no surgery; apparently going to be stuck with this pain forever!

What a horrible doctor! 

No, I actually don't drink Crystal Light at all... but I wonder what it was that was in it that caused such pain.

Lora

Good Lord - What a MESS!!!!

Ditto with the other posters ... but I did want to add the following;

BE THE SQUEAKY WHEEL!!!!   Call, complain, take notes, walk around with a notebook writing down names and what's happening (that gets their attention because they're so afraid of being sued), ask for copies of medical records, ask them to spell names and dosages of medications, and ask for business cards from everyone who says anything medical to you!!!! 

Being aggressive forces them to notice you, and forces them to pay more attention to your care.  You may not be their favorite patient ... The "complacent patient" is easier for them, but you're not there to make friends.  The hard part is the worse you feel, the more difficult it is to be your own advocate!!

Last month, my Mother was in the hospital for what should have been a 2 night stay, and it ended up being over 2 weeks.   There was a complication - and then MANY "mis-communications" similar to what you've described.  It didn't take us long to learn that once I started staying in the room with her, requesting information, asking for clarification, keeping my own records, etc she started getting much better care.  

I'm sure I was a pain in the ass for some of the Nurses, but the ones who embraced my efforts, found that I was a big help to them.  My Mom was moved from the Recovery Wing, to ICU, to Neurology, to Physical Therapy, back to ICU ... and I slept in every chair, and fold-out couch in that place (many having been originally designed for a Renaissance Torture Chamber, no doubt)! 

One morning I came back from breakfast, to her having wild hallucinations.  When I couldn't convince the Nurses that it was more than a "reaction to the medication" I walked into the hallway, and asked the first person in a long white coat for help.  It turned out that he was a Department Head, who called for the Director of Neurology, who ordered a CT Scan which revealed that my Mother had a brain bleed that morning ... which would have been missed ****il she Stroked out) IF I hadn't been aggressive about getting her help!

Don't give up - keeping fighting until you get the care and answers you need!!!!!

Lora, I am sorry you are having such a hard time.  I can't believe the surgeon let you down.
I would call his office every frickin' day that you have pain, every time. Or find yet another surgeon.
I am praying you find an answer and a cure!

Amanda

Dear Lora,

I am so sorry to hear about this and wi**** had gone better for you. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding or miscommunication. I think it would be best to start by talking with your  doctor to find out why he deterred from your arrangement. I wouldn't make any assumptions until you speak with him 1st. If  you find he actually does not have your best interest in mind then I think it's best to move on. I also never rely on an ER doctor to do anything unless it is obvious that  I might die in a few minutes. Other that that I noticed they basically drug you and send you out the door.  This is from personal experience like when then they said I had a urinary tract infection which turned out to be a 27 lb tumor in my abdomen. Then they missed 3 ventral hernias and said I probably had the flu...repeatedly...over the course of a year. I did notice a few things in my ER visits such as not sucking it up and showing them my misery got better results. I laid on the moaning, groaning, and crying. Basically put on an academy award performance. It's not the way I would have liked to have handled it, but I needed help, so I had to trade my pride for results.  It's was pretty effective too especially when they realized I wasn't a  frequent flyer looking for drugs. Again, if you find your doctor did let you down, I wouldn't hesitate to move on immediately. You don't need to waste any more time spinning your wheels. I am concerned about your emotional well being right now because pain and all this frustration can wear even the best of us down. I hope this forum helps, but it might also be a good time to find some professional support to help you get through his dark time, until you find the light again.
 
My Best Wishes to you for a Successful Outcome.
Kat.

Actually, the ER doc himself was relatively helpful (he, at least, wrote a script for some Percocet when all my surgeon's intern was willing to give me was more Vicodin, which I had already told him wasn't enough to handle the pain... and also did not understand the point of admitting me if they weren;t going to do anything except give me pain meds).  It was MY surgeon's office who were not at all helpful.

I'm a little concerned about my psyhcological health as well. Unfortunately, one of the things contributing to the depression is that the counselor I have been seeing for 7 years (PTSD) is retiring in just a few weeks... so I am going to have to "start over" with someone else 

Lora

Have you gone anywhere else for another opinion? A WLS friend of mine went across the country to The Cleveland Clinic to get relief from her issues. She just had surgery there and is doing much better now after years of complications following her weight loss surgery.

Laura

My best friend suggested that as well.  I just don't see any way to handle the logistics of doing something like that right now.  If I do finally lose my job, perhaps...  although then I probably cannot afford to keep my medical insurance.

Lora

Lora....my Petersen's hernia NEVER showed up on any tests; I had repeated CT scans, MRIs, etc., etc. for like SIX WEEKS!!! Finally, they offered exploratory surgery and lo and behold they found it!

Please don't give up....DEMAND exploratory surgery if you feel this hopeless about it all.

Thanks, Marilyn.  Afetr over a year of dealing with this and having now had SO many people (essentially) tell me that if nothing shows up on a CT scan they cannot do anything -- and imply that SOMETHING should show up if there is really a problem requiring surgery and that I just ahve to suck it up -- that I am almost AFRAID to talk to yet another surgeon... afraid that even I can get someone to go in and look around that they won't find anything and everyone will say "See, I told you so"... 

But pain like this does NOT happen for no reason... and I am not crazy (well, a little biut today, maybe) or making it up.

Lora

Thanks to EVERYONE for the support.  

The pain is just as bad today, so I have an appt in a few minutes with my PCP to see if he can suggest a FOURTH surgeon (and see if amybe he can help get me in quickly)... and maybe modify the antidepressants... or something... and then I have an appt tomorrow with the surgeon who bailed on me (because I want to know WTH happened and want the chance to tell him directly how extremely disappointed I am in him... that I thought he made more professional and personal integrity than that.

Lora