Lap banding horror

[liz50 0]

This is a note to tell the 'other side' of what can go wrong with a choice for surgery and lapbanding.

I am a patient of Dr Leungs in Surrey, BC and I saw him last year in November 2007 to get 'listed' for surgery. Postponed twice in Fall of 09 the surgery was performed on October l7th as a day patient. First scheduled surgery at 9:30 out into recovery by 3:00

Asking for assistance with severe chest pain and the hospital performs an ecg and a xray. Nothing appears to be unusual and sent to daycare. Continuous complaints about severe chest pain the nurses call Leung to council. He tells the nurses to give me tylonel 3 with codene and to go home and 'stop complaining'!

After suffering horrific pain Sat and Sun but feeling it is 'normal as I was led to believe', I called my GP on Monday.

He recommended I check into emerg as my condition is not 'normal' for this procedure or any other.

After further investigation, I was diagnosed with partial collapsed lung, pnemonia and the worst....clots to the lung.

It is vertually by the 'grace of God go I' as I truly should not have been here today.

After spending 7 days in emergency and 8 days in the surgical ward (horrors with this) I returned home.

I am currently on blood thinners, going to the lab twice a week to have my blood tested for INR readings and have been advised that I will be on thinners for a min of 6 months.

Dr Leung visited me twice - once in emerg and once on the ward and both times he was rude and obnoxious.

I was in the care of the hospital dr and a respirtory specialist for my care.

To this date Dr Leung has not followed up with me, I have been in emerg again (this time I will only go to Royal Columbian) and the most serious at this time is that my 'port' is protruding out of my skin about 1".

I can not go back to Leung as any physican who sends a patient home with Tylonel with any kind of chest pains, and does not follow up only indicates to me that he is only in it for the money.

I have lost 22 pounds, but primarily from the IV that I was on for l6 days and the week after on fluids/soft foods.

I am not loosing any further weight at this time, have bad nausea and chest pains so this is now my primary goal to find an alternative physician who may have some compassion for his profession.

There is 'risk' with any surgerical procedure and I have had over a dozen in my life so I am not a 'new kid on the block' but this is certainly the first.

[liz50 0]

Hello Jack:

I appreciate your concern, and thank you for it.

I am not trying to 'discourage' anyone from seeking a lap band as like any procedure their are pros and cons.

I researched the net and asked alot of questions for over a year before deciding.

For anyone who may be reading this who may be considering the banding, to be prepared for the 'risks' and to take them under advisement as well as the benefits.

Oddly enough, I have been advised by many to seek legal council.

[ginny two 0]

OMG, Liz! I'm horrified that you have had to deal with this! I hope that you do get some kind of legal compensation.

I have to tell you that I TOTALLY believe that we get back what we put out there in life. So this doctor is screwed in the karma department. I'm not sure if that will be any comfort to you.

Please keep us informed of your condition. I'll say some prayers for you tonight.

[liz50 0]

What a wonderful tool to be able to chat with people of the same sitution.

Thanks for your concerns and goodluck on the weight loss....love your chart

[lipstix64 1]

OMG! I'm so sorry to hear that you went thru all that. But, please dont get discouraged. You obviously got stuck with an unscrupulous, unexperienced doctor. You will lose weight again. Just focus on getting better first. I dont know how you found this doctor, but for the next one, try searching for one that belongs to a Bariatric Surgery group. I'm sure on this site you will find somoene that comes from your area and can recommend a good one. I hope you have a speedy recovery and have the opportunity to find a good doctor that you can trust. Good luck!

[HeatherO 7]

That is terrible and I really feel for you. I would definitely pursue a formal complaint at a minimum, and perhaps legal counsel. Failure to investigate chest pain could be life threatening . . . and you obviously suffered serious complications that were unaddressed.

This behavior is intolerable for a doctor/hospital and should be addressed. My biggest concern would be that the doctor's next patient may not be quite so lucky. Anything you can do to bring this issue to light may just end up saving someones life down the road.

[MADE IT 2 MY GOAL..OH YEAH 0]

OMG!!! That Doctor should be reported. You said it yourself, sending you home while complaining of chest pain and not even checking you, sounds like he is in it for just the money.

The first thing my surgeon did the next morning after surgery

was an ultra sound of both of my legs, from my hip all the way to my ankels to make sure there were no blood clots.

I am so sorry that you have had such a bad experience with this procedure. I hope you are able to find another surgeon to help with the lapband, but your first goal should be to get better then start the weight loss again.

My prayers are with you!