Question:
Has anyone had difficulties with doctors at Kaiser in Northern California?

When I was having the feeling in my chest and throat I emailed my primary care doctor and my surgeon. The surgeon never answered my question. My primary care doctor told me to go to the emergency room. I have heard others in my group state that they had to go to the E.R. Now I feel like my primary care doctor doesn't want to treat me since I've had the gastric bypass surgery. He's been my doctor for nearly 6 years now. I couldn't believe that he wouldn't tell me to come in or at least tell me to book an appointment. I called his nurse (during the day) and she informed me that he doesn't want me emailing him with systematic problems and just go to the E.R. I've emailed him in the past and haven't gotten that kind of attitude. Has anyone else had this problem after surgery? I'm debating contacting Member Outreach. I don't want to because he is a very good doctor. During my last visit with him (pre-op) he told me he doesn't appreciate the surgeons pushing their patients onto the pcp doctors when they should be the one treating the patents. I don't want to drive 3 hours to San Francisco because my pcp doesn't want to treat me now. I am so upset that my doctor did this. I feel like he's abandoning me since surgery. If you've experienced this with Kaiser, what did you do about it?    — trenansac (posted on February 10, 2007)

February 10, 2007
I am sorry that you are experiencing these issues. I have Kaiser for Northern California as well, and I am about to have my surgery. Your primary care doctor and your surgeon should be working together to ensure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle. The surgeon's job is to get in there to provide an immediate solution to your weight issue. He or she should also be providing some type of standard follow-up care. But, the rest of the responsibility surrounding your healing and growing from surgery should be the responsibility of your primary care doctor. Though he will not be trained for the specific issues that might come up, he should be able to address general concerns surrounding aches and pains that might crop up as a result of surgery. Regardless, anything that goes beyond his field of expertise would require that he refer you elsewhere. The bottom line is your primary care doctor is highly paid (overly paid in my opinion) to help care for you. He and your surgeon are on the same team and should both share the responsibility in assisting you. If you find that you are having issues with him, then you should contact the member outreach department to file a grievance because his not wanting to treat you is a quality of care issue that HAS to be addressed. Regardless whether he thinks you need the surgery or not, his job is to help you improve your health and address the concerns that come up. Forgive the language, but this pissing contest that he wants to have with the surgeon has nothing to do with you at all. If the relationship with your PCP is degenerating, you might want to consider changing providers. I have already spoken with my PCP, and he knows that I am going for gastric surgery and is all for it. He also knows that I am going to be seeing him after surgery for basic follow up (I will be seeing my surgeron, too). In my view, if he does not want to help me continue along the path of good health, then I'll fire him and find another PCP. It's just that simple. I pay good enough money for my benefits to not to have to deal with idiocy and arrogance. It just makes me so angry to know that they are paid triple most of our salaries and want to do nothing for you because they MIGHT disagree with a procedure that you had performed! The level of arrogance is appalling.
   — Xavier Smith

February 10, 2007
I agree with the first letter writer although the reality stands that some doctors will not work beyond the scope when other doctors are involved. I love my primary physician Dr. Claire Osborn, DO who kindly and gently told me that doctors are often skeptical about areas of the body that other doctors(s) have performed. I believe it has to do with doctors being fearful of being sued for something another doctor was responsible for. This situation should be a learning tool for anyone else who contemplates surgery.... to get a full understanding of your primary physician's stance in your aftercare before the fact. ~~~Benita Lewis
   — NEETAJEAN

February 11, 2007
Xavier answered it exactly, although I do disagree with Benita. Doctors should not allow personal opinions interfere with there treatment of you. I would try and find a new doctor and see if your surgeons office can refer you to someone who is willing to help you on this journey. The nurses in the surgeons office can be a wealth of information if you explain what is happening. Best of Luck
   — 1968 Loser

