Venting about changes in my lapband program

[Wheetsin 714]

I researched a lot of different surgeons for my band. I had actually selected a surgeon in another state and was in the early stages of paperwork when I was referred to my current surgeon. I changed to the new surgeon because there were a few things I really liked about the program, including:

1. The surgeon did the fills.

2. I could usually get someone to answer my questions, even if it was the someone I didn't want to hear from.

3. The surgeon appeared to be an advocate for the band, vs. a RnY surgeon who does bands if they have to.

4. The comprehensive nature of the surgeon's program.

5. There was a "small program" feel that gave me a sense of security. When you went in, people took the time to talk with you and your questions were heard.

Now, most of that has changed.

If you go in for a fill, you don't even see the surgeon unless you happen to pass in the hallway. If you do see the surgeon, it's brief and uncomfortable. I've actually had the surgeon leave the room as I was in the middle of asking a question, and have to ask them to please wait until I'm done and can get an answer. They've brought on someone else to do the fills and this person, at least the last time I had a fill, didn't know what they were doing. When the surgeon gave the fill it was "poke, push, done". This new person took over 10 minutes to fill me, and at first was poking the needle in a place where there is no port. I tried telling this person where the port was, and they said "yeah I can feel it over here..." (not where I was pointing).

I was once chastized because the surgeon didn't know I had been unfilled (he wasn't there that day), even though he had my medical records in his hand. All he had to do was look. Instead I was asked, "Why did I not know about this?" Umm - because you WEREN'T HERE and haven't bothered looking at my chart yet?? You tell me!

The knowledgeable people are either gone, or very hard to get ahold of. Questions are answered generically instead of on a per-person basis like they used to be. It used to be that you could call with a question, be listened to, and then get information/advice based on what you were experiencing. Now it seems like they have an Answer Manual, and when you ask a question they flip to the corresponding page and read what's there. We all know that doesn't work.

In fact, the staff that's there now is so uneducated or so uninvolved (or so biased - more to come on that) that I am seeking a 3rd party practice to switch my care over to. So many people (including me) have had such poor experiences with the aftercare staff, it's getting to the point that it's not worth it. At one point I was concerned that I had a complication, and was calling OTHER surgeons because I questioned whether or not I could receive good/unbiased care. (Long story short, a group of us online would talk openly about our opinions and experiences, and complaints. They had someone monitoring this and reporting back, and when we went into the office we would be pulled aside and reprimanded for saying anything negative. One time when I was in the room waiting for the surgeon, a hushed (hello, I can still hear through that thin door) comment was made to the effect of, "This is one of them.") We (when we still went) were openly pointed out during "support" group meetings, and the office staff was encouraging the other banded people to heckle us.How can you trust that you will receive good & unbiased care when that's what you face walking into the office?

I saw my band as sort of entering into a contract (so to speak) with the surgeon. I picked this program for a reason, and now those reasons are gone, but I still have my band. I know change happens, but I can't help but feel a little bit like someone ripped the nice, soft carpet out from under me, and now I'm left standing on cold concrete.

This sucks.

[Wheetsin 714]

Oh, I should add- the surgeon, once praised for being so caring & compassionate - totally not that way anymore. I did return to this surgeon for a recent laparascopic procedure I needed. I felt better having a band-area surgery done by someone who knew my band was there. During my consultation for this second surgery, the surgeon said my weightloss was going well. I responded "Yeah, but I've been slacking lately. I need to get back to the gym." The surgeon's response was "Well I can't do that for you, that's not my fault. What do you expect me to do about that, take you there myself?"

When I first got home from the hospital after having the second procedure done (about a month and a half ago), one of my incisions was bleeding out in a big way. Like - walking from the car to the door, I left a trail of blood (I didn't notice it until later), and standing in the bedroom just long enough to take my dress off left a blood puddle about the size of an apple. We got the bleeding to stop, but any time I would move, it would start back... and being that still is hard work when you're uncomfortable. My husband called about this and was told, "Well if it doesn't bleed when she's still, tell her not to move." I'm sorry, but since when is "pain when I breathe" fixed by not breathing??

