Krystenaj

Hello all (apologies for the long post, but please help!) I am new to the forum, but not to the surgery process. I have been working since November to get my surgery and I have a surgery date of June 28th with Dr. Prachand at University of Chicago. The urgent part of this comes in here: I am having serious doubts about the competency of the team at University of Chicago. While I know Dr. Prachand is an excellent surgeon himself, working with his team has been a nightmare. They have consistently forgotten to tell me things or order things. For example, after 3 months with nutritionist and getting other tests done (planning for a late April surgery date), with insurance approval in hand, I got an email saying they had forgotten to put a sleep study on my requirement list. While I didn't mind doing the sleep study in and of itself, the fact that I had done everything they said needed to be done and had insurance approval, I was a bit upset. So after that disaster and the ensuing complications of trying to get a sleep study and then getting a CPAP (because they told me that would be faster so I could get a surgery date sooner--I wanted to get the mouthpiece), I went to the PREP group. This was the most disorganize thing I have ever seen. It was 3 hours long, at least 30 people in a tiny room, and we covered nothing of any use at all. The psychology section of it mostly consisted of us breaking into groups to talk about ONE stage of the pre/post op lifestyle. This was not guided nor did we come back together---so I got feedback from OTHER patients ONLY about ONE stage and was left to my own devices on the others. The nutrition portion of this consisted of the nutritionist reading off a list and saying "oh scratch that one off" or "oh that's great, you can get it at Whole Foods/Trader Joe's I think." I was a bit put off by the lack of agenda for this meeting and, to be frank, the fact that the nutritionist only seemed interested in pushing her own blog and made it seem as though we could not be successful unless we shopped at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's--neither of which I have here in Northwest Indiana. The disorganization was astounding for what is supposed to be such a reputable program. Monday of this week (June 13th), I had my preop appointments---which were dictated to me. I was not asked if that day worked for me, nor told how long the appointments would be. While this might seem minor, when I am trying to rearrange my work schedule, having a 9:30, 10:15 and 1pm appointment, I need to know lengths and such. I emailed and called to ask to no avail. I asked in the 9:30 appointment and she told me the 1pm appointment was 2 hours---I had to reschedule things during the time I had between appointments. This is inconvenient, but I'm afraid underpins a much bigger issue. Next, the front desk INFORMED me that my next appointment (which should be 2 weeks postop) is July 7th at 1pm. Again, no asking me if I would have someone who could drive me at that time, nothing---just dictation. While in one appointment she asked how I was doing quitting smoking---since I had not been told otherwise despite asking, I assumed that my preop appointment day was THE day I needed to be done. So while I had cut back significantly, I did have 2 cigarettes on Sunday. She then proceeded to tell me they would do a test and if I failed, then they would postpone my surgery. The preop diet was emailed to me and I was never given any help or advice or even mention of it. Evidently it is just something else I am supposed to figure out. The 2 hour appointment was 1 hour talking vaguely about the phase I post-op diet and then doing our consent forms in group setting. 4 patients, each with support person, in a conference room with her reading out our consent forms. So I suppose my question lies here: do these seem like legitimate red flags to you? Has anyone had similar problems (or good experiences) with University of Chicago? I am afraid that if they can forget to bring up important things before surgery, then after surgery, what happens when they forget to tell me something that jeopardizes my health? I am seriously considering cancelling my surgery, but I am very torn about the situation. I don't want to be in a bad support situation with the team after surgery and I feel totally clueless going in as to what I am supposed to be doing with the preop diet and how to prepare for the post-op diet.

