Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot

[JoannMarie 0]

JoannMarie,

I'm happy to hear that your eye surgery went well.

As far as doctors talking to each other....... from what I've gathered no-one tells a surgeon what to do! He doesn't seem to be in a hurry to do anything, yet he wants the results asap. Now I find that he will not even be here in Perth next week. He will be operating up north in Karratha, so I can't even see him until Friday the 27th Feb. Meanwhile I'm just slightly "Packing it!"

Yeah - I think we have some of those surgeons here, too. It's the "God" complex some surgeons seem to acquire. I've been lucky there - the surgeries I've had were not done by that type of person.

Livin4Jesus,

The closest I can get to determining the time difference between us is a sad memory.

My daughter woke me at 11pm to tell me to turn the TV on. It was the Twin Towers disaster. It was 9am in New York and I sat horrified watching in disbelief.

Our daughter in S. Korea is 15 hours ahead of us in KC (central time) Sept is still DST in New York so you are probably 16 or 17 hours ahead of KC in western Australia. No matter - if I call her at 10a.m. here I wake the whole house up! DH is esp guilty of that mistake, but she has done it a couple of times to us, too! We will finally get used to it right about the time they return to the States this summer.

Katy, you are in my prayers today and every day. Close your eyes and breathe deeply - you have a lot on your plate (so to speak) and you need all the relaxation techniques you can think of...

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I went to support group last night. I spoke to the nutritionist and told him my fear about throwing up in the night. He felt a small fill was in order and that I can find a fill in between what I had and what I need. I have high hopes that a tiny fill will help and that I won't go back to having problems with night time throwing up. It scares me to get another fill cause I definitely don't need that problem again. I really hope that if the fill is tiny enough, it will be enough to help with the portion sizes I can eat now without causing problems again.

[lompocbander 1]

...I saw my GP this afternoon and he is not happy. He is the one who gave me the referal to the other hospital for the endoscopy. He is also urging me to get another surgeons opinion before the operation. I know I'm entitled to do this but this surgeon knows the mess my insides are in and the main thing I have to admit to, is that he doesn't charge me the gap fee, which is the fee they are allowed to charge above the medicare and private insurance standard fees. That can be a lot. So I feel that I am caught in a catch 22 situation...

Katydid,

I would have to agree with your GP. In my opinion, and in my experience, the difference between surgeons is HUGE. For example, when I had to have my thyroid removed (cancer), my endocrinologist highly recommended one surgeon over another, though both were board certified, etc. etc. and working within our same medical group. After, the results were amazing; no pain, no scarring, not a single problem. My endo said that he can look at a patient's scar and knows which surgeon did the work; the good surgeon does a good job, but the great surgeon performs a miraculous job!

So, when I decided on a band I did my research. I found a surgeon that does the operation hundreds of times per year, as well as gastric bypass. (On the day he did my surgery, he did three others.) Of the many, many hundreds of operations he had done, he not only had never had a single death, he also had never had a single major complication. That is, his bands don't slip, his gastric bypasses don't leak, etc. etc.

He wasn't the cheapest doctor around, though. However, I know better than to be "penny wise and pound foolish" (as my ma taught me!)--getting the band done correctly can save the cost and time later in getting it corrected. And, having my own business, any time taken off of work to be sick is expensive, so getting things done right was not only important to me health-wise, but also financially.

Please, reconsider. If the doctor you have been using has so little regard for your health that he is willing to allow you to suffer with the problems you are having, I think you need to look elsewhere. Do the research on whatever doctor you consider: how many times does he/she do this kind of operation? With what rates of complication?

Here is a way I do some of my research on doctors; I talk to my GP or other trusted doctor and ask "if you (or your wife) were going to get this operation, who would you go to? Why?"

As far as the money goes, I'm guessing friends and family will help out with loans to get you through this if you can't come up with it on your own. Or, perhaps you might be able to work something out with the doctor (that's what I did, I make monthly payments on what I owe.)

Anyway, we are all concerned about you and want to see you get the best care possible. I just think your GP is right, and remember that doctors rarely tell a patient to find a different doctor unless they really think there is a good reason for you to do so.

