time next week or the week after etc.
I then said um right now I am in pain, and she said it doesnt work that way that she is not treating this as urgent, that it is a scheduled procedure, and I can have first available if that will suit me. I said what do I need to do to get treatment for this pain now? Go to the ER? She shrugged and said that is up to me. So i leave Dr Shina's office in tears because I am in pain and he straight up said he doesnt believe that there is a hernia!
So I went back to S indiana to Clark Memorial hospital's ER, somewhere that Shina doesnt go. They take me back and immediately do a CT scan and guess what?!?! I have what appears to be an incarcerated hernia! So the ER doc calls Dr Shina, who apparently got rude with her and was argumentative. I do not know the entire conversation that took place, but the ER doc told me i straight up needed to change surgeons and that he was unprofessional to say the least.
So she referred me to a general surgeon Dr MacMillon who ordered pain killers for me and got me in to his office the next day (Wednesday). He told me that this is an urgent but not emergent situation and needed to be fixed via surgery ASAP. So he scheduled surgery for me Friday morning. I went to Clark Memorial Friday morning, Dr MacMillan did my hernia repair with mesh (I actually had TWO hernias, and one he said something about intestines). It was done outpatient and I have been recovering this weekend.
Now I wonder what do I do? I am so upset with Dr Shina I cant see straight but he did my RNY, dont I need to go to him for follow up care? Dr MacMillan doesnt do bypasses etc. Do I call Shina's office and tell them what happened? Do I report him? Do I go back to him? I am so confused and upset.
I had signs of a hernia (bulge under skin that you can push back in). I told Dr Shina in December when I saw him and he said well 2 weeks before your 6 month appt in March call in to schedule a CT scan.
Well 1 week ago today, last Sunday, that spot started hurting me pretty badly. I dealt with the pain Sunday and Monday then Monday after work I went to the immediate care center where the doc felt my belly and said yep a hernia call your surgeon. I said well I have an appt in March and she said no this is urgent call him now. So I called Dr Shina's office Tuesday morning. They made an appt for me at his Louisville office at 2pm.
I get there in the room and Dr Shina felt my belly (I had been doubled over in pain for the better part of 2 days now). And told him that the ICC Dr said I had a hernia. He looked at me and meanly said I do not believe for one second that you have a hernia. I said well I dont know what the cause of the pain is but my belly hurts. He then walked out of the room and his nurse walked in. And she said they would schedule a CT scan for me when would be a good time next week or the week after etc.
I then said um right now I am in pain, and she said it doesnt work that way that she is not treating this as urgent, that it is a scheduled procedure, and I can have first available if that will suit me. I said what do I need to do to get treatment for this pain now? Go to the ER? She shrugged and said that is up to me. So i leave Dr Shina's office in tears because I am in pain and he straight up said he doesnt believe that there is a hernia!
So I went back to S indiana to Clark Memorial hospital's ER, somewhere that Shina doesnt go. They take me back and immediately do a CT scan and guess what?!?! I have what appears to be an incarcerated hernia! So the ER doc calls Dr Shina, who apparently got rude with her and was argumentative. I do not know the entire conversation that took place, but the ER doc told me i straight up needed to change surgeons and that he was unprofessional to say the least.
So she referred me to a general surgeon Dr MacMillon who ordered pain killers for me and got me in to his office the next day (Wednesday). He told me that this is an urgent but not emergent situation and needed to be fixed via surgery ASAP. So he scheduled surgery for me Friday morning. I went to Clark Memorial Friday morning, Dr MacMillan did my hernia repair with mesh (I actually had TWO hernias, and one he said something about intestines). It was done outpatient and I have been recovering this weekend.
Now I wonder what do I do? I am so upset with Dr Shina I cant see straight but he did my RNY, dont I need to go to him for follow up care? Dr MacMillan doesnt do bypasses etc. Do I call Shina's office and tell them what happened? Do I report him? Do I go back to him? I am so confused and upset.
Highest 278/Surgery 262/Current 137/Goal 160
I am glad to know that you got to the source of your problem and are feeling better.
If this had happened with my surgeon, I would switch to another bypass surgeon. You can request that a copy of your medical file be released to the new surgeon of your choice.
