"During the last 2 years I decided to lose 220 lbs. As you might expect, there was a considerable amount of loose skin. I decided to have it removed and did research on plastic surgeons. I and my fiancee went to meet one.
The plastic surgeons name was Dr. Brian Windle. He is a partner with Dr. Marshall Partington who one is the owners of the business called Partington Plastic Surgery Center. Their address is: 10220 N.E. POINTS DRIVE ~ SUITE 110 ~KIRKLAND, WA. 98033. PHONE: 425-883-3933.
We liked them and decided to have it done there. Surgery was performed by Dr. Windel on Sept. 1, 2016.
Procedure ~ Abdominoplasty and Dual Thigh Lifts. Anesthesia used ~ Local with Intravenous Sedation. I was told I would feel nothing.
Consent to disposal of tissue of 5 lbs skin removed. (Dr. told me that I could see pictures of tissues removed) Not done. Never at any point were blood or urine tests administrated.
Pre-op ~ Dr. Windle was not present then and I was told that one of the nurses was new and the other seemed confused.
*Question: Are operations regularly recorded or videoed.
Shortly after the cutting began I was aware that the sedation was of no use whatsoever, and I felt every cut. I was crying and screaming at Dr. Windle that I could feel it. He ignored that. Nurses repeatedly apologized to me for the pain I was feeling, and looked horrified. My surgeon kept saying: almost done, hang in there a minute longer, etc. but did nothing to stop the pain. At one Point I was in so much pain, I screamed at him "Are you even human?" It was while in recovery when my surgeon realized he had nicked an artery, and they rushed me back into surgery to remove the inner sutures by ripping them open, and repaired it… without anesthetic. After I was released from recovery, I was bandaged to be sent home. There was so much blood on the bandages, we were given a rubber mat for the car seat. I was told to take Aleve and should be up the next day doing exercises. I was shocked that they offered me no other pain relief. Shortly after leaving, I was thirsty and asked my ride to stop at the mini-mart to get something to drink.
After entering the door, I blacked out in a pool of blood. The cashier immediately called 911 while others watched over me to see if they could help, and commented on how pale I was. The ambulance appeared quickly. However I chose not to be taken to the hospital as my surgeon (who I thought I could trust) had assured me I would be well enough the very next day to be doing calisthenics. The paramedics urged me I must be taken to the E.R. at Overlake Hospital. I finally agreed due to the amount of blood loss.
When Dr. Windel arrived in the E.R., he was perturbed to be there and that has been his constant attitude. He repeatedly said that he did not want me admitted. He wanted me sent back to their clinic. He wavered about closing it or just leaving it open for a while. Several nurses told him that they felt I needed to stay, and finally after nurses speaking to the house Dr. in E.R.; Dr. James Boswell, Dr. Windel agreed to let them keep me . I couldn’t believe my blood pressure was 90/41 and the nurses were extremely concerned. However, Dr. Windel did not have privileges with that hospital so he had to turn it over to his partner and owner Dr. Partinson who did have privileges there. To note: Dr. Windel called Overlake every day wanting them to send me home and had to be convinced I needed to stay. I was there for 5 days.
I was admitted to the floor for those in dire need and most of its patients were very sick elderly patients. My Mother, having worked in E.R. rooms many years, said she had never seen such dedicated nurses, and some apologized and said they would agree to testify for me if called upon. My Mother told one of the nurses that we would understand if they didn't because they would be going against a Dr. One very incredible nurse replied "I work for the patients, not the Drs", and we had the highest respect for her. She kept a constant watch over me and to this day I credit her with my getting well.
When my parents arrived they were astonished how pale I looked. As my surgeon went to check the bandage, my Mom was shocked to watch as blood literally dribbled down my leg through the many bandages and told Dr. Windle so. My surgeon assured her everything was ok, but my Mom felt he was lying. He told all of us they had 3 choices. One was to just wait there until the bleeding stopped which he assured us would be any minute. The second choice was to put me in our car and take me to their clinic and he could have it fixed in 30 minutes. The 3rd option was to admit me, but it was ridiculous and not necessary. We felt I should stay and the partner surgeon was notified. Only the nurses apologized for the pain, and incompetence which was barbaric. When Mom remarked several times about the pain, he just told her, he wouldn’t remember it the next day ~ not true. At the hospital I was advised I had access to a patient advocate. While the nurses checked on me they found the incision open and a huge hematoma oozing out (Pictures available.) Dr. Windle was called and when he got there was angry that he had to drive from Vancouver. Duh, isn’t that his job. With the nurses watching and appalled, the Dr, put on a pair of gloves and using two fingers, gouged out the hematoma once again with nothing for pain. I screamed out, “What’s wrong with you doesn't it matter to you”. I was ignored. Even the nurses were teary. I had just reached the limit of my endurance.
Dr. Partington, the surgeon/owner did perform the surgery, however he was being watched by other surgeons and the medical director. The Dr. then told me to come in Wednesday and have the drain removed, but I was too sick, and went in on Monday. At this point I had no choice but to see him even though I have no confidence in him, I had to go, as he is the Dr. of record and I would have to pay to have a real Dr. do it. I have been on Medicaid since August. Before that I had work insurance from when I was hurt badly at work.
All along I told the surgeons and anesthesiologist that I had past surgeries where it was difficult for them to be able to keep me sedated, and then to control the pain after. My surgeon never offered anything but Tylenol. As I was talking to the anesthesiologist he passed on that information and I mentioned they had to finally resort to Demerol in the past. I was told that hospitals didn’t use Demerol anymore, not for quite a while. After my surgery and still in recovery they tried several pain meds on me including Fentanyl and dilauded. Finally since my EKG was becoming problematic, they ended up breaking protocol giving me Demerol. The anesthesiologist said I was like a horse to anesthetize and was amazed. I had some sutures removed today but must return for the rest. During this visit, I recorded it. At one point, the surgeon said: Wow, we almost killed you. I doubt if it could be used legally since the Dr. was not informed he was being recorded. He also said the same thing in front of my parents which shocked them earlier, but they already felt he could have killed me.
Goal ~ I want and believe I deserve all of my medical paid for and compensation for the incredible pain and suffering beyond belief. Someone needs to let it be known that this is being done. They cut clear across my abdomen, then across the inside of both thighs. Then using instruments they removed 5 lbs. of extra skin and attached tissue and I felt it ALL. I'm even having nightmares about it and often have panic attacks. I have everything well documented, with pictures, the recordings, nurses willing to testify and hospital records. The only thing I can compare it to is the concentration camps where Drs. were forced to operate with no anesthetics. Please make sure no one else has to be tortured like that.
Thank you,
Matthew Wells
Swells2008@comcast.net"