A Beef about my Surgeon

[Pedro Valle-Inclan 275]

Hi folks, has anyone else had this experience?

I consider myself some kinda poster boy for having very uneventful and easy surgery and recovery and weight loss, everything!

My beef? I've never seen the man that operated on me since the operation. Well I hear of people on this site speaking about the doctors and conversations they've had, etc and I'm envious. I feel like, WTF? The guy's too important and busy that he can't pop in at any of the post -op follow ups? I guess I find that a little strange; "sure, I'll take that 40,000 dollars and never actually speak to you myself, that's for my underlings...." Anyway, I find it irritating and wonder if anyone else has had this experience, thanks antemano, Pedro

[LipstickLady 25,682]

I only speak yo my surgeons NP. I'm ok with it. suspect she knows much more about the pre and post op stuff just as he knows more about the actual surgical procedure.

She's got more personality, too.

[Daisee68 2,493]

Unfortunately, I think this is more common than not. And unfortunately seems to be the case for many different types of surgeons. They hire PA's to handle the follow-ups so they are freed up to do more surgeries. I don't like it either and has been the reason I have changed surgeons (not bariatric) more than once. I really like my surgeon but she is in a small office and still I have only seen her twice since surgery 10 months ago and that was because I had a complication early on.

Just wanted you to know you are not alone...

Unfortunately, I think this is more common than not. And unfortunately seems to be the case for many different types of surgeons. They hire PA's to handle the follow-ups so they are freed up to do more surgeries. I don't like it either and has been the reason I have changed surgeons (not bariatric) more than once. I really like my surgeon but she is in a small office and still I have only seen her twice since surgery 10 months ago and that was because I had a complication early on.

Just wanted you to know you are not alone...

[esskay77 785]

I normally see the nurse practitioner and NUT. Occasionally I see the surgeon but she also did my gall bladder surgery so I had other reasons to see her.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

The only time I've seen my surgeon since I left the hospital was at a book signing for another one of his patients. I figured that unless I have complications I may not see him again. I do have confidence that if I needed to see him I could.

[DaisyAmy 561]

I've only seen mine twice since surgery and have another appointment next week. Frankly, if he wants me to come back again, I plan on politely declining.

His hours require me to take a half day off work each time and I'm there for literally five minutes so he can weigh me and say "atta girl".

I much prefer the weight loss center that has evening hours and actually knows me. They manage my blood work, etc.

[DeletedMember 715]

Wow. This surprises me. Not that I have any perspective but my own, but I've had a very different experience. I see my surgeon at every appointment, both pre-op and post-op. Even the one time I had an issue post-op, the nurse tracked him down at the hospital where was performing surgeries and he called me back personally. He never rushes and I have spent on average 30-45 min talking to him each appointment.

I'm only sharing this to highlight that there are alternative approaches.

I should also say that my surgeons practice does not use a NUT. He is the NUT. He takes nutrition very seriously, counsels people on non-surgical weight loss, and has published his own book on proper nutrition. This could be partially why he makes himself so available. Most of my questions post-op are related to nutrition.

[Djmohr 6,965]

@@Pedro Valle-Inclan

I met my surgeon at the consultation after the 6 month supervised diet. The next time I saw him was the day of my surgery and the last time was on morning rounds the day I was discharged.

I regularly see the bariatricians, nut and nurse practitioners whi I built a long term relationship with. Honestly I am not even sure my surgeon would remember me because everything went perfect and I had no complications.

Incidentally I have had many serious surgeries which begin and end almost exactly this same way. You see the surgeon, make a decision, have surgery and follow up with their practitioners unless there are complications.

I have had 6 serious spine surgeries 5 with the same surgeon over the span of 15 years. I have learned it's much easier to get in with is NP to get things going before we meet with the surgeon.

It really is the way it works these days especially in larger city areas.

[DeletedMember 715]

That's interesting. It makes me wonder if there are perhaps regional cultural differences. Between my wife and I we've had quite a number of surgeries and we've always dealt directly with the surgeons pre and post-op. We also live in a large metro area (Detroit). It definitely seems as if we're in the minority however.

[BlueBongo 52]

Wow, that's too bad! I had the same experience with mine.. quite uneventful and healed perfectly, losing weight like a champ and meeting all of my nutritional goals! However all of my follow up appointments have been with my Surgeon that performed the operation, he is amazing and has a great bedside manner... I am sooo grateful. In fact I have my three month follow up on April 27th and it is with him (as are ALL of my appointments!).

I know some people aren't quite that lucky and have to see their assistants.

[esskay77 785]

@@Djmohr - what is a bariatrician? I'm intrigued!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

@@Djmohr - what is a bariatrician? I'm intrigued!

From what I can gather it is a PA (or equivalent?) with a bariatric specialty.

[esskay77 785]

@@Inner Surfer Girl Thanks.

[Djmohr 6,965]

@@esskay77

They are doctors that specialize in Bariatric medicine. They do not perform the surgery but follow patients who are obese or were obese.

The program at park Nicollet in Minneapolis has Bariatricians, Bariatric nurses, Bariatric nurse practitioners and Bariatric surgeons.

[esskay77 785]

@@Djmohr Nice! and Thanks!