Granted, he called the hospital and not the specific surgeon, but I used to rave about this hospital... I can't do that anymore.

They didn't close one of my incisions. This incision hurt, like I was constantly being stung by a bee. When I called to ask them if it was OK that, 2 days after surgery the sheet/gauze covering this incision had come off & tje incision was still wide open, as in I could pull the skin back and see down inside me, I was told - and I quote - "Well yeah, if it came off, then it's probably OK for it to be off."

When one of my wounds was sutured, suture was left sticking up out of it. Enough that it was snagging my shirts. THIS was the only reason I used my surgeon's aftercare - I wanted this taken care of. I showed it to the person doing the wound check - it didn't take much, it was VERY clearly visible - and was told I needed to be patient, it would dissolve. WEEKS later it had not dissolved. Then I'm told by no fewer than 3 others in the medical profession that it should have been clipped, and not doing so was unprofessional/lazy.

*sigh*

[Daisalana 33]

Sorry you have to go through all that, it's like being between a rock and a WALL when these things happen. It's so hard to find new care, and a good doctor, good staff etc.

I was just reminded why I went to the doctor I did even though he's 3 hours away and I could have been banded in town.

I am trying to find a local support group, even though I know it'll be 90-100% RNY and not lap-band.

The doctor who had horrible bedside manners, and the office staff was rude.. are the only people listed on the hospital's website.. it says 'for more information on support groups, call ___"

I just called, the girl just said I don't know. I said, how do I find out? She said "Uh.. look up a website I guess". I said "The hospital website said call you guys for information on times and locations". She goes "Well, I don't know. I guess google it".

Bunch of idiots, SO GLAD I DID NOT GO WITH THEM. They don't know if I'm a current patient or not, she couldn't be bothered with me needing info on a support group.

[Gone4Now 4]

I am so sorry. This makes me nervous about my future with my doctor. So far he's been so wonderful - I love him and rave about him and his office staff.

He did my first fill, and he knew exactly where to go. I'd be nervous about someone else doing a fill...I do NOT want to be poked and prodded.

Again, I'm sorry. I hope you find someone else that's better (for your health and sanity!)

[alwayscurious 0]

I was getting angry at some of the reponses you got just from reading your post. I don't know what to say. Have you thought about filing a complaint? Not that it would fix what has already happened but, I feel like someone should know about these things.

[VegasGrace 1]

Gosh, hate you have been going through this. As I'm a cut and dry type of person I'd say.... take your business elsewhere.

Money talks and they listen (sometimes they could care less - especially if you are 'locked' in...that's why I'm against a packaged plan of aftercare and fills included in the price of surgery...it's like they KNOW they have you so they don't give you the attention and personal care you deserve.... aka cell phone contracts)

[beversman 0]

I know what you mean about changes from when we signed on for this.

Lapband is soooo popular now. My doctors office is looking more and more like a conveyor belt sometimes. They still offer excellent care.... I haven't had any problems with the physical procedures or information they give me BUT

I used to call for a fill and get in the next day. Now, I call for a fill and am lucky to get an appointment 2 weeks out. UGH. If I am calling for a fill. I need it now. THAT part is getting frustrating.

I still love my doc though and his staff... I think he was just "to good" for his own good. They are SWAMPED with new patients. Everyone in the Cincinnati area wants my doc!

I liked it when it was a smaller practice, but i guess (in my case) all things change.

I sure wouldnt stand for inadequate service though Wheetsin! It is one thing to have to wait longer to get and appointment. It is different when the doc stops reading charts and the nurses and staff do NOT know what they are doing. THAT is cause for alarm.

I am glad my doc and his staff still handle things properly even though they have a much higher volume of patients.

