Frustrated with my Surgeon...long

I was so mad at Dr. barker's office today that I left there crying.  I had surgery on June 5th.  Last Friday, I started getting a rash.  I started taking benadryl and using the super potent steroid cream that my dermatologist Rxed for me.  By Tuesday, the rash was covering my entire torso, thighs and the top of my arms.  I called dr barker's office and told them about the rash and everything that I tried and asked if they could call in an Rx for prednisone.  (I have a tendancy to get rashes when I am stressed...usually if the steroid cream doesn't work, I end up at the walk in clinic for a prednisone shot or course of pills)  The girl that I talked with talked to Dr. Thompson and he said that he needed to see me before he could Rx anything.  So I made an appt for Thurs at 1.  Well, about 5pm I am still sitting in the waiting room and I hear the office workers saying something about dr thompson being out.  So I go up and ask about it and tell her that I really couldn not wait anylonger.  She had me go back into the office and said they would ask dr barker about my rash.  I stand around the back office for almost a half an hour before the girl came back to talk to me.  She told me that Dr. Barker doesn't want to give me anytype of oral steroids because it will slow my weightloss.  I was getting so frustrated at this point...why in the world did they want me to come in if dr barker wasnt going to do anything.  Seriously, I don't care if it slows down my weightloss for a week...I am itching so bad that I can't even sleep.  Not to mention the fact that no even bothered to LOOK at my rash.

So after the girl tells me this, I could hardly keep from crying.  I was so mad and frustrated.  So I told her I was leaving.  She wanted me to wait some more so that dr barker could explain it to me.  I told her that there was really nothing to explain...if he wasn't going to Rx anything for my rash, there really wasn't any need for me to wait some more so he can tell me that.  I left and cried all the way home because I was tired, frustrated, mad and itching like I was laying in a fireant pile.

When I get home, Dr thompson calls to say he was sorry that he missed me.  He went on to tell me that no amount of steroid cream is going to stop my rash because it is systemic.  I told him I know that and that is the reason I called the office to see him...I knew that I needed something oral, but I wasn't sure what I could take since I am just 2 wks post op.  Then he tells me that they can't give me oral steroids because the steroids would weaken my stitches...What???  All I have in my stomach is staples and I seriously doubt that the steroids will weaken my titanium staples.  He tells me to take benadryl and I tell him that I have almost taken a whole bottle since Friday.   He then basically says too bad and you will just have to ride it out until goes away on its own.  I can't believe it!!  What if this isn't my normal stress rash and I am having some kind of reaction to something else...I just can't believe that without even looking at it, they want me just to ride it out.

So now I am in a bit of a jam.  If I go see my dermatologist, I will have to explain about my surgery (because I don't want to take anything that will jeapadize it)  When my derm finds out that my surgeon won't give me anything, I am sure that he is not going to Rx anything either.

I am just so frustrated right now and mad that dr barker's made me schedule an appt, wait for 4 hrs and then tell me he wasn't going to do anything.  I am seriously considering switching my aftercare to another surgeon.

Thanks for letting me rant...now I am off to scratch some more...
Mary

I'm so sorry that you're having a rough time right now. A friend of mine's used Dr. B as well. She had a appt this week Monday and she said she waited over 4 hrs as well. She left there angry and in tears because her weight loss has stall and the nurse's told her it was her fault. I recommended that she see my surgeon for follow up care. Sometimes a practice grows so big they no longer have time for routine patient care. Also, you may want to try a little paste made out of baking soda and water to apply to your itching area. It doesn't look good but it stops the itching for a little while. Good louck to you and I sure hope you get that itching under control.

Mary.....I am SO sorry that you are having these itching issues.    I wish that I could offer you a solution to your problem.    I will pray for you that soon this shall pass and you will feel better.    It is tough when you have to wait for hours at the docs office much less 4 !!!!  UGH   I would be so very angry....lets just leave it at that.     It is too bad when surgeon's become so big that they don't have time to give the attention to their patients that they deserve.    Good luck with the itiching and whatever you decide to do.


Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

Every time I see Barkers name I cringe.  A coworker/friend of mine blames him for nearly killing her.  She was concerned from the beginning about the wait-times in his office, his uncaring demeanor, and shall we say, lack of cleanliness.  Following her WLS  she got an infection that he failed to properly treat her for, then she landed in the hospital for 2 months. 
I can't imagine going through the trauma you did.  Four hours in the waiting room, then a brush-off by both the staff and the doctor?!  I can totally relate to your crying in frustration and my heart goes out to you.  Its good that you posted this here so others can see what they could be in store for.

Take care, D

I knew, from reading this board, that I was in for a long wait if I chose Dr. Barker as my surgeon.  I was fine with that because of his reputation of being an excellent surgeon.  And to his credit, I have had zero complications or pain after my surgery.  I probably would have been ok with the wait if I had been taken care of properly when I finely got in to see the dr, because I knew going into it that there was always a wait at his office.

So, can you really change dr for the aftercare?  I was thinking of Dr. Kuhn or Kim...Dr. Kuhn is really close to me at Baylor.

mary

Can't say for certain but have heard rumors that bariatric docs are wierd about taking over another docs patients. 

Can't complain about after care from Dr. Kuhn's.  Last time I was there was for one year check in April.  Since my COBRA has played out I'm a total self-pay and could not swing the labs.  Will try and scrap up what I need to have them when I go back in Oct.  Have some "sludge" in the gall bladder we are still watching.

Dr Barker is an excellent surgeon and I credit him with giving me my life back BUT his aftercare leaves a lot to be desired.  I always waited 3-4 hours for an appt and it was incredibly frustrating.  After my one year check-up I decided to have my PCP do my labs so I didn't have to deal with his office.

I'm so sorry about your rash.  I'd be tempted to go to a Primacare and see if they would give you a Rx for the oral meds.

Oral steroids at 2 weeks post op may delay your healing at your staple line not "weaken your stitches." Steroids can delay wound healing.  It also can weaken your immune system and put you at a greater risk of infection.  I can understand why they are hesitant to prescribe it but certainly could have explained it better and treated you better.

I certainly appriciate your explanation...I got an appt with my derm, and I will be sure to tell him about the surgery.

mary

Hi,
I'm so sorry that you had this experience. I had RNY with Dr. Castro on 4/28/09 and at 3 weeks out I broke out in a full body rash (from scalp to the bottoms of my feet). I went straight to the
ER and they gave me IV Solu-Medrol (Steroid) and IV Benadryl and stopped it cold. It was the strangest thing because It did not itch but I was inpain from the waist up.

Again I'm sorry you had this experience

PS Blood tests revealed nothing and I still don't know what
caused that rash.