concernedwife99

My husband had the sleeve on October 7th and today makes the 25th day (non consecutive) that he has been hospitalized for extreme nausea and a low grade fever. He had 2 leaks but both have healed (now has a stent) but the nausea, cramping, and fever persist. His surgeon told us that he has no idea why he has a fever or why he is so nauseous but when I asked him if we needed to ask someone else their opinion, he told me there was no one else besides him. I complained to the charge nurse and hospital admins who all told me that "surgeons don't share," and that if we tried to take him to a different hospital, they would transport him back to the original surgeon and this would tick him off. We feel completely hopeless and trapped. I need advice about what our rights are. Can we force a doctor to refer us to someone else or can they truly just drop us and leave us out in the cold if we don't stay with them? My husband is getting weaker and weaker and has developed all kinds of other complications since being hospitalized (C Diff, afib, stroke like symptoms one night, anxiety, and high blood pressure). We are no closer to answers than we were a month ago. Can anyone tell me what we can do to get someone to listen to us??? Sent from my SM-G920P using the BariatricPal App

There are a number of BP members who work in the medical field. I'm not one of them and I hope you hear from them with solid advice. Here's the best I can offer: Have various lab tests and imaging been done? Has your husband seen his primary doctor for input when not in-hospital.? Has he contacted his medical plan for referral and/or advocacy? It may be that he needs to see someone in a specialty other than surgery, e.g., gastroenterology. Unless you live in a small town near Nowhere [will you name your town and state?], I don't see why the surgeon would have said there is no one else, certainly since he also says he has "no idea,,," The response is unacceptable given that the problems persist. As a non-medical person, I know that fever likely indicates infection. Getting a second opinion certainly would be wise and within your husband's right. If you want to find a medical advocate to lighten the load for you, try googling "find a medical advocate." Several things come up, including info at AARP's site, Oprah.com, Consumer Reports. I can't speak for their usefulness, but they are there to be explored if you wish. The reason he said he is the only one is because he is the only bariatric surgeon in this hospital. But, there are 3 other bariatric surgeons in the same city who do the sleeve but he won't call them. He wants to stay in his own network. He said we can get a second opinion but the nurses told us that us just calling another surgeon's office will get us no where. We need HIM to make the referral. Sent from my SM-G920P using the BariatricPal App