Had to call 911 to save my own life.

Nurses hid the buzzer & the controls on both sides of the bed did not work.

I was in a lot of pain & could not call for help.

I was bleeding internally.

Could not scream. Could not bang on anything. Could not get out of bed.

I laid there for only God knows how long before I saw the telephone w/the long cord.

I could not reach the phone. Somehow I managed to squeeze thru the bars on the bed

and grab the phone cord with my two fingers. (Thank God for Tall Man & Pointer)

Then I had to rest.

I fished the cord up then could not think of phone numbers because of cells phones.

All we do is press Linda, Mom, etc.

I did not even know how to get an outside line so I dialed "0".

I gave them my name & said I need help now and I don't know what room or floor I am on

but I am in their hospital and need help now.

They said OK, we will send someone.

Nobody came.

I kept suffering.

I called "0" again. This time there was no answer.

I could not tolerate the pain anymore. I was fighting for my life.

Then I called 911 and told them who I was and where I was.

911 Called the hospital and sent security to my room.

Once I saw the policeman, I fainted.

IT'S TRUE. PEOPLE DO HOLD ON UNTIL THEY SEE THE ONE THEY WANT THEN THEY GIVE UP.

I filed a suit against the Dr and the Hospital and the Medical Review Panel said they did nothing wrong. In Louisiana, a Dr. can cut off your wrong leg & the max that you can sue for is $100k.

They lied. The Lawyer & Doctors on the Panel "Threw me under the bus & watched each other roll over on me."

lol I have a feeling by the time I am feeling better from my surgery I'm going to want a nice vacation ALONE! Because I know my family is going to smother me (and I mean aunts, cousins, uncles etc.. I come from a huge close family I have awesome support!)

Have you thought about reaching out to your local news stations about this? I know that here in Ohio our news channels would be jumping at the story! Once the news broadcasts it things usually happen. Just an idea!

PLEASE...Just have someone the entire time in the hospital.

I honestly thought I would be in good hands as a patient in the hospital.

My sister wanted to stay with me but I told her to go home because I would be fine. She had the same surgery, same Doctor and went to work in 3 days. She lost 100 lbs in one year. She want fm size 18 to size 2, 3, 4, 5.

I really think the hospital is to blame but because the Doctor did not tell me

or mention what happened caused me to question him & that is why I sued him too. The Doctor never saw me again. I think he got scared.

Anyone that said your medical records should be handed to you free of charge obviously have NEVER requested their records, or have requested from one of the few doctors/hospitals that doesn't charge. You absolutely have to pay for records.

And how can anyone come on here and chastise this woman for being defensive?! My gawd, after the type of words that have been thrown at her in this thread and the simple fact that she went through this traumatic deal and someone hiding behind a computer had the audacity to call her bluff?! Wow

I guess I wasn't aware that there is a VSG board "police-posse" that are determined to decide when to start riots over people's individual posts.

Here is some information on some risks & complications. I don't remember if you mentioned having insurance. Depending on what type you have, if any, definitely call either a PCP or a specialist and make an appointment. Something is going on and unfortunately a lot of the problems that he bariatric community is subject to aren't ones that go away on their own.

It sounds like your surgeon & program were utterly neglectful. Were you given aftercare instructions? There are certain conditions under which you need to seek medical help ASAP. These include, but are not limited to:

• Inability to pass fluids (drink)
  
• Inability to pass solids (maybe for longer than a day or two, we all go through incidients of something not wantint to go down, and a day w/o food won't hurt you where a day w/o Water can)
  
• if you haven't pooped in 3+ days
  
• if you show signs of dehydration (dark urine, constipation, chills, "head rush," etc.)
  
• Sustained fever
  
• etc
  

Sounds like you're having more than one of those. Make an appointment like, yesterday, even if you have to go to another city or go out of state.

THANK YOU... so very much.

You have been most informative.

I am so glad I found you on this site.

You are so right.

I was wondering why they kept checking for blood clots.

Question: I can't over eat why am I not losing weight?

What am I, invisible? Chopped liver????? I was the first to step into the fray to say that I believed you, and THEN the other supporters came out of the woodwork.

You are so funny.

Thank you for this post.

I lol each & every time I read it.

AHAHAHAHAH xxxoooo

Love it.

Anyone that said your medical records should be handed to you free of charge obviously have NEVER requested their records, or have requested from one of the few doctors/hospitals that doesn't charge. You absolutely have to pay for records.

And how can anyone come on here and chastise this woman for being defensive?! My gawd, after the type of words that have been thrown at her in this thread and the simple fact that she went through this traumatic deal and someone hiding behind a computer had the audacity to call her bluff?! Wow

I guess I wasn't aware that there is a VSG board "police-posse" that are determined to decide when to start riots over people's individual posts.

When I went to the hospital to get my medical records, I played stupid. I did not want them to know that I was going to sue them.

I had to complete a form, then i waited for the records.

I got them. It was like 10 pages.

(another Louisiana scam)

Then, I had to come clean & tell them it was for my attorney.

They told me it would cost $350, and they asked if I would go talk to the Hospital Administration because they knew nothing about the 911 call.

I did that. They asked me to wait a few days before I filed the suit. i did that.

Then they said they could/would not help me.

I have the records they gave me & nothing in it mentions the 911 call.

Louisiana Doctors/Hospitals know "the power of the pen."

So, at first they tried to give me a few papers with hopes that I would go away.

I had to push and now I have to fight.

Kim, Wheetsin has a great deal of knowledge and is definitely offering you some great advice. I am so happy to see her here offering you some help.

Anyone that said your medical records should be handed to you free of charge obviously have NEVER requested their records, or have requested from one of the few doctors/hospitals that doesn't charge. You absolutely have to pay for records.