February 11, 2007
Which Kaiser in No Cal are you going to? I am at Santa Clara and my PCP, Dr. Teresa Dao, has been wonderful as far as my desire to have this surgery. I am still pre-op, working on my 10% weight loss, but she and I have discussed my aftercare and she is very supportive of my decision and will be there for me after my surgery. I would highly recommend her if you are in the Santa Clara area. Hope things go well for you.
   — shrkwmn

February 11, 2007
It would be incredibly negligent for your doctor to diagnose you over email. He can't examine you so he can't diagnose you so he can't treat you. If your throat and chest symptoms had been cardiac in nature, its a medical emergency. Having you wait to make an appointment could have caused you serious harm. And going into the office would not be much help either because most doctors do not have the equipment or medication needed for someone who is having acute cardiac symptoms. I think he would have been negligent if he had given you advice over emailing and/or wasted time having you come into the office. I'm guessing that your problem was not cardiac in nature, but without examining you, there is really no way to tell. I have called my PCP or been to the office when I was unwell just to be told that I needed to go to the ER. I get mad about it, but if there isn't anything my doctor can do, then I need to go somewhere where someone can address it whatever is going on. You said you really liked your doctor and that you don't really want to report him to the insurance company... maybe it would be helpful to schedule an appointment with him to talk about this. Explain how you are feeling and how his comments and lack of care has affected you. And ask him if he is going to be able to take care of you and if not, ask him or your surgeon for names of PCPs who are supportive of WLS patients. ******* I also think it is important to figure out what is the main problem... what you are upset about. Is it because of his comments about WLS surgeons? Is it because you feel like he isn't taking care of you, even when you see him in the office? Is the main issue that he wouldn't diagnose you over email and sent you to the ER? ******** Last but not least, you said you emailed both your surgeon and doctor. Are you upset that the surgeon didn't respond? Would you be more or less angry if your PCP had not responded? ************ I know it must be awful to feel like you are caught between your PCP and your surgeon. It's awful to feel like something is wrong with you and even worse when you ask for help and get turned away. I'm sorry that you are having to deal with. Hang in there!
   — mrsidknee

February 11, 2007
I love my PCP, he's been my doc for my entire adult life - 18 thru current, 35. Even though I love him and he has my entire adult life history; if he didn't want to "deal with me after my surgery"; I'd fire him in a heartbeat. I had my pre-op last Friday and he said, "make your follow-up appointment with me at one month post-op.....I want to make sure you are on the right path and to see if you have any questions." He is the best. I would suggest finding a PCP that is in your corner BEFORE your surgery. Pre and post care is SO important! Good luck!
   — jammerz

February 11, 2007
I found out during my pursue of my RNY that my Primary doesn't like the Surgeon I choose. Even trying to get me to drive an hour to see the one he liked. But I stuck to my guns and got my Surgeon & surgery. I gave this Primary 6 months to improve his treatments of me and even gave him appluse in the OH Magazine article the did about me. With no thanks from him or his staff. So I changed Primary to a Doctor that whole heartly thinks patients are their own doctors first and supports everything they choose, within reason. My suggestion is you find a New Bariatric Trained Primary Doctor that is WLS Friendly and change. But do realize also you need to pick up a phone for suggestions as Emails may not get picked up for days. You could die by then.
   — Michael Eak

February 11, 2007
Good doctor or not, he has no right treating you this way! You need to report him. Unfortunately, most pcp's don't know HOW to treat gastric bypass patients as they are not up on the latest information about gastric bypass. What they know is general internal medicine. There is new information becoming available everyday about gastric bypass patients. Time to search for a new pcp unfortunately. You have more important things to deal with than a jerk of a pcp. Is your health worth the 3 hour drive? A bit of some good info, find a NP (nurse practioner) or a PA (physician's assistant) in your area, they are often better informed and keep up on the current info on everything and more willing to research etc what's ailing you and to work with your surgeon to make you feel comfortable. Good luck!
   — crystalsno