swimbikerun

Thanks. Appreciate it. Happens. We learn and move on, that is what I'm about. I want others to see, learn and then take it so they don't have the same experience. The group in question is not interested in any changes, from what I can tell, nor in a dialogue, so why not let patients know what they might expect and allow them to take up the issue to get a better experience than I had? Sort of parents are for. LOL my parents though didn't seem to mind us making a few mistakes so we learned. Fortunately being the last child of 4, it was a touch easier for me although my sisters didn't really care for it. I made out a bit better doing so at their expense. Plus since some docs dont know about after care, and complications, we should know and be prepared to move on them. Waiting only makes things worse.

That's why I post in my blog about what I believe to be a retaliation (which by law is illegal) for filing a HIPAA complaint against my doctor. I simply want others to hear of what the facts are, because what is said and done are two different things at time. No one should have to suffer because a doctor just wasn't what he appeared to be and didn't appear "doctor" professional at all times. In my case, I've gone downhill because docs dont know about PICC lines, nutrition, etc. The ones I have are trying their best, believe me, but I get questions because they expected that office to follow the bariatric surgery complications. Here is an email I sent to their risk manager (because I got stuck with her, I didn't ask for her). Sad because the surgery was fine, its just everything with it being the problem, and that other docs in the hospital group aren't like this. I've got several great ones that are just over the top fabulous. its hard because I compare how he acted compared to them. Ma'am, A question I have for you, that is really the main cause of all this. I had a Sentara doc long before the MyChart came up. He was great. I trusted him because if he made a mistake or there was a problem, we fixed it as a team. I trusted him more because I knew he put my health first, and that even to a minor issue or whatever, he had the self respect and decency and courage to be honest about it. I raved about him to everyone. People thought more of him not because he was perfect, but because of his character when he wasn't. When Dr. Fontana misdiagnosed the gallbladder issue last year, I just wanted him to apologize and fix the problem. I didn't think I would have to jump through hoops and go through all sorts of misery for it. The church I go to, we understand mistakes. We're all human, it is our belief we're all sinners. We expect, and understand, apologies and working to make things better. I know not all are like that, but we Christians are. Forgiveness is something we're familiar with, and we believe Christ forgives us when we sin, make mistakes, and when we try to do better. Yet when that couldn't be done by the Sentara docs, we'd get blamed for the error. I have no care now, and most of that stems from the fact I had someone who blamed me for the problem, who wouldn't deal honestly with me on it, and then "shuffled" around a few other things. Rather than Sentara simply saying 'hey there's an issue, lets address it, or maybe the original doc you wanted might be a better fit for you', I've gotten nothing but comments I'm mental, my care is dumped, it gives me a history, and I've had to spend time trying to correct records that aren't as accurate as they could be. Is Sentara no longer in the business of hiring people who don't have the respect, honesty and courage to recognize a mistake and just work with a patient to make it better, its just dump them, who cares, move on? If not all Sentara docs are like Dr. Fontana, then maybe we patients are not all sue happy people either, you know? Trust is a two way street. Time and again, I've seen we'll dump our care, leave you high and dry, because fixing mistakes, apologizing, working with us, isn't something Sentara is about - or the question that there's one doctor or practice that maybe isn't. As a person looks at a Christian and sees their mistakes, and judges all Christians by it, don't you think that when my family, friends, coworkers, etc. see this, they judge Sentara for it? As a Christian I represent Christ, and its hard for non Christians to separate my actions as me and not for all Christians. Don't you think its hard for us patients to separate one doctors' (and maybe a practice or administration, don't know) actions from Sentara? I'll tell you this, when Dr. Fontana in Jan 2012 said that he didn't know the cause of something, its something we bragged on. Because at that point, I thought I had someone who was like my old Sentara doc who did have some integrity, had some Christian values. My church agreed. Looking back now, I'd say we misjudged. Christ has told us that he will repay, He will judge, and I've asked people to pray more for my former doc than me. The answer to this shouldn't be one that takes forever to give, because I'm using this issue to find out what Sentara stands for.

I heard 3 months to start/stop it. Though the risk is small, that's what I got told. I can't take meds any way now, Protein is too low. Believe it or not, when your protein/albumin goes low, medications or drugs that use them as carriers then tend to go free in plasma. The effects are NOT fun. I do mean they are NOT.

I envy you! No other care is in the area, once lose your surgeon. Its something I talk about and tell others to look and ask questions about.

Wait that is Reglan - metoclopramide? That's the same drug.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I am TICKLED for you. Oh my ... I had a PICC line and it really stunk so having been in that position, I can say that I know what that feeling is like. I actually had to force mine to take it out since he left it in for the last week because he said they may need to use it when I had an EGD. I went they can put in a IV you aren't supposed to leave those in for convienence.

Oh my word that is so mean. I guess that's why she said it.

I'm glad that works for you. I can no longer take medications. Is the Reglan the one that causes tardive dyskinesia?

Yes I did. Until the calcium lack got me, that's exactly what happened to me. I only went for 6 month cleanings since my teeth were fine, just not bridal white.

Dehydration causes nausea. Definitely. Its one of the signs. I was dry heaving & throwing up for a bit after the surgery (anesthesia and I do NOT get along, thankfully they heeded the warning on no valium or I would have been worse). Oy ... and I've been dehydrated a lot since then.

It was 5 months in one of the studies I read. The neurologist told me months to years. I started signs in November 2012. By the time I got to the neurologist in June 2013, the EMG's were showing the neuropathies. I suspect it is more individual, but if you bust your can on it, like I've tried to do, it will take more time. I'm also lucky in that I got away from a doctor who only had the party line of type of eating and really wasn't able to modify it for my food/GI issues. I had to go outside of them to get that. Nice to know it would be months before I have issues. My NUT just said "quite a while..."

