Beware of the brush-off surgeon

Nicole, I've got the same pain in my right upper rib cage. It's a mystery to my doctor. I've had the ct scan and ultrasound, to no avail. Hurts like He**, if you know what I mean. I am fortunate though, my surgeon is the BEST! Good luck, Karen

I just wanted to let everyone know that I went back for a check-up and there are a series of small hernias above my belly button, which will require another surgery, major one, in the future. I am also now having a problem that has happened due to the fixing of the previous problem. How crazy is that? When my surgeon fixed everything inside, the food no longer just sits there, it is now dumping too rapidly into my small intestine, causing a quick rise in blood sugar, which then causes a quick spike in insulin. The spike in insulin jerks my blood sugar way down so now I have really scary episodes of hypoglycemia (like Julia Roberts in that scene from Steel Magnolias) and can't eat any simple carbs at all, no potatoes, no rice, no pasta. My endocrinologist told me that the rapid dumping and hypoglycemia are commonly seen in gastric bypass patients, yet my surgeon had no idea what was going on when I asked him during my post-op visit. I'm now on a combo pill used for diabetics, have to eat every three to four hours, and can't eat any simple carbs at all. I am so frustrated with all of this, having my own pity party I guess, just trying to keep in my mind that there are others with problems/complications much worse than my own.

Rachel, I'm so sorry to hear of your complications, but so glad to see you posting and encourging people to "push" doctor's who just don't seem to be listening. Most doctor's care and want to do the right thing by their patients. When I read where you said you "knew" that there was something seriously wrong with you, a chill went up my spin, as that is how I felt before I went back into the hospital for what was an extended stay. Good luck to you and once you get the other issue taken care of, I wish you great health and happiness. Debbie J Atlanta area Duncan patient 01-14-02 lap-rny 01-15-02 leak repair surgery (non smoker, non steroid taker) 01-29-02 surgery to see if I had another leak, NO thank goodness SEVERE COMPLICATIONS!!!!!! 45 days in ICU, 33 days kept alive via ventilator 30 days in a rehab hospital, had to learn to walk again Now one happy girl.........LUCKY to be alive Number of visits to me, by "my" surgeon while I was fighting for my life in ICU-ZERO, none, nada Number of visits by "my" surgeon to my very worried and very scared family in the ICU waiting area-ZERO, none, nada