I saw my doctor today about the blood test results I had done last week. The first ones since my surgery in March. Everything came out NORMAL with the exception of "Pth, intact" which ran 4 numbers higher than the range it should have been in. (65 is the high, mine was 69). Even though my calcium test came out in the normal range, this has to do with the bones. I need to take 4 calcium pills a day (1260mg a day) instead of the three I have been taking. Another blood test in three months.
Pth, intact: A parathyroid hormone (PTH) blood test measures the level of parathyroid hormone in the blood. This test is used to help identify hyperparathyroidism, to find the cause of abnormal calcium levels. PTH controls calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood. PTH levels that are too high or too low can cause problems with the kidneys and bones and cause changes in calcium and vitamin D levels.
And finally, the HONEST part. Honest as in I finally SPOKE UP to this office. I am non confrontational and avoid scenes at all cost.
So... I had said I would NOT go back to my surgeon because of the up front money they required for the 'program' that I never was told about until 1 1/2 weeks before surgery, but I did go there this morning to get my results of the blood test and learn more about this Pth business.
He and his staff were amazed at the weight loss so far and were extremely friendly (more than I had ever been treated by them.) His office manager asked me if i could send some before and after pictures to them. Then he asked me why I haven't gone to the support groups, and I told him I DID GO, in May. And then I let him know I felt so out of place because I was made to feel like an outcast. Back at that meeting, when he asked the attendees about the pain we experienced after surgery,I raised my hand and said the only pain I experienced was a feeling like I had performed 400 crunches, and that I never took pain meds in the hospital or at home, and then I was chastised for saying that because I would be letting all the potential gastric patients in attendance think this is normal. I also reminded him that when he asked about us post op surgery patients' meals, and if there were any concerns, and how we are eating and if we were measuring, I said I measured everything and was having trouble getting in 1/4 cup of food per meal. (as a lot of y ou may recall my issues with that.) Again, I was told- in front of a packed room of people, that I would be eating again like 'before' if I didn't measure every thing that goes into my mouth (which wasn't my comment to begin with) and to not worry about it (eating 1/4 cup) because eventually, I would be up to 1 cup or more and wishing you could go back. (WTH?) You had to be there, it was humiliating.
So he tells me this morning that I am 'unique' and one 'of those oddities I see occasionally", people who have a higher pain tolerance and don't need pain meds. Then he asked me to please come back to the group and that I shouldn't be made to feel like an outcast because "you were just being honest with your questions that night." (No kidding mister.) He said something to the effect that 'they' probably just misunderstood you. I pointed out that HE was the one doing the question & answer part, and doing the chastising.
Surgery wise, he did a great job. Tiny little scars and no complications at all. My beef has been the $500. charge for a program that I never knew about in the 3 months BEFORE surgery, and had to be PAID BEOFRE surgery... in 1 1/2 weeks time. That $500. fee basically entails going to "the support group"; and the other beef was with the office/insurance people who could have been more pleasant.
I have my support group here- THIS board- and I don't plan on going back to his meetings.
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