Afraid to confront your doc?

Oh I didn't know the whole story I was speaking in general terms.  I live in Md and am having my surgery in Va.  It's close enough about 1 1/2 hr drive. But since I live in an area that there isn't a Bariatric Dr within 50 miles. I was approved to go. I'm also not a "lightweight" so I'm sure that carried it's own dilemmas. I apologize if I offended You I surely did not intend to. I wish you luck, I'd probably stick with my pcm if he's supportive and you have a repore with.
 Take Care,
Debbie

I am not intimidated by my doc.  My doc works for me.  I hired her to do a job for me.  If I was unhappy with the job she was doing, I'd discuss it with her.  If that didn't resolve the problem, I would fire her and hire someone else.

We work well together.  I actually have a couple different docs, I have a PCP, a bariatric surgeon, a gastroenterologist and a psychiatrist.  But we all work well together.  They respect me and listen to my opinions and know that I know a lot of stuff and I respect them and know that they know a lot of stuff. 

We make decisions together.  They don't "give me orders" and it confuses me when people say things like their doctor does allow them to swallow pills or whatever.  My doctors can't not allow me to do something.  They recommend that I do or do not do things and we discuss it and I decide what I am going to do.

Kelly

I agree with you, Kelly.  My PCP works for me and ultimately I decide!

Michele

I think also it has to do with the selfesteem of the patient.  I often see "I don't want said doctor to be disappointed in me!"  I mean seriously it's time to get a BACK BONE.  We have all gone through body altering, life changing surgeries only to what sit back and be treated like children...please.

My doctors ALL of them are wonderful and listen AND when they didn't I MADE them so we get along swimmingly.  They treat their children like children and ME with respect =)

Ms Shell

My surgeons office upset me over a seemingly small issue which escalated and caused me to lose confidence altogether, I haven't seen my surgeon since the 3 month out mark.  My PCP has been responsible for my after-care, she is incredible, the best doctor on earth, I would never trade her for anything.  All of my wls success has come from my own research though, what I should and shouldn't eat and do to make me healthy and the weight I seek.  My surgeon did a terrific job in the operating room so I always recommend him.

 Great relationship! I researched my surgeon as thoroughly as I researched my weight loss options though, and I think that is the ticket. Also, be the one in charge of your own care as far as questions go, and don't give up without getting a good, informed answer (even though it may not be what you want to hear).

Love my surgeon.  I have his cell phone number and know if there is ever an issue, I can call him.

Hell, he and his wife came to my wedding. 

How awesome is that??? 

Dr. Peters sounds a lot like Dr. Marchesini.  I have Dr. M's cell phone, office phone, hospital phone and his home phone numbers.  I can call him anytime day or night and unless he is operating, I can get ahold of him.  I have not seen him since I left Brazil but we communicate about labs, etc.

You can really tell when a surgeon REALLY cares about his patients.

Michele

 
I truly do adore my surgeon, over the last four years he is not just my surgeon, he's also a friend. But there was a time where I wanted to kick him in the shin hard, by accident.

When I was banded and having so many problems I swear to zog if he told me one more time to follow the band rules and I wouldn't puke my guts up on saliva, I was gonna kill him!  How well must one chew saliva or a protein shake?  In those days he just couldn't imagine the band was causing that many problems, it was just like the damn band board, it can't possibly be the band, it just HAS to be user error.

Today he is doing more revisions than he is banding.  He's come a long way over the last few hundred band to "x" revisions and today he's considering raising his prices for bands just so people won't want him to do their bands.  He explained that when banding was more popular and people had insurance everyone was getting a band.  Today the economy is different and people don't have ins anymore.  So they are flocking to MX to have bands removed or revisions to other surgery types.

I really do think I was his first band patient to have these common complications and he just couldn't fathom at the time the issues people would have.  Today, he knows.

But training him was just like training any other man. ;o))))))))))

If he is considering raising his prices so people do not want the band, why doesn't he consider not offering the band? I know you don't speak for him, so I'm asking more of a general question.