Question:
Has anyone switched surgeons AFTER surgery?
Hi everyone- I am wondering if anyone has ever used a different surgeon for after care than the one who actually did your surgery. I just don't feel my surgeon cares enough to continue with him. He says to call with anything, no matter how minor, yet anytime I do, he makes me feel so terrible for wasting his time. I called last week about this pain I've been having and without even letting me finish he told me it's nothing. Now it's just getting worse, but since I don't have any other symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, fever, lumps etc.) he doesn't care. I'm sorry but unexplained pain that's getting worse is not nothing. I can't help but feel that he works at a factory, they just get patients in and out, and don't even know their names. I just want to know if it's possible to switch. I am having my PCP continue my follow-ups for now, but I've heard it's always good to have a surgeon to refer back to just in case, and since I'm planning on having kids in a few years, I know my OB/GYN will need to work with him. If anyone can offer any advice, I would really appreciate it! Thanks! — [Anonymous] (posted on January 29, 2002)
January 28, 2002
Was it the surgeon himself or a staff member? I have had some issues with
my surgeons staff and even printed some of his profile from here detailing
folks from this site with the same problems I was having. Bad attitude and
lack of return phone calls. He added another back office position right
after that and thanked me after for the heads up. Even if its a issue with
HIM I encourage you to talk to the surgeon directly. Its probably better to
stick with your experienced surgeon than having to find a new one for
follow up and he might need a reality check as to how he is treating his
patients. What most post ops fail to realize that post op care is a revenue
stream for your surgeon. One or two visits a year billed to insurance times
every post op they have really adds up. This income doesnt require
approvals, and big hassles like pre ops do. So YOU and your money are
important to your surgeons business.... WLS has really taken off and
surgeons are overwhelmed with work. That leads to situations like yours. Do
tell your surgeon how you feel.....
— [Anonymous]
January 28, 2002
I'm the original poster. Perhaps I didn't make it clear enough. Although
I'm completely confident in his surgical technique and competence, I can't
help but feeling he couldn't care less about me. He talks down to me, even
though I attended medical school for a while, and am well versed in medical
terminology. When I was in for surgery I requested NOT to have Vicodin when
I leave the hospital, as I'd tried it before and it did nothing for me. (It
was prescribed previously for migraines, I just used two tablets and
neither worked.) So when I was out of the room he told my family that I
must have developed a dependency to the Vicodin and that's why it didn't
work. ARGH! He didn't even listen to what I said, and then proceeded to
tell my family I was a drug addict! Great... I just feel like I can't take
it anymore. It's not only that he doesn't have time for me, it's just his
general attitude. But I like the idea of asking my PCP to refer me to
someone! Thanks! :)
— [Anonymous]
January 29, 2002
I would definitely be looking for a new surgeon for after-care. My doctor
says to call him for everything and he means it. His appointment cards
have his home phone number on them.
I got bronchitis shortly after surgery and couldn't reach him because he
was on vacation (it was New Years week)but he told me to call him before
taking any medications. So I called his home, he answered the phone and
assured me that the anti-biotic that had been prescribed was ok and that I
could take the pills and didn't have to take the liquid. He just warned me
that it might make me feel bad or sick and to be aware of that. He called
me at work the next week to see how I was feeling.
He really meant it when he said to call about anything - and to take the
time to call me (he didn't even have his nurse call) to make sure I was ok
was a clear signal to me that he really does care about his patients.
Any concern you have is important and even the busiest doctor should take
the time to hear you out.
— Patty_Butler
January 29, 2002
I am going to be a big chicken here and post an answer to your question
anonymously which I never do. But I have some friends who had WLS and used
the same surgeon I did and the coward in me doesn't want this to possibly
get back to him. I cannot stand my surgeon. He has no idea what nutrition
needs are for a WLS patient post-op and his office staff are awful too. I
feel like everytime I call them (and I have had a few problems since my
surgery) that they are on the other end of the phone rolling their eyes and
saying "Oh good grief, it's her again!" I dread going to him for
post-op visits. Half the time he cuts me off before I even get my sentence
out and if I disagree with what he says he just stares at me. If there was
another doctor locally who did WLS I might try to go see him/her but there
isn't. I would change docs in a second if there was somewhere to go. All
you folks who have good docs who care about more than just their wallets
consider yourself blessed!
