I am a diabetic. I have been for about 8 years. 2 years ago this coming March I had foot surgery (you know us diabetics and our feet ) I broke one of my toes and it got infected and got gangrene so I had to have it removed.

They cut out a big chunk of my foot from the inside because of the infection and it took a while to heal because of it being on my foot and me having to walk on it. Anyway the wound is healed.. YAY!

My surgeon has told me he will never release me from his care. Is this normal? I ask because I have never had surgery or a surgeon before this.
I have a GP. She is good friends with my surgeon. So I am sure if anything were to go wrong with me..body or foot she could get me in to see him in a heartbeat like she did the first time.
The surgeon is having me come back to see him every 3 months, just to look at the one foot. He's never even looked at my other foot, though I have offered him to. But now both feet are fine, plus I get my toenails trimmed by a professional at the hospital (surgeon ordered) and she checks my feet out when she does it every 3 months.
I always thought the surgeon did their job.. and saw you through recovery and then released you...until you needed them again?

Is it different for diabetic patients? Are their any nurses or diabetics on here who can help me?

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I'm neither a nurse or diabetic but!! this reminded me of another post so I gotta ask, is this the same doctor who seemed super friendly to you, raved about how good you smelled etc?

And hope you continue to do well after the surgery!

Is he holding you captive somehow? Refusing to submit insurance forms if you don't come to see him? Just because he won't release you from his care doesn't mean that you have to see him that often. It's your life, your body.

Next time you make an appointment with your regular doctor ask her if this is normal. Depending on what your regular doc says, the next time you see the surgeon, just don't make a new appointment. If they insist, wait until you get home and cancel it over the phone. Tell them you can't reschedule right now because you are making plans and need to get them worked out first and you'll call them when you get the time. If you find there is a good reason for seeing him regularly, try to lengthen the time between visits.

Good job on getting it healed. I know that can be tricky and time consuming.

very good memory! yes this is the same Dr! He and my regular Dr. are good friends, both of them have told me so. They are also both very (unusually??) interested in my personal life.
I told my Surgeon about the fact I split from my ex, because ex was my caregiver after surgery, I wasn't allowed to walk much, shop, cook anything really. So I had to tell him I had no caregiver anymore so he would send Home Health Nurses out to help me with my wound care.
The surgeon told my regular Dr about me splitting with my ex.. now they both ask me if I have a new boyfriend every time I see them.

__________________
Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

Thanks, it was tricky getting it healed but I finally did and I am so happy!

No he's not holding me captive. I would ask my regular Dr but, since she and he are good friends I KNOW she would tell him what I said. I'm trying to be a good patient. I agree, I shouldn't have to see him, unless I really need to. He's a good surgeon and I trust him, so I want to keep in good graces with him. I think I will wait until my next appointment with him which is in May, and ask then if I can cut it back even more than 3 months. I just never heard of anyone visiting their surgeon on a regular basis, if it wasn't needed.

__________________
Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

I would be interested in what diagnosis code and procedure code he is billing out to insurance....
Typically, surgeons that I see are in and out--they don't want to waste time on patients that aren't profitable. Good surgeon or bad surgeon, they do this for the money.
It all sounds a little hinky to me.

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I wouldnt think youd need to see the surgeon after you've mended from the surgery and that seeing your normal Dr would be enough unless they saw a possible problem. Sounds like their both interested in you and not as a Dr patient relationship. I believe I'd be finding someone that'd be that and not be a stick in the mud like my kids Dr who i'm replaceing very soon <In his eyes everyones beneath him, patients, nurses everyone>. We're still seeing my sons surgeon but I'm pretty sure after the cast is off and he's walking on his leg again normally that'd be all of him.

he's having you come back to look at pretty much nothing right now and billing your insurance and you for it that doesnt seem right either

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I wondered that too... I noticed the amount on my last bill was for $136.00 I dunno if his rates went up.. (it was $69.00 when I was seeing him once a month) or if he's charging my insurance more since he's cutting it back to every 3 months.

A few months back I met a lady in his office. She had cancer and he operated on her. A month later I saw her again, but not in his office. I asked how she was.. and asked if she'd seen the Dr recently and she said.. "no, he operated on me, then released me 2 weeks later" The woman was still on oxygen and looked pretty bad.

__________________
Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

Sorry to hear about your son. I hope he gets better soon.

The man isn't hurting for business.. so if he's doing it just to bill my insurance, which could very well be.. he must have a gamling problem or a very expensive mistress

__________________
Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

He's doing good, he was goofing off and fractured leg in three spots, they thoguht just a cast would work but instead put a couple pins in to hold him together, he has about a month left of crutches and casts then should be good.

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