Gastric Surgeon-No bedside manner

[Butterfly#7 65]

It’s been about a month since my gastric sleeve surgery and honestly so far I’ve been regretting this life decision that I made! I hate feeling hungry, nauseous, and always worried about being hydrated and getting enough protein! It doesn’t help when I go for my post op appointments with my surgeon and I tell him about my concerns and all he does is look at me and tell me “It’s going to get better”. For instance, I ate something one day and it felt like it was literally stuck in my chest. I tried to sip some Water and then I felt like I was suffocating-I was seconds from calling 911. I was so scared! When I shared this experience with my doctor he said nothing! He just told me to stay on a liquid diet. No explanation of what happened nothing! I’m so frustrated with him!

A couple years ago I had a hysterectomy and my ob surgeon was so caring and attentive to my needs. The gastric surgeon is opposite I’m starting to feel like I’m just a “paycheck” for him! What happened to good bedside manner?

[GradyCat 3,697]

He is right though, it IS going to get better. Hang in there.

[catwoman7 11,278]

6 hours ago, GradyCat said:

He is right though, it IS going to get better. Hang in there.

^^^ what she said...

[NurseMichael 142]

I am so sorry you are going through this situation with your surgeon. Many of the issues i read about are due to lack of pre-op education from our providers, and it sound like that is what is happening here. The symptoms you are describing are not uncommon in the weeks post-op.

Dont stress too much over hydration and Protein. You will make yourself crazy. You need to get in as much as you physically can get in and know that as the days and weeks progress, you will be able to tolerate more.

By the way, that day you felt like something was stuck in your chest...I have been there, as im sure many of the others in this board have. Just a reminder to take smaller bites and be very selective about what we eat. What stage of the diet are you on. At one month, i was only on pureed foods.

Best of luck to you, and as cliche as it may be... it will bet better.

[MrsGamgee 756]

I'm clinging to that promise that things will get better too... it has for countless others, it will for me (and you!) too. I've been dealing with similar situations with regards to eating, pain, and the added bonus of vomiting. It basically comes down to me eating too fast, taking too big of bites, and not chewing enough. There's also the possibility that your body just isn't ready for whatever it was you were eating. If you are having problems with meats or whatever, going back to fluids/full fluids/purees for a few meals can help.

Are all your follow ups with just your surgeon? That seems odd to me, but it may attributable to the differences between the US and Canadian systems. I will only see my surgeon (a decent guy and great surgeon, but definitely not in this because he's a people person) if something needs to be fixed. I see my assigned nurse and my dietician, both of whom are much more personable and helpful when it comes to explaining things and answering my questions. Surgeons are the big picture guys, the support staff are there to walk through the day to day stuff.

Hang in there! I know you don't want to hear it, but it will get better. Trust the process and listen to your body. You aren't alone.

[Bastian 460]

On 6/25/2019 at 4:49 AM, Butterfly#7 said:

It’s been about a month since my gastric sleeve surgery and honestly so far I’ve been regretting this life decision that I made! I hate feeling hungry, nauseous, and always worried about being hydrated and getting enough protein! It doesn’t help when I go for my post op appointments with my surgeon and I tell him about my concerns and all he does is look at me and tell me “It’s going to get better”. For instance, I ate something one day and it felt like it was literally stuck in my chest. I tried to sip some Water and then I felt like I was suffocating-I was seconds from calling 911. I was so scared! When I shared this experience with my doctor he said nothing! He just told me to stay on a liquid diet. No explanation of what happened nothing! I’m so frustrated with him!

A couple years ago I had a hysterectomy and my ob surgeon was so caring and attentive to my needs. The gastric surgeon is opposite I’m starting to feel like I’m just a “paycheck” for him! What happened to good bedside manner?

Can I ask why you tried to eat so soon?

[Butterfly#7 65]

Can I ask why you tried to eat so soon?

At 3 weeks my surgeon said I could eat pureed food so according to him it wasn't considered "too soon". To be more specific it was a soft scrambled egg that caused the problem but even in the soft food phase (now) my pouch still does not like scrambled whole eggs only egg whites.

Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

[Brent701 438]

Reviving a bit of an old thread here but eggs cause a lot of problems for people particularly at puree phase. They get a little easier every week. DO NOT try chasing them with Water if it feels stuck that is going to make it worse. Its been a month since your original post im sure you are doing a lot better!

[Bastian 460]

On 7/3/2019 at 7:40 PM, Butterfly#7 said:

At 3 weeks my surgeon said I could eat pureed food so according to him it wasn't considered "too soon". To be more specific it was a soft scrambled egg that caused the problem but even in the soft food phase (now) my pouch still does not like scrambled whole eggs only egg whites.

Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Ahh I see thank you for answering I have been told I will be able to try pureed food at week 3, so the same. When I read your comment I was thinking you tried to have just normal food...silly me!

[FluffyChix 17,418]

So we as patients have an internal filter that is rather "needy" -- or at least many of us do. We perceive this surgery as "a really big dealio" and that we are all "special little snowflakes" to be given attention to ad libitum. Cuz you know, we're pretty internally focused and driven on "winning WLS." And it's our #1 priority, almost to the exclusion of everyone else's needs.

The surgeon's (and sometimes their team) do this thing EVERY dang day. With hundreds of patients at various levels of care along a 5 year continuum. (Or at least those who are building or contained within a Centers of Excellence Program.) And their perspective is that "we do our job" but dangit, you the patient have a responsibility in the 5 year process. And your job is to know your pre-op instructions, follow the rules, work the journey, and behave normally without neediness. Cuz you know, needy patients cost the practice moolah. So they want self-starters. They want people to get in, get out, and get on with their life. And they do NOT see this surgery as a big dealio. In fact, they see it as kind of a "tonsilectomy" or "gall bladder surgery". Something that can literally be done as an outpatient.

I remember talking to my surgeon (whom I see every time I have a follow-up) about the level of care I was gonna need post RNY. And she cocked her head at an angle, and looked at me like I was an idiot, and started laughing! She said, "Post care? Why would you need that? LOL. I think YOU think this surgery is gonna be a big deal--it isn't. Like, get over your bad self. You're not a snowflake, buttercup."

LOL. That's the difference.

And what you are experiencing is entirely normal. If one meal or one day you have pain, then you drop back a stage and go back on liquids for a day or two...it only becomes an issue if you no longer can keep ANYTHING down--water or Protein Drinks. In that case, then it's a call to the doc. Any other event other than sudden onset of intense pain is not a doctor phonecall or hand holding event.