[Katydid 0]

Hi Everyone,

Great news. There has been a cancellation at the 2nd hospital. I have the endoscopy in the morning. My eldest daughter is driving me there before she starts work and my youngest daughter will pick me up afterwards as she can get off work early. What a relief!

I'm going to try to get the hospital to send the results to the surgeon and my GP asap, mainly so that the surgeon can see them before he flies up north. Also, my GP will tell me what the results are before I see the surgeon and we can have a chat.

Hi Lompocbander,

I do understand what you're saying and agree with you.

I'm a bit swamped here at the moment with my parents medical problems as well, to be able to think very clearly. Hopefully I'll be able to tomorrow or as soon as I know the results.

Hi Oregondaisy,

I hope you are feeling better very soon. It is scary and frightening too.

Best wishes to all.

[lompocbander 1]

That is good news. Good luck!

[livn4jesus 0]

Katy: Good luck tomorrow, I really hope they can get you straightened out sooner rather than later. Keep us posted

[JoannMarie 0]

Katy - great news. I am thinking good thoughts for you! You have gotten some very good advice from Lompocbander in her note. I hope this will resolve for you very soon.

[lynnt1215 1]

Katy - keeping you in my thoughts

[Katydid 0]

Hi Everyone,

I'm home again but the news is not good unfortunately.

Slipped gastric band, (anantomical distorion of the stomach due to a "slipped gastric band" which was enclicling the stomach towards the distal 1/3, rather than the proximal fundus. The proximal stomach was abnormal and diffusely inflamed, as was the gastric body and antrum. There was also a mild antral gastritis. Antrum biopsied to confirm/exclude HPylori related gastritis. The duodenal mucosa was inspected to the fourth part and very deeply into the proximal jejunum and was biopsied to exclude coeliac disease.

There was a small sliding hiatal hernia handsome reflux of gastric contents into the distal oesophagus due to a lax lower oesophageal sphincter and a small hiatal hernia. The distal oesophageal mucosa was superficially eroded typical of chronic erosive reflux oesophagitis. (Wish they would speak in English)

Slipped gastric band, Severe reflux oesophagitis, severe fundal and mild antral gastritis, await histology.

Lge abdominal hernia.

I rang the surgeon as soon as I was able and the doctor sent the report immediately.

Didn't want to see me. Not going to do anything.

I was stunned. Don't know if this means....until he gets back from up north or "not going to do anything, period???"

I now have to wait till the 27th Feb to see him and I will be a mass of jelly by then.

I've made an appt with my GP for Monday but the anesthesiest and the endoscopy doctor have told me not to jump to anything rash before I talk to the surgeon. This will be on 27th Feb '09 and most likely the operation will be on Monday 2nd Mar '09.

In the meantime, Mum has been given the date for her second knee reconstruction.........16th March '09 and Dad has been given his eye operation date.........18th March. They will be at different hospitals.

Thank the Lord I'm now seeing a therapist, although I think this is going to be a bit much for even her to sort out.

Thanks for all your good wishes.

[Charlene K 1]

Katy, I am so sorry to hear the results. I hope you don't have to wait till the 27th. I can relate to you being a caregiver of sick parents. It is tough. You will be in my prayers. Take care of yourself!

[lompocbander 1]

Katy,

Please, get a second opinion for another doctor! Poor baby! You really didn't need this right now.

[Sleeved12/29 2]

Katy,

Please, get a second opinion for another doctor! Poor baby! You really didn't need this right now.

Katy,

I agree with lompco...is there any way you can get a second opinion? Keeping you in my prayers!

[flowers 0]

Katy, Im so sorry to hear your band has slipped. The fear all of us have has happened. I hope your surgeon gets it done. If he doesnt then you need to see someone else who will. I guess he doesnt think waiting until the 27th will hurt you, so for now maybe you just have to trust his judgement. Wishing you not to be in pain though...

[janke129 0]

Katy, Remember that you are never given more than you can handle. You truly are a very strong person. I love the fact that you still have your sense of humor, it is what gets me through the rough spots and hurdles of life. You are in my prayers.

[Great2BThin 5]

Katy, can't you use a different surgeon? Didn't you say your GP recommended a different one? The other one doesn't seem to care too much.