We can be totally honest here,,,, well I'm the irritating patient from hell

I think my doc hates me well okay maybe not hate but you know what I mean. You know how every doc has that one irriating patient that ALWAYS needs something, well thats me. I dont try to be a pain in the butt I really dont. A little back ground surgery went well but about 3 weeks later I had a stricture and an ulcer which I really should have called him before but I thought it was normal ( stupid I know)  and then about a week later was having serious pain from the ulcer which made me stay in the hopsital for 9 wonderful days. What joy, I am home now and getting better. I called the nurses b/c I just wanted to know what other medication you know over the counter I could take bc I had not so much pain but pressure in my chest. She calls the doc im like please dont its sunday and I didnt mean to bother him I just had a quick question. Shes like i have to call the doctor, I cant call to ask a question and then tell her not to call the doctor. Im like fudge bc I swear unless it is the weekend or like 3am I never have to call him. So she gives him a call and she tells me his answer on the medications which is great and then she told he said " I was doing good this week" Which I know doesnt sound horrible but the way in which it was said was more like. " How about you not get sick on me again, you just got out the darn hospital and last time I saw you, you where much better. So stop being a problem child." That was not said but I swear that is what I heard. Keep in mind I saw him on Thursday, got out the hospital on Sunday I am doing TONS better than a week before but still not at 100%. Still taking baby steps will get there in time, so I am not worried at all. On the other hand its like when I dont call and there is a problem like before I feel like an ass. No he doesnt make me feel that way I just do. When I call b/c I really dont know if something is wrong I feel like an ass. I know this was long, thanks for reading and letting me vent.

you are not the irrating patient from hell....that title belongs to the patient that calls their surgeon cause when they farted it smelled like fish when they ate chicken or their farts came out sounding like trumpets...
You have every right  and every reason to call.
I am the complication guru and I am here to tell you..if something doesnt feel right to you CALL if something is hurting ...yep CALL. If you are bleeding or you have drainage CALL...If you cant not swallow or it comes back up....CALL
do you kinda get my point?
My surgeon would rather have me call before it gets serious then to wait.
I got MRSA after my RNY..lol I saw the bruise huge ugly black thing and knew something was wrong..then the staple popped out and puss kept gushing out...did I wait for my appointment..NO I CALLED...this happened one week from being discharged from my  being released from the hospital for my RNY. I was taken into the OR and had surgery three days in a row...and now If I feel its not right I call...my calling saved my life....
you know your body better than a surgeon does so CALL.
An never ever feel that you are a bother...not unless you come to my house and take the last bottle of water than you will not only be bothersome but not well liked...
Hugs to ya and just know this it does get better...unless your name is pattye

I called for the drainage changing colors (YUP I did) and went in for the tummy flu. (I was only 4 weeks out then) and will I call again if something feels weird SURE WILL that is what we paid them the big bucks for so call when ever you feel the need to.

Girl - I have always been totally honest with you - and I am not about to stop now.

First of all, NEVER NEVER NEVER think you are a pain in the @$$ patient when you are a patient of Walton or Broussard.  I have known BOTH men for several years and worked with Dr W for some time of that.  Therefore, I can assure you that they WANT and NEED to know if you are not feeling right!!

Secondly, YOU have to be attuned to your own body right now.  Every bariatric patient is different but if you feel something may/might/is wrong then you need to let them know so they can assess the situation and determine the best course for you.

Third, I trust these two men (and HAVE) trusted these two men with my life for several years!  They are always there for me no matter how big or small the problem and they are my ANGELs!!  They only want what is BEST for me and I know that with all my heart because they have told me so and followed that up with their actions.

Now, I will tell you, my own personal timing is almost ALWAYS a little bit off as well, it is actually pretty funny most of the time, including the 2 am phone call from the bathroom floor to the nurses station when I went down with my bleeding ulcer.  Now, I remind you I would not let my mother call the ambulance until I called FBH and let them know where I was going to be.  AND (as usual when I have an emergency), Dr. Walton was out of town.  It never fails!  Therefore, most of my emergency business goes to Dr. B!!  But the man called my hospital room several hours after they admitted me to MWRH and made sure that I was being taken care of.  Trust me, if I had been able to make it to FBH I would have in a heartbeat!

So, back to topic, our surgeons and the WW / FBH staff's want us to let them know when something isn't right.  They are there to help us and they can't if we don't let them.  So - GIVE IT UP girl and get over it!!  They have only our success and best interests in mind!  Not whether or not we are bothering them!

Love ya chick...Hang in there - I promise better things to come!  BTW I am doing the group on 2/12 so you better get your @$$ets there!!

Ruth

Stephanie,

I completely understand where your coming from and even though she didn't say it.. You still feel that way in your mind.. But like Ruth is preaching to you, these 2 doctors are awesome and worth calling.. Don't ever feel like you are being a pain, or a complicated patient.. You are worth living and they will take care of you.. I so hope this clears up very soon for you...

Hugs and let me know if you need anything,

Sheila

Don't ever feel like a complication or a question is about you doing something wrong.  Sometimes stuff just happens, and that's what the doctors are there for.  Your job, and their job, is to take care of you, not to make their lives easy.

It's better to check with the doc before you do something you are unsure of than to have to check with him in the ER afterward. 

Don't you ever feel like a burden!  It is the nature of the business that Walton and Broussard are in that people will have questions and complications and many of them will occur during the middle of the night!  My father was an md and delivered babies for years.  Those babies always came in the middle of the night!  He got up and went and took care of it because it was his job!  The docs at WeightWise know this and accept it as part of the job and they are paid handsomely for this service.

Ruth is right!  If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.  You are obligated to yourself and your family to make sure you are ok!

Now I am climbing off my soap box and want to tell you that you did the right thing.  Maybe the gal you spoke to had a swollen and inflamed hemorroid that day!!    If she was just plain mean to you, maybe she will develop a swollen and inflamed hemorroid!  

Hope the venting made you feel better!!

Kim

Thanks guys, I really needed to hear that, I know thats what they get paid for but you know you just dont want to be the name that when they hear it  they have that OH My God not again face. Silly I know but I do feel better and since I will not get sick again, Dr. Walton will not have to worry about getting a phone call at 4am again.

If I were you I wouldn't worry about bothering them.  I am the current queen (sorry Ruth) of complications.  Been fighting leaks, infections, you name it and it's happened to me.  I have called Dr. B's cell phone while he was on vacation (I didn't know he was gone) and he always talks to me.  I have felt that he gets tired of my problems (5 months worth), but I know he wants to be aware of any potential problem so I try not to let it get to me.  Hang in there and continue to tell them what is wrong.