— [Anonymous]
January 29, 2002
To the anonymous poster who was too chicken to say who her surgeon
is....most of us are here for support and research. I would just like to
urge you to share the name of your surgeon with us to avoid someone else
going through the same issues you are having. Does it matter what your
surgeon thinks of you? YOU are the "customer". I also am
scheduled with a surgeon who really does not know me from Adam and could
not pick me out of a line up. I dont have any concerns related to her
compentency, but she has no bed side manner whatsoever and probably just
sees me as another fat person. I just dont have alot of choice when it
comes to my surgeon as I have no insurance. Anyway..just wanted to give my
2 cents about sharing info and names. This is what the site is for. Thanks.
— Julie D.
January 29, 2002
the trouble with naming names is that you can be sued for libel.
— faybay
January 29, 2002
I had the same problem with my surgeon and I knew it before the surgery,
and decided that since he has no aftercare, besides 'you look good, see you
in 6 weeks' said from across the room without looking at me or touching me,
I decided to ask my primary doctor to do my followups, he is willing to do
this and I have given him alot of info on post op care, and hope that my
surgeon will extend the courtesy of a fellow physician if he has questions
on my aftercare. I went to the surgeon I did because he was the only one on
my insurance plan, he did a good job on my surgery, (as far as I can tell)
so I am pleased with that, and now the ball is on my court, so I use this
site and others to gather information to keep myself healthy.
— potterylady
January 29, 2002
Are there any other Dr's in the practice with your surgeons?
Maybe you could switch to one of them? I know my surgeon
has 2-3 other doctors in with him and I could see them if
I go in on his day off. Perhaps you could do that. Just a
thought..... Good Luck
— M B.
January 29, 2002
I agree that people can be sued for libel when naming doctors and then
downing them. I had posted a question about this anonymous thing very
recently but in this position, I give in. I agree that it's very tricky
and also scary legally. To the original questioner I can add this. My
surgeon did the surgery, I went for follow up but there was something that
happened while at his office that I didn't like after about 6 months.
Somewhat like what you are going through. I decided to see my internist
after that and she has been dealing with my problems ever since. I
finally got up the nerve to call the original surgeon just a few weeks ago
and finally explain why I didn't come back. They felt terrible, said it
was a misunderstanding and that they surely would have rectified the
problem long ago had they known. My point? I think that the surgeon needs
to know. If nothing is said, it won't help anyone else and certainly not
yourself. I am back to seeing my surgeon and he is (from what he says)
working very hard to find a solution to my problems. So far, so good. My
internist is great but doesn't have the experience in this surgery that the
surgeon does. no, all of my problems are not solved but it can't hurt that
there is more than 2 doctors trying to help. Good luck to you because I
know your frustration.
— Barbara H.
January 29, 2002
I had two surgeries with my first surgeon, and wasnt happy with the
aftercare that I recieved. I have changed surgeons and will be having my
third surgery soon , so yes, some of us have changed surgeons after we had
surgery... I think this probably occurs more than is posted .. Best of luck
to you
— Gina Landers
January 29, 2002
Good luck to you. I am currently researching surgeons in my area and was
really put off by one of them; I think that the problem is that there are
so few surgeons who do WLS there is a tendancy to idolize them. Perhaps as
the surgery becomes more commonplace more drs. will study/perform it...BUT
getting back to your question - a dr. should never discuss your treatment,
etc. with others, as he did with your family re vicodin...for that reason
alone, you should definitely find someone else, and quickly!
— rebeccamayhew
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