This review found its way off yelp, but I found myself using the good old word of mouth at a christmas party so I thought I'd check to see if it was still here. It wasn't. So now it's back. Short story: bad. Long story below:
I totally regret my decision to use Dr. Zachareas. His bedside manner is appalling. Perhaps he saw a kindred spirit in me as a younger, relaxed man in his 30s, wearing carhartts and a sweatshirt engaging in football chatter during my consultation for a vasectomy. He treated me like a fraternity brother the entire time, not like a patient who was making a very serious decision regarding his reproductive health. I should have pulled the ripcord and tried another practice but unwisely made the appointment.
When it came time for the procedure, he brought out all the jokes while I was under the gown, exposed and vulnerable. He all but practiced his standup comedy routine, in front of his younger female assistant. When he was telling me about the recovery from my vasectomy he told me 'You need to abstain from any sexual activity for 3 weeks. I mean, I didn't - I got a blowjob the next day but don't tell my wife'. He talked constantly about his vasectomy, his testicles, his sex life, comparing himself to me as a way to relax me. Needless to say, it didn't work.
I was originally going to have the procedure while under anesthesia, but scheduling it was a challenge. He gave me a hard time for making the change to doing it while awake. As he was cauterizing my Vas Deferens, he blew the stinky smoke into my face and said something to the effect of 'bet you wish you had taken the anesthesia.' When your balls are hanging out of a hole in a surgical gown and your hands are at your side, with a stranger pulling and your gentleman's business, it is nerve wracking. I was clearly physically uncomfortable and nervous. Blowing smoke in my face didn't help much.
He sang along to 'free fallin' on the radio but changed the words to 'free ballin' as he was cutting open my scrotum. That didn't help much either. As a younger man, I have obviously changed the words to free fallin to free ballin. It's basically human nature. It is not human nature for a doctor to sing it to his patient while sterilizing him. I have a sense of humor. I am generally comfortable when people aren't rigid, show their personalities, and try to connect personally. To say that he over-did the comedy, personality, and personal connection is an extreme understatement.
Not knowing the level of pain I would be in after the procedure, he asked if I would like a prescription for the pain. I accepted and was flabbergasted to find at the pharmacy that he had prescribed 20 Vicodon. Is he trying to get me hooked on opiates?!? 20! Are you kidding? Totally irresponsible!
The procedure was 9 months ago. At my follow-up appointment, his PA saw me and had no explanation as to why my there were still sperm present. She made a lame highway onramp analogy which and could give mo further information but to come back in another 3 months and try again. I had the test ordered, went to the local lab 3 months later and insisted that New England Urology send me the test results so that they couldn't even get my copay and insurance money. They sent me the test results from my first set of labs. Oops. I had to point out their mistake and wait longer for the actual results so I could interpret them myself.
I have told many people my story and each is as shocked as the last at the inappropriate, immature, disrespectful, and shocking bedside manner of Dr. Michael J Zachareas. They have encouraged me to share it so I am. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. read more
