What am I to expect from my doctor? How often do I see him? What will he be doing during those visits?

While I feel that I picked the most experienced surgeon in the area, (and the only VSG surgeon around here I believe) I am really disappointed in his staff, and quite frankly his own behavior after my surgery. It was so different before the surgery. After? He honestly acted as though he was god's gift to heavy people.

There was an issue where I was over medicated in the hospital. I had too much diludad? (sp?) I would have pain, they would shoot me up. I didn't ask for that medicine, I was just telling them my pain level. I had no pump-no control over what they were giving me. I was so out of it that I didn't know what was going on. When my dad came to see me, I was telling him about acorns, the olympics, squirrels, goldfish crackers and Vancouver. It was really strange. I even remember just talking to myself for one entire afternoon. Just a big ole conversation with just me talking. At one point, my doc came in, realized I had had too much and he told them to back off on the meds. I felt SOO much better as soon as that crap was out of my system. I am not a pill popper-I have taken one dose of the Percocet since I got home.

So when he came to see me next, he acted kind of irritated with me. THen he went on to tell me that I medicated myself "too heavily" and that was my problem. (I didn't get to go home until Thursday, was supposed to go home Wednesday) I just stared at him. I am not pointing fingers because it doesn't matter now, but that comment really bothered me. I don't know if he thought I was looking to blame someone for having to stay an extra day (I wasn't), but then he went on about how I was doing things all wrong-I wasn't recording my Water intake (um, I couldn't pick up a damn pencil-I was THAT out of it), I wasn't walking enough (I walked every chance I got.), and something else that he pointed out. I mean-really? Was that necessary. When he left, I wanted to cry. Maybe I was being a bit emotional? I don't know.

His staff, well, that is an entirely different thread which I won't even get into.

Can another bariatric doc monitor my progress from here on out? Even if they don't do VSG? Or should I just stick with him and deal? The more I think about the way he made me feel, the more upset I get. I know it isn't a huge deal, but it bothered me at a time when I feel I was really vulnerable.

I am sorry that he made those insensitive comments. I would be upset as well.

Changing surgeons always scares me, but it's something that I know I will have to face because my surgeon is military. He is deployed right now, so I have to see the surgeon (Dr. Riley) that assisted him on my revision. I think very highly of both of them. Dr. Riley is phenomenal, and took care of me while I was hospitalized in July. He'll also be the one performing my GB removal surgery sometime this next week.

I always have to mentally prepare myself that one day Dr. Michel (primary surgeon) will get orders to go somewhere else or my husband will get orders and we'll have to leave.

As for follow-up care, if you want to change, I would find a surgeon that has performed VSGs. My follow up has been a little more extensive due to complications. I had labs done at 3, 7, and will have 12 month labs pulled in June. We've discussed him doing an endoscopy at my 1 year follow up, but I'm not sure if we'll actually follow through on that one.

Once I pass the 1 year mark, my PCM will order my labs, and the only reason I'll have to f/u with the surgeon is if I have a sleeve related issue.

I guess I could travel to another city. We live smack dab in the middle of the state. I could do Cincy, Cleveland, etc. However, if I had an emergency, then what?

Really, aftercare with the sleeve is minimal. Look at all of us who went to Mexico. I have not been back to see my surgeon once. My regular doctor does my labs.

There is a bariatric surgeon here, but I have no need to see him. Just follow your post op diet to the letter and there is little chance you will have complications.

I am sorry your doctor was a butt head. I never even used any pain medication.I didn't have any pain.