Donald R Counts, MD

What a difference a Year (s) make. I have been going through old Files this evening and I came upon one from Donald R Counts, MD. When I went to see him it was 1994. The reason for my appointment was because I was born with a umbilical hernia. It had started hurting more than usual and it was time to have surgery. During my consultation with Dr. Counts I explained how scared I was about any type of surgery. He told me to come in 30 minutes before surgery and he would give me something to relax. On the day of he arrived late. He told me it was too late to give me any kind of relaxant. My parents went with me (I was 25 years old).This was out patient surgery and instead of general anesthesia I was given local anesthesia. After he inserted the large needle near my belly button I started to go into panic mode. I told him that I really needed to have my mom in the room to hold my hand. His answer…‘you are an adult, you can handle this’. Not only was I distressed, scared, and awake, but he he INSISTED on showing me the cartilage that he had removed… I nearly passed out. I felt violated in some way. I remember that my awesome step father came in after the ‘operation’ and told DR. Counts that if he EVER needed to see me again, either him or my mom would insist on being present. Not long after this ordeal my hernia came back. I went to another surgeon. He could not believe that I actually went thru this surgery while awake. The entire ordeal felt very cruel and careless. As I read recent reviews of Dr, Counts, it seems he has changed his ways, and is including wellness and holistic medicine within his practice. That is wonderful. But I hope to NEVER go through the mediocre care that I was given.
Kudos to your future Dr Counts,
Shanti
PS. Funny, I suffer from Panic Disorder, which I believed started around that time. The experience I had put me in panic mode, but now Dr. Counts his helping with this condition. Nice. full Circle