You can't live on just Water. Just being able to keep down water, you can still get dehydrated. If you get Protein deficient enough, the Fluid leaks out and causes edema. One of the items from the Holodmor starvation time in the Ukraine was getting dehydrated from starving. It can also cause a malnutrition related diabetes (http://www.the-aps.org/mm/Publications/Journals/PIM/sands-pdf.pdf). No, it doesn't happen in a couple of days but once you start out going badly its really hard to catch back up.

They may not starve immediately, but dehydration is a serious thing. You can't go long without water. Being protein deficient takes a bit, but after a few months, one of the articles/medical research I had, had a lady that in 5 months had neurological issues from food.

You didn't get that checked out first? I had gastroparesis, slow stomach emptying, diagnosed a number of years before the surgery. I chose the sleeve surgery because there was a study out of NY that said 86% of the people who had a gastrectomy got it fixed. Now I have GERD, which isn't bad but sometimes OMB is. Do you have that? If I try something fatty or red meat, I get nailed. I tried to do chicken with some soaked in Water from Whole Foods BBQ that didn't have a lot of spice, some veggies, and OMB ... for 3 hours, refluxing. It happened the same way when I tried it a couple weeks before. As if the IBS & the food intolerances didn't get me bad enough. The fun part is I had a gastric emptying study done not long ago and I still have mildly delayed emptying. ~~~~ Moonlight have you been able to see if you can get a study done?

I swam like a banshee and it didn't do anything for the skin. You can exercise but depending on your age, how much weight you had, how fast you lost it, your age, etc. you won't see what everything tone up just by weights.

Howdy, I needed to lose over 100 but by the time I got to surgery, I was down to 100 pounds to lose. I also didn't tell any one and had no support but I'm sort of my own support system. LOL. I'm the next state over in Virginia.

Vega for me.

This is what my surgeon's office counts on. They say 41 people in a day PHEW. I was like for 2 doctors and 1 NP?

The problem is that I would get referred back to him and he just didn't know how to deal with complications. He touted the party line and I would ask questions. It is in the medical records they suspect nutritional stuff and then he didn't, did, didn't, but didn't change my times to be checked up, which were a lot more frequent than any one else. So not my fault, I went to one emergency type appointment the rest was pretty much his doing. Oh and one I asked the nurse for food ideas and gave her a visit for the money, but dang if you can't ask your surgeon's office for nutritional help, what's the point of them being there?

I've got gerd now, ibs now, still have delayed emptying, food intolerances, and no my GI docs haven't done anything for it. I am the only one, outside of my church family that knows too. I dont consider it a lonely journey at all.

Hey Linda be careful, Mine got upset when I would call, even when I was directed to by PCP ... plastics ... I made sure to ask and they complained, stated "I pushed his buttons".

Hi, Do we know when the limits on the veterans forum is going to change from 100 posts to being out at least 1 year? I can't post because I dont have 100 posts but I'm almost 2.5 years out. Thanks, Victoria

Agreed with all said here about bariatric patients. Its like fat people get an easy way out and now you are complaining attitude. I know I've seen some major blame go around at times - or just get the surgeon. Right ... I'm sorry for what you are going thru. Sometimes it does get better and that's what I'm hoping for in your case. Victoria

The group doesn't want to hear it. I put in additions to my medical records and the admin didn't put them in there, as far as I can tell. When I first went thru the Privacy Office, they're allowed 60 days by law to get the stuff wrapped up and didn't. Eventually they added them any way. So I finally said stop sending anything to the office and I'll just add the issues as they're getting worse and the medical research/literature behind what is going on. Thankfully the hospital/admin group allowed that. So at least a number of inconcistancies that I found in my records were able to get the data and corrections to help me get better care. The problem is that without any care in the area, I have no way except for medical evidence to tell the current group of docs this is what is going on. They look at bloodwork, but only if it is way way skewed do they think about doing anything. I got told today by one doctors' office that the blood work is "NORMAL!". I went hmmm CO2 high limit is 30 and mine is 32. Normal huh? Metabolic alkalosis happens when the CO2 goes high and one of the causes is hypoalbuminemia. Anion gap is lower than usual. Hypoalbuminemia causes that ... from malnutrition. I've got other bloodwork starting to skew to levels that are technically normal but have never been normal for me. However, the computer says it is normal. Of course doctors tell you don't google stuff and don't allow the computer to judge you but the bloodwork, symptoms, medical research, all fits into malnutrition that has been causing neuropathies since 2012 and the like be a problem. Trying to tell a doctor anything, when I've been doing this since November 2012 ... its just not working. I would rather spend the time I have trying to educate people so that they know the complications, what can happen with a doctor because you may not have any care in the area, and what their priorities might be. Every link I have indicates a 45% profit margin. That's a great reason to keep me quiet. The lawyer letter I should put up. One of the things claimed is that I made harrassing phone calls to the surgeon's group. I have my phone records showing the last calls came from them, not me (as the last 2-3 phone calls). I never parked at their parking lot or been on their property since ... picking up my records during office hours with permission of the office manager and got accused of being on their property. I got the police called on me several times and the cops came out saying she isn't on your property and she can walk on the public sidewalk. I have never yelled or cursed at any one going to their office. I have had 2 occasions where people were going to the wrong doors to see them and I said hey no, its this door. The people said thank you. I had one lady I wished good luck and she said thank you. and for this the police are called on me. Amazing ... but I say this because people should know the truth. No one deserves this. I've never sent a lawyer after them and never had any intention of doing so. I asked that they learn about complications. They don't want me telling people that but I do have the right and ability to say hey here is medical evidence here is what happens to me, if you want, examine it and try to help yourself.

Agreed never be worried about your age. Whatever you have left, make it healthy!