4 month Post-op Upper GI ....

Last Friday I went to a radiology center in INdiana for my post op upper GI. My surgeon is in Mexicali and he recommended that I have it done at 3 months post op. Due to scheduling I went at 4 months. I have not had any negative symptoms but was following my surgeon’s instructions. It was a difficult appointment.  Here is why. I explained to the tech about my sleeve and it’s limitations as far as drinking volume goes. She appeared to be a good listener and understood. However, the radiologist was a different story. He had a protocol to follow and was demanding that I drink to fulfill his protocol.  I threw back a cup of crystals, and then chased it with some clear liquid. I would not recommend that to anyone with a sleeve. It was painful, as these crystals made gas. Then I had to drink the vanilla pudding barium that wasn’t painful to swallow but the volume that he wanted me to consume was not realistic for me.  Then at the end he asked me to drink water so that he could get me to reflux, which he did, and said, “That is going to cause problems."  So anyone else have this experience?  Send along your thoughts or advice for next time (if there is one).  I probably should have asked for all of your advice before the appointment but I didn’t realize it was going to go like that.  If I need another upper GI I will insist on having a sit down with the radiologist first.  I have not received the results of the test yet. I am expecting that all is good with the exception of reflux. By the way, I no symptoms of reflux. 
K

Sounds terrible. Maybe it would be a good idea to have  a written surgical report from your  barriatric surgeon to show other doctors in the future should you need some other procedure. Might make them pay attention. I make sure I get copies of all medical things including my surgery report.  Glad you are ok. Diane

Great advice Diane! 

I did bring along xrays of my GI track so he could see how small my sleeve is.

He peeked at it but was more interested in getting things done and moving on.  

It's just another example, for me that sometimes, I need to really get someones attention so that they will listen.   It's the old, obese, me, not wanting to make a fuss or a scene. 

Hope others read this and come prepared with paperwork and dialogue.    

K

Did you have your GI at a hospital that does bariatric surgery? I think that helps because you aren't their first WLS peep in ages (or maybe ever).

Of course, some are jerks no matter what...

That would have been a great idea to have it done at a bariatric center.  I had the same idea too. 
Of course my insurance dictates where I go if I want them to pay.  I'm not complaining because I am self pay for the VSG surgery but glad that insurance is paying for the follow up care.  I could have paid out of pocket and gone some where else.  In fact...

I tried getting into the bariatric center for follow up but they didn't want me because I did not have have surgery with them. 

So live and learn. 

K

Even if you can't get into a bariatric program for your after-care, I think it helps if you go to a hospital has doctors there performing bariatric surgery.

For example, if I need to go to the ER and there are two hospitals near me and one does bariatric surgery and one doesn't, I go to the one that does it. Now, the ER docs aren't bariatric surgeons, but they can call for a consult with whichever bariatric surgeon is on-call at the hospital that does bariatric surgery. They can't at the one that doesn't.