I will be seeing my doctor tomarrow for my first post-op visit. I'm a bit pivved at him over my surgery time and wonder if I should say something to him or just let it go. I was told to arrive at the hospital at 10:30am so best estimate to my family and friends was that I'd be out of surgery by 2:00 or 3:00. I was not planning on staying the night so I figured I be home early in the evening. As it turned out the nurse told me that my doctor does not like to wait on patients so he has everyone arrive in the morning, the nurses have to prep them then we just wait like cattle. So I arrive at 10:30 and they put an IV in then I had to lay on my back til 5:00pm for my surgery. I guess it just played with my emotions. I was hyped and ready at 10:30 by 5:00 I was anxious and scared. He has the same reguard for patients in his office as well. If I have a 2:00 appointment and can count on not seeing him till 3:30. I think it's arrogant and abusive but for the sake of our "relationship" should I keep it to myself? Kathy

Kathy, I'm an RN and I can tell you that you will NEVER change a surgeon! You can speak up, but I doubt you'll even get a sincere apology. You're right, it's arrogant, rude, and even bad business practice. But if he's "good" at his craft, patients will wait and wait to see him, and he knows it. If he wasn't a busy surgeon you'd get right in on time. What you could tell the LapBand coordinator (did you have one?) is that it would have been nice had they warned you in advance that you'll be cooling your jets for hours in the hospital before the surgery is actually performed. You'll never change the doctor, but maybe you can change the pre-op teaching the surgery center does. Good luck!

my time is just as valuable as the dr's. I had a similar problem with wait times and spoke up. I feel the squeeky wheel gets the oil. Until they are in our shoes they do not know how it feels. Speak up!!