[Wheetsin 714]

Oh I didn't even go there! My surgeon now triple books fill appointments. My last fill was scheduled at 1pm, and I got my fill a little before 4. There have been times where I'ee walked out because I'm not going to wait any longer. Why is it that surgeons and medical staff in general get license to be 2, 3, 4 hours late for an appointment and we're supposed to nod and say thank you, but if we're late we're cancelled or in some cases charged a fee...? Why do we let medical staff get away with that? Who else can get away with being that late, and it's "acceptable"?

Me thinks I may need to move this to RnR.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

One time when I was in the room waiting for the surgeon, a hushed (hello, I can still hear through that thin door) comment was made to the effect of, "This is one of them.") We (when we still went) were openly pointed out during "support" group meetings, and the office staff was encouraging the other banded people to heckle us.How can you trust that you will receive good & unbiased care when that's what you face walking into the office?

You know how it isn't wise to insult a waiter, the food, etc. because you'll end up with spit in your food? In a way the same concept applies to unprofessional MD offices. If you are not a "supportive" patient and one that does things their way, you will have spit in your medical care. Your Rx's will be last to be called in, your phone messages will be last to be returned, but more importantly your medical records will identify you as difficult, unwilling to follow the program, uncooperative, etc.

Just change docs now. You already know you are not going to get the care you need from this guy, you already know you can't trust the information you are being given, you already know there is a serious lack of professionalism within the office.

So many are quick to say, "Oh, the doc is great it's the staff I can't stand." That is a load. The staff are doing as they are instructed and if the employer (the doc) can't get a grip on his staff then his own BS is just rolling downhill to the staff.

Sorry you have to go through this. I would get a copy of your medical records in person. Go stand there and wait for them but I'll bet they won't permit it. But I hope you are not surprised at what you see in your records, I hope they haven't gone that far over the edge.

[Daisalana 33]

I do resent that.. how if you cancel an appointment they have a fee, but I've had doctors (same ones who charge fees) call SAME DAY to cancel.

[Marimaru 7]

My PCP has gone downhill like this. She used to be very attentive, but then she got her own practice and got very interested in taking care of children, and as for adults, is really only interested in routine checkups. The last few times I've gone in there for an actual problem, it's been "oh, go to this specialist and get xyz tested. And then "Oh nothing unusual in the test" with not further mention on what the NEXT step is. I've just moved out of state, so I need to find a new PCP anyway. I liked my doctor for a long time, it so sad when they change like that.

[TheGh0st 9]

Just found this thread. I was lucky enough not to have even half of what happened to Wheetsin happen to me but I had to add I also ended up being amongst this same office's "bad girls" list. All for the unforgivable reasons that:

A) I'd voluntarily offered to let some of the pre-surgery patients that came to support group know that I'd be glad to bring anyone interested by a band-friendly meal during their recovery from surger for the family to try along with some Jello for the "patient". It was an offer made just to be nice and I wasn't asking for any support or affiliation with the doctors office but when I mentioned it to them before the support group they told me I couldn't/shouldn't make the offer. The person who told me was so condescending she actually used a phrase like "I can tell you are an intelligent person" Like she was consceding that I was smart when most "fat" people are not.

I had the audacity to make my own LapBand Restaurant Card that corrected grammer & spelling errors on the one they handed out. The same woman as previously mention actually ended up shouting at me over the phone. I thought she was going to have a fit, no let me rephrase that she was having a fit when I calmly explained that I saw no reason to destroy the card. She went so far as to threaten to sue me just because I had made a card asking restaurants to allow me to order of the childs menu due to my surgery. I hadn't even shown it to more than 3 restaurants in the previous 6 months. I repeatedly told her she was speaking to me at work and I would have to call her back but she just wouldn't stop until I finally overspoke her saying again I was at work and she would just have to call back then hung up on her.

C) Oh and did I mention the final straw was my being friends with the other "bad girls". Good grief we were all labeled "bad" just because we would openly answer peoples questions in support group no different than Wheetsin does here.

In the end after one of the only wonderful staff members they had who managed the support group quit I found another local band doc and never looked back.