A follow up to my follow up...

Here's what I got in the mail today from Dr. Jerk. A letter and a check addressed to Carol K. Notice he didn't put the "e" on the end of my last name in spite of the fact that it is clearly written that way on all the forms I submitted. ------- Dear Mrs. K: I was informed that you were unhappy with the service you received at the Surgical Weight Loss Center yesterday, and I am sorry to hear that. Understand that we never performed the surgery and only agreed to see you out of the goodness of our hearts. We certainly have no obligation to see you as a patient or do any band adjustments. I was quite astonished to hear that you were planning to complain to the Hospital Name administration. Please seek followup for your LAP-BAND elsewhere. We have cancelled [sic] your fluoroscopy. We will be billing your insurance, as is our routine, and will refund any amount that you overpaid as per our contractural [sic] obligation with your insurance. Sincerely, Dr. Jerk, M.D., Bariatric and General Surgery -------- The letter is dated 2/14/08. But wasn't postmarked until 2/20/08 and received today 2/21/08. They also did NOT cancel my fluoroscopy appointment - I did. When the radiology department at the hospital called to "pre-register" me for my appointment. Out of the "goodness of" their "hearts" Puh-leeeze. Like it was a charity case and money had nothing to do with it. And hello!?! Even if you have no obligation to see me or treat me, you still have an obligation to behave in a professional manner. I never said or implied that they had any obligation beyond treating me in a professional manner so that I didn't waste time and money. What a pompous idiot!

Oh and I called my surgeon's office (the one's who did my surgery) and they can't see me until March 26th. Which is when I'm supposed to be heading 245 miles in the opposite direction from my surgeon's office to take dd to a skating competition. I guess it will have to be back to Nashville to the doc who thinks I should be so tight I can't eat more than 600 - 800 calories per day. While I'm there I'll be talking to him about band removal.

How insipid and asinide is this? This is truly unbelievable!

Carole - I am sorry you are having so many problems with this doctor. I sure do hope that you get the care you need. Take care.

Wow!~ I'm so sorry, Carole! Don't know what to say, hon!

This is just plain stupid. I would complain to the hospital administration anyway. If you weren't so far away I would make you an appointment with my doctor here on Long Island. How about coming up to New York?

Thanks everyone. I'm just so flipping frustrated right now. I do plan to write a letter to the hospital administration, enclosing a copy of the letter that Dr. Jerk sent to me. But every time I sit down to write the letter I just end up crying in frustration. It is about all I can do to keep from driving to the store and buying some frozen therapy (Ben & Jerry's). Fortunately for me () my husband was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes so there's nothing excessively sweet in the house - which means that self-medicating with fattening sweet/rich foods requires a special trip the store. Since I cannot justify driving to the store just to buy something bad for me I guess I'm safe. Sort of. I'm going to call the surgeon in Nashville (Dr. 600 - 800 calories/day) and see if I can get in to see him for a fluoro (to make sure my stuck episodes aren't a band complication) and an unfill. I need a break from the constant worry about what will and will not get stuck. Maybe a chance to get my head back in the game and figure out where I go from here. This wasn't supposed to be this difficult. Oh well ... As Frances has taught us, Onward! Carole