Well the stress of this along with added complications from them on top of other stressors, work and family, led me into a crisis and my therapist made the decision for me. I am under orders to be off work and not be left alone for at least a week to try to recover from such a meltdown and only avoided a hospital stay because of family willing to ensure I am not alone. I have had bipolar since I was 19 (9 years) and the stress of dealing with this group sent 2 years of stability down the drain. I plan to file a formal complaint with the hospital because, though my resulting mental state of course wasn't entirely their fault,surgery is stressful enough and their incompetence should not be allowed to continue. Had I not had the external support system in place (therapist, psychiatrist, husband, mother, and support at work), I may not be typing this now and not everyone is blessed with this luxury. While I am done with this hospital, I hope at least making it a formal issue maybe will prevent this from happening to someone who didn't have the support system to keep them from doing something stupid. I have wanted this surgery for a very long time (my mother had bypass done when I was about 13 and I have wanted it ever since). I imagine I will pursue again in the fall with another hospital, but for now I am taking some much needed time to get my head on straight and recover from everything. I so appreciate everyone's advice and especially checking in on me, virtually a stranger, just to see how this was going. I will definitely be around the forum and hopefully on the road to a surgery where I am more comfortable with all of you soon.

I am definitely on it. Like I said, knowing that she is the coordinator is that much more concerning so I'm finding numbers and making lists. As soon as I am done with teaching, I'm starting in with the phone calls.

Oh. I know that name. I was just digging through my stuff to find cards to start calling. That she is coordinator is equally concerning since she is the one I have had the vast majority of problems with. I tend to agree with you. I don't want to cancel surgery because, from a purely technical aspect of the surgery, he is a great surgeon and has excellent success rates and low complication rates.

Certainly not an excuse, in fact something to be ashamed of. But it does happen, and I've wondered if that's what is happening here. I am definitely making some phone calls as soon as I am done teaching today.

I have definitely done a lot of research. They are highly rated by pretty much everything. My mother had bypass when I was younger and I am in science, so I have read every paper I can get my hands on and asked every question I can think to ask. I am trying to figure out who to contact as we speak. I don't want to cancel my surgery, but I am also in a place where I feel like I am totally "alone in the woods" as to what I am supposed to be doing or not doing. I'm also in constant fight or flight mode waiting for the next "surprise" to come at me. How do their pre/post surgery (and actual surgery) protocols, plans and recommendations compare to the WLS centers of excellence and the ASMBS? So far as I can tell, they have sort of set the curve in these areas. I'm going to do some research on this more specifically though. I have wondered if its an example of setting the curve and then getting slack because you have such a name to ride on.

It is indeed, a center of excellence, thought I believe that to be a very low standard at this point. I have wondered if I'd be able to move my post-op care to another center and I'm really not sure. It's something I need to call and ask about I suppose, though I'm not precisely sure who to contact. I'll have to do some looking. I really don't know how much of their support I'll need after surgery, but based on what little I could gather from the meetings, it seems they have pretty strict diets and such that they expect you to do and follow ups with them. And so, if they are to be the ones helping me figure out eating after surgery and such, I am incredibly concerned. I have also considered switching hospitals. I have I think 2 other options in the area, and it is becoming more and more attractive to consider that, though it would delay my surgery of course. I do think I will call the surgeons office and/or patient relations after teaching a class I have coming up. I tend to agree that maybe (hopefully) the surgeon isn't aware that things are done so disorganized and could jump everyone into action.

I have definitely done a lot of research. They are highly rated by pretty much everything. My mother had bypass when I was younger and I am in science, so I have read every paper I can get my hands on and asked every question I can think to ask. I am trying to figure out who to contact as we speak. I don't want to cancel my surgery, but I am also in a place where I feel like I am totally "alone in the woods" as to what I am supposed to be doing or not doing. I'm also in constant fight or flight mode waiting for the next "surprise" to come at me.

Thanks for responding. As weird as it sounds, I am glad I am not the only one who has had this experience. Unfortunately, the surgeon is very hands off. I actually did request a meeting a while back and had an appointment with him. I had some concerns about this surgery (technically this is a duodenal switch but in two stages) in that I did not want the second surgery, etc. He dismissed all of my concerns, including these about these issues with his team. I have only seen him twice--evaluation and my requested appt---and everytime I have another appt I see someone new that I have never met before. I think I am, understandably, frustrated and just feeling very torn. I want the surgery and to be able to move forward but I am afraid of risking my health with the inadequacies I have experienced if they bleed over into postop.