Dr. Brian Wolfman M.D., MSC

In my opinion, you should absolutely avoid going to Coastal Gastroenterology Associates unless you wish to be talked down to and chided by your gastroenterologist. Dr. Brian Wolfman was abundantly rude and condescending during the appointment. I had come in for general gastro intestinal issues and a concern over gallstones, with pain and vomiting. I was concerned about a gallbladder attack amongst other things. Every question I asked him, he would turn around on me in what appeared to be an attempt to try to make me look foolish or embarrass me (then he would not give ANY additional information, suggestion, etc.) For example, when I expressed concern about potentially having a gallbladder attack, he said, "What IS a gallbladder attack?". When I told him what the ER doctors had told me about it and what I knew about it from family experience, he offered NO additional information, suggestion, or anything. When I told Dr. Brian Wolfman that we drove an hour to have the hernia surgery because it was the closest one we could get a consultation with, he challenged that assertion verbally three times and made me repeat it as if he thought I was lying. When I told him that I was concerned about the "sludge" condition in my gallbladder in addition to the pain, vomiting, and other symptoms, he said: "30% of people have sludge. I treat patients not ultrasounds." That was the end of that part of the conversation... he made absolutely no effort to explain what the condition is or give me any information. I told him I have pain in my gallbladder and center chest. With only one question, he suggested that it was his belief it is a "muscular skeletal issue". I've had two chest MRIs and an X-ray recently, they didn't find any muscular skeletal issue, but that isn't my main complaint with this doctor or office. When I told Dr. Brian Wolfman I was concerned about about light colored stool, he said: "What does that mean?"... Once again treating me like a child and trying to make me embarrass myself. I didn't answer, and he said: "According to the internet it means you have pancreatic cancer". That was the END of the discussion on my concern, he offered no additional information nor did he ask any additional questions (For example, "How long have you had this?". Dr. Brian Wolfman was only interested in chiding me, his patient, for even asking. It may be of note that my personal doctor was concerned that my fever and vomiting had been related to my gallstone issue and had ordered bloodwork to check for pancreatitis, which was faxed to Coastal Gastroenterology Associates previous to the appointment. Dr. Wolfman also directly refuted the ER doctor's advice for me when I spoke of it, which was to eat less fat because I have multiple gallstones. Dr. Wolfman not only directly contradicted the ER doctor's advice, but he told me that "I do not need to eat less fat for my gallbladder". The catch here is that the bloodwork - which I had not yet seen because I had it faxed directly from the hospital to Coastal Gastro Docs - showed slightly high LDL cholesterol. I had not yet seen this but he had seen this, and he told me "You do not need to eat less fat...". I guess he assumed my regular doctor would follow up on that with me, which she did. After this brief, 7-8 minute appointment full of disrespectful chiding and questions which were intentionally crafted to try to make me embarrass myself, Dr. Wolfman ended the appointment. We had made this appointment to be assessed on a history of gastrointestinal issues in addition to the concerns with the gallstones, but when I asked why the appointment was ending so soon and tried to discuss my long standing, daily life-affecting other issues (which includes my need for a colonoscopy and family history of colon cancer among other things), Dr. Wolfman refused to extend the appointment to discuss these issues. It should also be noted that I was kind, calm, and collected throughout the entire appointment. When I emailed the office to express my concerns with this appointment and this doctor, the office didn't reply - but the office Manager called me ONLY after I posted a Facebook review, attempting to shift the blame to me. She made no effort to apologize whatsoever, but instead suggested that I had a misunderstanding and claimed the "doctor had given me many recommendations" which is entirely untrue. In fact, I believe she may have made an effort to contact Facebook, which lead to my account being temporarily locked. I do not know if Dr. Brian Wolfman intentionally misrepresented the appointment when asked, but there were not "many recommendations" and there was very little substantive discussion, if any, in the few minutes he offered for an appointment. The whole appointment is basically laid out word for word above. There is not much more, and there was a definite reluctance and refusal to even try to discuss anything more even though the reason for the appointment was given as a definite need for an overall evaluation with longstanding gastrointestinal issues with a concern about the gallstone issue. Dr. Wolfman also refused to discuss an ulcer which I had been diagnosed with over two years ago and treated with an NSAID pain reliever alternative, and still suffer pain from. I began to give this information and say that I may now have a second one. He simply told me how they diagnose ulcers with a scope and moved the discussion onward in order to be out of the appointment within 10 minutes, he didn't ask ONE question about the ulcer or even begin to discuss it with me. I highly, highly recommend you find a different gastroenterologist if you are considering Dr. Wolfman.