And how can anyone come on here and chastise this woman for being defensive?! My gawd, after the type of words that have been thrown at her in this thread and the simple fact that she went through this traumatic deal and someone hiding behind a computer had the audacity to call her bluff?! Wow

I guess I wasn't aware that there is a VSG board "police-posse" that are determined to decide when to start riots over people's individual posts.

Where I live the first copy of medical records requested are required to be free. They can charge per copy after that by page, but the amount can't be $350. So your right, I have never come across anywhere you have to pay for medical records. It was wrong for me to assume that its the same in other areas of the country, that I can admit.

All I can say to those who feel I was bullying. In NO WAY was I bullying I was just trying to understand and the erratic posts didn't really help.

Kim, Wheetsin has a great deal of knowledge and is definitely offering you some great advice. I am so happy to see her here offering you some help.

Me too!

I am so grateful.

She has told me more that I have found since the surgery in June 2010.

She was definitely worth fighting for.

Wow! She told the truth. Why couldn't my Doctor be honest like that?

He never talked to me since I had the surgery.

I do not even remember seeing him in ICU.

He never examined me since.

WHEESIN IS MY HERO!

Standing Ovation!

Thank you.

There could be a lot of reasons. Are you going with fluids since solids cause you so much problem? Fluids are great calorie camoflauge. I could give you a horrible example from Starbucks (my personal heroin).

Do you know about how many calories a day you're taking in total? What's your current height, weight & age? You've mentioned you're fairly sedintary due to lack of energy - is that a chronic lack of energy, or situational? (e.g. are you always fatigued, or just at certain times?) What types of foods are most of your calories coming from? Etc.

There could be a lot of reasons. Are you going with fluids since solids cause you so much problem? Fluids are great calorie camoflauge. I could give you a horrible example from Starbucks (my personal heroin).

Do you know about how many calories a day you're taking in total? What's your current height, weight & age? You've mentioned you're fairly sedintary due to lack of energy - is that a chronic lack of energy, or situational? (e.g. are you always fatigued, or just at certain times?) What types of foods are most of your calories coming from? Etc.

I can eat any kind of food.

I find chicken difficult to eat.

I stay away from pasta, rice & bread.

I no longer diet because I gave up.

I just changed my eating habits.

5'2 200 lbs. Size 14P

I am always tired. It's fm depression.

I do nothing. I make myself go on a cruise & then all I do is eat & sleep.

I am mentally & physically exhausted & so tired of deception & cruel humans.

I don't date. Have not had a date in 10 yrs. Since the last man broke my heart.

Don't want to date. Don't want to work. Don't have any ambition, incentive or energy.

I took adderall for 8 years. My Doctor took me off of it because he said I am too old. That was the only Rx I ever took and that Rx really helped me get up & out.

I had more energy & it was like spinach to my brain too. Now, I feel like the living dead.

God, I really thank you for your help.

I can't believe they did this but I DO BELIEVE YOU. How horrible!

Shame on them. You were not only fighting for your life you were fighting for your babies too. How are they?

Whew... you make me feel like a sissy after hearing your horror story.

Thank you so very much for sharing your story.

I would love to meet you someday & the twins too.

xxxoooo

----------------------

Thank you. My twins are great. I carried them full term and they were 7 pounds each! =) They are now 13 months. I'm gonna go ahead and unfollow this thread bc I don't wanna feed into any drama that may come with it,I just wanted to give my opinion on it and let you know there are ppl here that believe you. Good luck to you!

I can't believe they did this but I DO BELIEVE YOU. How horrible!

Shame on them. You were not only fighting for your life you were fighting for your babies too. How are they?

Whew... you make me feel like a sissy after hearing your horror story.

Thank you so very much for sharing your story.

I would love to meet you someday & the twins too.

xxxoooo

----------------------

Thank you. My twins are great. I carried them full term and they were 7 pounds each! =) They are now 13 months. I'm gonna go ahead and unfollow this thread bc I don't wanna feed into any drama that may come with it,I just wanted to give my opinion on it and let you know there are ppl here that believe you. Good luck to you!

Thanks so very much for your comments.

I sincerely appreciate it.

I agree that 350 dollars is A LOT of money for your medical records! Unless you had 50 years worth the medical records copied out, it shouldn't have been more than at least 30 dollars (given that you had x-rays etc. included in the records, if not then it shouldn't have been more than about 5 dollars!) I'm not calling you a liar either. If they charged you 350 dollars you were MAJORLY ripped off!

Medical Records Copying Charges

Louisiana

Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:1299.96

For records, a reasonable charge not to exceed:

• $1.00 per page for first 25 pages
  
• $0.50 per page for pages 26-500
  
• $0.25 per page thereafter
  
• Plus handling charge of $25.00
  
• Plus actual postage
  

For x-rays, microfilm, electronic, and imaging media:

• Reasonable reproduction costs
  
• Plus handling charge of $20.00 for hospitals, $10.00 for other health care providers
  

Actually.... it sounds like you had the lap band done. Everyone I know who has had that procedure has had the same out come post op as you have explained. Not much lost and then the gain back... not to mention the constant throwing up kinda sound like a fill was too tight. Are you sure they did the right procedure?

You know I sort of wondered that too. I actually didn't think about it until she mentioned carrying around a cup to spit in when she's eating. I have a cousin who had the lapband done about a year ago, and when she eats she carries around a cup, because she has problems with spitting, and food coming back up.

Actually.... it sounds like you had the lap band done. Everyone I know who has had that procedure has had the same out come post op as you have explained. Not much lost and then the gain back... not to mention the constant throwing up kinda sound like a fill was too tight. Are you sure they did the right procedure?