Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology Ballantyne — Local services in Charlotte

I had a procedure 2 weeks ago, October 23, at 6:30 AM, with Dr. Kessler (so the office knows my identity) and developed complications almost immediately following the same. I had abdominal pain as soon as procedure was finished and was not released for 90 mins or so. I received no follow up call, to check on me next day. I was dealing with pain and discomfort for 2 weeks following the procedure. I waited as the package I received procedure suggests there can be traces of blood, pain and discomfort, and I had some polyps removed. When I called to ask for an exam as my condition continued to deteriorate - their appointment desk told me Dr. Kessler can see me next year, in 2024, and offered PA exam 3 days later. I asked for any one of their 6 location and she suggested to go to emergency. My wife did her procedure last week and completely different experience - be aware, if something doesn't go right, do you want this org on your side?!? I now have to go to emergency to deal with this as they will not see me earlier.

Updates: Had surgery in February, 2024. Got dragged through various treatments which did not work and as you can imagine, fell into new year and new deductible under my Insurence program; $5500 out of pocket. While things like this do happen, as you have to sign acknowledgment before colonoscopy is done and it is subject to “known and accepted risks”, hence lawyer will remind you about it, point here is that no one from Charlotte Gastro showed any interest what happens to me. And I did email them right away as instructed after my initial review - they NEVER responded, and I...

Dr Maddukuri insulted me at the first appointment by asking me if I used marijuana. I am 54 yrs old and non smoker and non drinker, but for him to ask me that was stunning. Then after his staff got their act together to schedule my procedure of a endoscopy and colonoscopy all at once I was amazed at his response after his findings. His bed side manner was beyond insulting but his conversation with my husband wasn't even close to the one he had with me. No follow up appointment, no suggestions as to what was making my food stay lodged in my chest. Completely contradicted the first GI doctor's findings that I seen and now left me hanging without biopsies reports. Told me he would forward my results to my primary doctor. It's been since the 6th that he stretched my esophagus out to max of 20 and food started being lodged in my chest again this past Saturday the 17th. I do not recommend him as a doctor and ask to be changed to another doctor in their office because of needing a stent in my deformed pancreas in the future and they are one of few offices that can do that. But I was told it would take 30 days after requesting a change of doctors in their office. What am I suppose to do in the mean time? It's been a crazy experience and I want to warn others that may be as miserable as I am, NOT to seek help from him. He has no regard for the care of his patients. I did however, receive a estimate on how much the procedure was going to cost me and my insurance BEFORE the date was set for it. I really feel if he represents this office, they are only concerned with the money...not...

The doctor who helped me was really good. But all other kinds of interactions i had with this office was just horrible. The scheduling is horrifying, they made an appointment for me and I wanted to reschedule, but no one can find that in the system ever since. So I'm getting auto-texts reminding me that I have to show up or there's a no-show fee, but every time I call in to cancel that appointment no one can do it. When I told them about these text messages, one of the staff even told me the CGH/Charlotte Gastro in the text messages is not their name. Shockingly right? Once I finally fixed the appointment with the doctor and have a prescription, I never had the luxury of getting anything out of the doctor's office. I tried to call in for questions about doses and if i can take certain other OTC medications, all I ever got to are voicemails. When they call back, they try once and then leave me a voicemail and be done with it. I mean I have a job and I may be away from my desk for a short period not bringing my phone. I've called you 5 times in two days, so at least you can do me the favor of trying to call a second time before you leave a message. We keep communicating in back and forth voice messages. It feels ridiculous. Also, their billing don't even try to pick up a call, all they do is directly sending you to a voicemail, and said they'll call back. It's as if none of the patients have a job and all we do all day long is sitting there waiting for their callback. They clearly don't have the least of intentions to make patient...