If you would like for Dr. Shina's office to know about your surgery, I would sign a release to have that information automatically sent to his office.
Only you can decide whether or not to change Dr.'s. If I was in your shoes, I would change because i have zero tolerance for unprofessionalism / rudeness and sounds like neglect.
No matter what you do...keep feeling better and kudos to you for getting that second opinion!
Leslie
If this had happened with my surgeon, I would switch to another bypass surgeon. You can request that a copy of your medical file be released to the new surgeon of your choice.
If you would like for Dr. Shina's office to know about your surgery, I would sign a release to have that information automatically sent to his office.
Only you can decide whether or not to change Dr.'s. If I was in your shoes, I would change because i have zero tolerance for unprofessionalism / rudeness and sounds like neglect.
No matter what you do...keep feeling better and kudos to you for getting that second opinion!
Leslie
I would switch surgeons if that had happened to me. How are you ever going to feel that you can trust him when he missed something that important? Plus, it sounds like he was very rude and dismissive of you!
I am pretty sure that my surgeon (Dr. David Geller) accepts patients who had surgery done by another doctor. I really like him and he is always nice and takes time to answer any questions I have.
Take care and I hope you feel better soon.
I am pretty sure that my surgeon (Dr. David Geller) accepts patients who had surgery done by another doctor. I really like him and he is always nice and takes time to answer any questions I have.
Take care and I hope you feel better soon.
Definitely go to another surgeon. I don't know what is going on with Dr. Shina, but he always seems to be too busy to really take time to talk. Then again, maybe that is just his way. He is one of those doctors you either like or you don't. And sometimes you start out liking him and can end up with someone else. His behaviour in your situation is really uncalled for. I think there are times he picks and chooses who he wants based on the experiences you have with him. Until there is a time that he treats me the way he treated you, I will continue with my aftercare (March 17th next visit). But if he had treated me the way he treated you, I would find someone else. Believe me, I came close to doing just that when he didn't believe how sick I was until he discovered my pouch was almost closed and it shocked him. Now he treats me better, but still nothing to brag about. I'm just another patient. I am happy I had the surgery and I am feeling good about the weight I've lost, but I may never get to goal, but I don't care. If I feel good, that should be enough. And if I keep it off, that should be good enough too.
Hugs,
Vera-Ellen
Hi all.
I know this is a few days after the fact, but I just read the posts. I would not only change doctors, I would file a complaint with your state's medical board and any other supervising body. Any doctor that dismisses your symptoms in such a manner is not doing his job. (And he's not only dismissing you, he's dismissing other medical professionals.) Your case, fortunately, had a positive outcome, but what happens when he dismisses another patient who may not persist in getting the care she needs? He sounds like a medical malpractice suit looking for a place to happen. Bariatric surgeries can have complications years out; I would hate to have a doctor that didn't pay attention to my pain.
Let us know what you decide and if you need any other help or encouragement.
Jan
I know this is a few days after the fact, but I just read the posts. I would not only change doctors, I would file a complaint with your state's medical board and any other supervising body. Any doctor that dismisses your symptoms in such a manner is not doing his job. (And he's not only dismissing you, he's dismissing other medical professionals.) Your case, fortunately, had a positive outcome, but what happens when he dismisses another patient who may not persist in getting the care she needs? He sounds like a medical malpractice suit looking for a place to happen. Bariatric surgeries can have complications years out; I would hate to have a doctor that didn't pay attention to my pain.
Let us know what you decide and if you need any other help or encouragement.
Jan
(deactivated member)
on 1/30/10 9:37 pm - Florence, KY
on 1/30/10 9:37 pm - Florence, KY
Having had similiar issues with another surgeon, I can understand your frustrations. I will not go back to mine. He also cost me my life and then walked away like nothing happened. And he knows it! I am afraid the thought of a law suit meant more to him than my contact/friendship/personal well being did. That is the sad thing for me.
If you change doctors, go PICK UP YOUR OWN PAPERWORK from the office! Tell them you want a copy of the ENTIRE chart... notes, everything. Also pick up a record from the hospital. I found many things missing from one or the other when compared.
