Worst Surgical Experience Ever - Sacramento, CA

One of the worst experiences of my life. I wish that I had not opted for the abdominal surgery. Dr. Green is a nice guy, maybe too nice as he doesn't exercise control over his surgical staff. Everything is great when you go in for a consult, but as soon as you get to their surgical facility, it's like doc in the box. My nurse wanted to leave early (I was the last patient of the day on a Friday afternoon) so in her haste she put me in a too-small compression garment with the drain tubes inside (she didn't bother to tell me the tubes should go outside the garment) and literally pushed me outside the door as soon as Dr. Green left the center. Post surgery, I was still over-anesthetized, nauseous, shaking uncontrollably, itching all over, cried and begged to stay because I felt so unwell. The nurse left me with my friend who had no medical knowledge and gave him contradictory instructions on not leaving me alone for 24 hours while telling him he needed to go to the store and purchase OTC Benadryl to treat me for my horrible post-surgical itching. The too small compression garment caused lacerations/sores and scars all over my stomach. The nurse gave me a non-working pump and compression garment to wrap around my legs to prevent blood clots. She didn't even bother to check it or explain to me how it worked before pushing me out of the surgical center. So, among the extreme pain, nausea, itching, and torture device of a compression garment, I was also at risk for a blood clot and stroke. Within days I was experiencing horrible muscle spasms that still have not gone away.

Almost 3 months post-surgery, I have scars all over my stomach, and the one that I expected, from hip to hip is over an inch higher on my right hip than on my left, and is about 1/4 inch thick - no way the scars will be hidden by underwear or a swimsuit. The stitches, which were supposed to be dissolveable, were poking out of my skin - they were like coarse white brush bristles. I felt like a porcupine was erupting from my stomach. I saw other health care providers for help, and they noticed the stitches, which looked like ugly whiteheads on my stomach. Worst of all, Dr. Green told me that the abdominal surgery would help my back pain; he never mentioned a risk that it would be worse. Well, it's worse now. Almost 3 months later, I am still walking partially bent over.

I am also a person who has had several surgeries and gone through labor. I have a high tolerance for pain, but this was the worst pain ever, hands down. This was also the worst surgical center and surgical nursing staff that I have ever experienced.

When I complained to the Center, they did little to help me. Dr. Green was either out of the office or on vacation. The unethical surgical nurse was never reprimanded. I was never given an apology or an offer of even a partial refund. I now have to pay for other providers to fix this mess. If I could do it all over again, I would never have gone to this Center.