73 Days and STILL in UMC!

My wife, Stacey, had the RNY @ UMC by Dr. Blake on 6/30/04. Her stomach has not worked since. She has been in UMC all but 2 4-day stints at home. I had to take her back to emergency because of pain and cramps and vomitiing. She is on a feeding tube after "exploratory" surgery this past Tuesday. We're told by Dr. Blake that he "Doesn't know" what happened. He also says he "doesn't know" what to do. She is scheduled to have the gastroparesis stimulator placed in her stomach on Monday by Dr. Tom Abel. He is world renown for this work. If this works, and I've been quoted odds as low as 50/50 on this, she will have a permanent implant similar to a pacemaker that will control her stomach. This will be for the rest of her life. She probably will have to have a permanent IV line to put the TPN solution into her for the rest of her life to help supplement her diet if she's able to eat at all. She is only 33 years old. She will most likely be considered disabled and not where she can work. She is a teacher. Aside from the mess that this situation is, Dr. Blake and the Administration of UMC still feels that it is appropriate for 1st semester residents and interns to be in charge of the day-to-day care of her. In other words, if something bad goes wrong, they can call the REAL doctor. This is what we have been going through. It is astounding to me that as she gets progressively worse the level of expertise goes down. For any of you who are preparing to have this surgery and using Dr. Roger Blake understand that you WILL NOT BE SEEN by Dr. Blake after surgery. He will interview you, set you up, and operate on you, but his policy is not one of seeing his patients while they are in the hospital on any schedule other than MAYBE once a week. This is what he personally told me. You must understand that UMC is a teaching hospital and no matter how great the magnitude of the problem, you will be treated primarily by people that are not fully qualified. The justification for the hospital is that an "Attending Physician" (meaning a non-resident) physician will be "on call" if the residents get into trouble. From our experience in this particular case, this is not what you want to go through. I know this may sound like somewhat of a "gripe session" but I want anyone *****ads this to be aware of potential problems that you may encounter. Not only with the life changing surgery but with the after care you may receive from this program at UMC. I'm sure, and I actually know that this is not normal for a patient of Dr. Blake's to end up this way. However, to be told that "If you have any suggestions about what to do" from the surgeon that created this situation, i.e. Dr. Blake, to the patient or their spouse, and then to be left to the auspices of "letting the kids play doctor" instead of actively and vigorously trying to help the situation is definately something that none of you should have to go through. Doctors and hospitals like to say "Well, anything can happen in medicine". That's no excuse! Medicine or not, there needs to be some accountability. But, in this case, and I'm sure in others, this will all be chalked up to "There's always a risk with surgery". If anyone would like to talk to me about all that has happened to this point, feel free to contact me.

I'm sorry that you and your wife are going through this. I'll keep you and Stacey in my prayers. Your right though, someone in charge- who knows more, than a 1st year resident does need to step up and take charge about this at the hospital. I've never met the surgeon or any of the staff over there, so I can't say anything about them. But if what you are saying is true, you need a lawyer, tv news crew, newspaper reporter, whatever or whom ever. Someone who can get their ATTENTION to the BIG problem, before it is too late. Don't mess around or play around with them. Let them know that you mean business. Get someone in there FAST. Your wife's life could depend on it. I honestly wish that there was something that I could do for ya'll. But there isn't anything I can do, other than pray. And that I will do. Hang in there.

I am so very sorry you and your wife have encountered this. I saw this surgeon for one visit and changed surgeons immediately. I praise God for that. I agree you need a lawyer and fast to help with your wife's care she will need for the rest of her life. I will be praying for you and your wife and if you ever need to vent please feel free to email me. You can do this by clicking on my profile and then email me at the top.

Prayers going out to your wife and family. 1st of all I am aware UMC is a teaching hospital so it will be like you said. Lots of interns. They however have been in school years by the time they are given this responsibility. I am using Blake and love him to death. He is very nice to me and has good statistics. I pray that you and yours will soon straighten out and be a family again at home. There are so many risks doing this type surgery but it is something we have to decide. Pray for me that I will have an uneventful surgery and recovery. prayers and God bless. Jane

I will keep Stacey in my prayers.

Glenn, I am so sorry to hear about Stacy's surgery going so wrong, please tell her that there are people out here praying for her and we wish her the best and hope she will make a full recovery. Andrea

Glenn, I am so sorry to hear about Stacys surgery taking a wrong turn. I was scared to death to have mine done and praise the Lord that nothing major went wrong with mine. I currently know one of the best lawyers in Jackson and would be happy to send you the information on him. Better to do something now and maybe light a fire under those doctors than wait for the worst. I will keep you both in my prayers. Lisa

Hey Glen!! I talked to Stacey tonight. I was so upset to hear how things are going!! I reminded her that she (and YOU) are in my prayers everyday!! I am so sorry for ALL the complications and problems that you are going through. I will keep in touch. Call if I can do anything. Love & Prayers, Kim

DEAR GLEN, I AM VERY VERY SORRY FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING THRU. STACEY WILL BE IN MY PRAYERS AND SO WILL YOU. I UNDERSTAND YOUR FEELINGS, BUT, DR BLAKE IS A GOOD DR. HE OPERATED ON ME 7-19-05. I SAW HIM DAILY. SOMETIMES IT WAS 5:00 - 5:30 AM, BUT HE WAS THERE DAILY. YEA I SAW INTERNISTS. DR CLEVELAND AND HER GROUP WORKED WITH MY MEDS, MY DIET, HOW I FELT, IF I WAS IN PAIN, AND GENERALLY HOW THINGS WERE GOING. THESE PEOPLE HAD TO GO THRU THE SAME MEDICAL TRAINING JUST TO GET WHERE THEY ARE. THEY HAVE BEEN THRU SEVERAL YRS OF SCHOOL BEFORE THEY GET TO THIS POSITION. IF THEY GET IN OVER THEIR HEADS, HELP IS JUST A CALL AWAY. THE MEDICAL STAFF AT THE HOSPITAL WAS WONDERFUL. THERE WAS SOMEBODY CHECKING ON ME CONTINUSLY. GOING INTO THIS SURGERY I KNEW THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF PROBLEMS. EVERY SURGERY HAS RISKS. I COULD HAVE HAD A STROKE, HEART ATTACK OR SUCH ON THE TABLE. BUT I KNEW THE RISKS GOING INTO THIS SURGERY. THIS SURGEON WENT OVER EVERYONE HE COULD THINK OF. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN GO WRONG. ONLY GOD KNOWS THAT. I PUT MY LIFE IN THE DOCTORS HANDS AND WOULD DO SO AGAIN. I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR WIFE'S PROBLEMS. BUT DON'T TURN THIS INTO A "WITCH HUNT" AGAINSTTHE DOCTOR. HE IS A GOOD SURGEN.

Ms. Coleman, Young lady, you need to read my post again. And try to understand what I shared. Do not cloud the issue with your need to educate me as to the workings of UMC or their program. Read my post again and put aside your infatuation with your doctor. This is no "witch hunt". It is fact. It's too bad some people can't accept the truth. Maybe it scares you to think that this could have happened to you. If you were truly "sorry" for my wife's problems, you wouldn't make your false accusations. You would simpy offer your well wishes or say nothing at all. It's a shame that a true situation like this cannot be shared with others on this site without coming under fire from those who have no idea what it's like to suffer this way. What a shame!