Good luck... I am glad things worked out for you. Better better soon!
If you change doctors, go PICK UP YOUR OWN PAPERWORK from the office! Tell them you want a copy of the ENTIRE chart... notes, everything. Also pick up a record from the hospital. I found many things missing from one or the other when compared.
Good luck... I am glad things worked out for you. Better better soon!
Hi Sherry,...It's so hard when something like this happens and I totally agree abou****ching closely the paperwork the hospital gives. I went back a second time as they left out my OR notes.
I do know you are referring to Dr. Sonnanstine and I had hoped this all took care of it's self once he got settled in at G-town. Dr. Sonnanstine was in a very difficult position where he was "employed" ... When their disagreements became so bad that he fought back, the hospital suspended him--so he was pretty much forced to quit as he knew there was no way to resolve the differences that was part of his philosophy of good patient care.. Therefore leaving him in the situation of no contact with his patients (not at all by choice)...the sad thing was that his patients had no idea what was going on..(.it is my opinion and those of many others who worked with him and along side him) that the blame was that of the facility .., seeing to it their post -op care was taken care of.... From the time he left until he opened his own private practice in Gtown, he could not "legally" see a patient ..he could not practice, nor see a pt..at another facility as the hospital held him to the "non-compete"clause..it's sad..and was very, very difficult for him..Dr. Sonnanstine took this very hard and was upset about leaving his patients..He was offered other positions but chose G-town for a number or reasons...but his priority was to be close for his patients .. Once he opened his doors at his new office it was again "legally" up to the patient to get their records and come to him, not the other way around.
this is all very difficult to understand ..but the law steps in and stops things from happening. Working with many different surgeons now..two of which just left one facility and came to ours..I watched the exact things happen..making me realize even more what he went through.
I am glad things turned out well for you..I was fortunate...Dr. Sonnanstine took over my care from a plastic surgeon who didn't seem to care I had problems and there was no reason for him to not take care of me...I was very, very ill... Dr. Sonnanstine is passionate and cares very much about his patients..to the point of being controlling and protective at the same time. I have seen him fight for them against other docs..I have seen him sit up all night with a patient when they came through the ER with a dumping syndrom..I have seen him cut his vacation short or cancel them completely..to be with a patient. I am so very sorry you felt neglected and left behind...this must have been very difficult for you.....
Brenda
I do know you are referring to Dr. Sonnanstine and I had hoped this all took care of it's self once he got settled in at G-town. Dr. Sonnanstine was in a very difficult position where he was "employed" ... When their disagreements became so bad that he fought back, the hospital suspended him--so he was pretty much forced to quit as he knew there was no way to resolve the differences that was part of his philosophy of good patient care.. Therefore leaving him in the situation of no contact with his patients (not at all by choice)...the sad thing was that his patients had no idea what was going on..(.it is my opinion and those of many others who worked with him and along side him) that the blame was that of the facility .., seeing to it their post -op care was taken care of.... From the time he left until he opened his own private practice in Gtown, he could not "legally" see a patient ..he could not practice, nor see a pt..at another facility as the hospital held him to the "non-compete"clause..it's sad..and was very, very difficult for him..Dr. Sonnanstine took this very hard and was upset about leaving his patients..He was offered other positions but chose G-town for a number or reasons...but his priority was to be close for his patients .. Once he opened his doors at his new office it was again "legally" up to the patient to get their records and come to him, not the other way around.
this is all very difficult to understand ..but the law steps in and stops things from happening. Working with many different surgeons now..two of which just left one facility and came to ours..I watched the exact things happen..making me realize even more what he went through.
I am glad things turned out well for you..I was fortunate...Dr. Sonnanstine took over my care from a plastic surgeon who didn't seem to care I had problems and there was no reason for him to not take care of me...I was very, very ill... Dr. Sonnanstine is passionate and cares very much about his patients..to the point of being controlling and protective at the same time. I have seen him fight for them against other docs..I have seen him sit up all night with a patient when they came through the ER with a dumping syndrom..I have seen him cut his vacation short or cancel them completely..to be with a patient. I am so very sorry you felt neglected and left behind...this must have been very difficult for you.....
Brenda
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