Need your guidance and help please
I am a licensed mental health therapist who performs and specializes in the psychological assessments and after care for those who are seeking bariatric surgery. In addition, I am in my dissertation stage of my PhD with the research on the coping skills used by the pre and post operative bariatric patient. On March 10, 2009, I will be celebrating my 10 year anniversary of my own gastric by pass surgery. While I understand how bariatric surgery changes our lives, I do not have the insight on how men are affected by this life changing surgery.
The reason I am seeking help on this forum is I need men's perspective and advice on how to engage and address the issues men deal with before and after bariatric surgery. I am developing a guidebook, of sorts, to provide to my clients to help with this process. As you know, we are so excited about the process, sometimes the information given "goes in one ear and out the other". In addition, I feel I fall short of providing my male clients with the "emotional tools" needed to reach one's full potential.
I would greatly appreciate any and all advice and guidance from any of you at any stage of this process. My website is www.BEtheNEWyou.com and my email is [email protected]. My website provides any and all ways to contact me.
Thank you in advance,
Lisa Driver, MSW, LPC, PhD candidate
Creative Counseling Services
The reason I am seeking help on this forum is I need men's perspective and advice on how to engage and address the issues men deal with before and after bariatric surgery. I am developing a guidebook, of sorts, to provide to my clients to help with this process. As you know, we are so excited about the process, sometimes the information given "goes in one ear and out the other". In addition, I feel I fall short of providing my male clients with the "emotional tools" needed to reach one's full potential.
I would greatly appreciate any and all advice and guidance from any of you at any stage of this process. My website is www.BEtheNEWyou.com and my email is [email protected]. My website provides any and all ways to contact me.
Thank you in advance,
Lisa Driver, MSW, LPC, PhD candidate
Creative Counseling Services
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my request. Part of my initial assessment with pre op WLS clients are to give them "homework assignments" to complete prior to their return for the second part of the initial assessment. I now have my clients sign up and go on to their specific forum and post a question or comment. as part of this "homework". I have just started implementing this piece of the preparation for WLS.
The assistance I am asking for from those on this forum is for consideration to provide me guidance to help with the WLS male population during my face to face assessment and post op sessions. I can provide support and guidance in a general sense, but not specifically to the needs of the male population.
It was suggested that I post on this forum on OH to seek this guidance. I was informed that while this forum is for men, those on this forum are very helpful.
Thanks again for the response and any help and guidance is greatly appreciated.
Lisa
The assistance I am asking for from those on this forum is for consideration to provide me guidance to help with the WLS male population during my face to face assessment and post op sessions. I can provide support and guidance in a general sense, but not specifically to the needs of the male population.
It was suggested that I post on this forum on OH to seek this guidance. I was informed that while this forum is for men, those on this forum are very helpful.
Thanks again for the response and any help and guidance is greatly appreciated.
Lisa
(deactivated member)
on 1/30/09 12:08 pm - Houston, TX
on 1/30/09 12:08 pm - Houston, TX
seems like a noble cause, but I did not see a question, if there was one..more like an announcement that you would like to study us...
if you had a specific question, our guys usually help even if it is in a PM...
best of luck
if you had a specific question, our guys usually help even if it is in a PM...
best of luck
There is no specific question, just truly needing guidance on the best way to engage my male clients who are seeking WLS surgery and what the most significant struggles, challenges and suggestions after WLS. While I "get it" because I have had WLS, the perceptions and key aspects of why men seek surgery and aspects after WLS is not something I can say I truly have experiences in.
This was not an announcement of desire to study "us" in the sense of the WLS male population, just an FYI. My dissertation research will focus on the local WLS population and the coping strategies.
It was suggested that I seek assistance on OH and that while this forum is for men, the men on this forum were open to help in this situation.
Could you please clarify what this statement means "our guys usually help even if it is in a PM"?
Your consideration and those in this forum is greatly appreciated.
Lisa
This was not an announcement of desire to study "us" in the sense of the WLS male population, just an FYI. My dissertation research will focus on the local WLS population and the coping strategies.
It was suggested that I seek assistance on OH and that while this forum is for men, the men on this forum were open to help in this situation.
Could you please clarify what this statement means "our guys usually help even if it is in a PM"?
Your consideration and those in this forum is greatly appreciated.
Lisa
I think the reference is a PM means that some men would Contact you through OH--similar to an e-mail-- even though they may be reluctant to respond to you on our forum. This is the only forum on all of OH that is dominated by Men and we like to try to keep it for Men Only as much as we can.
I really don't think you are going to get much cooperation here even though your reasons for posting here seem noble. I still think the best thing you can do for your male patients is to have them look at our forum.
As far as why Men seek WLS, aside from caring how we look, the reasons are probably similar to the Women. When I weighed 571, my doctor only gave me a couple years to live and that was 7 years ago. I'd say most men either have health problems or are afraid of developing them. I see a lot of men post who have children and want to be alive to see them grow. Most of us have tried every conceiveable diet we could think of and have lost weight for a while only to gain it back with interest. Sounds familiar doesn't it?
When I first joined OH back in July, 2000 there were very few sections and about 99 % of the questions dealt with weight loss and the surgery. But, as OH grew, it kept adding forums and the discussions often stray from our reason for being here. I've posted some Off Topic (OT) posts when something in my life was bothering me. Oftentimes it would be because of mental problems. Most of the time I try to stay on course and talk about WLS, strategies for staying on the post-op diet, and helping pre-ops. Aside from purely medical conditions, a lot of people get worried about going for a mental evaluation. I had my shrink write to the ins, but I do see the logic of seeing a therapist for help changing behaviors. As far as mental status goes, I've often advised pre-ops that the ins companies want to make sure the patients are able to deal with life and the WLS. I'm bi-polar and on meds, but if someone is suicidal or suffering from a major mental illness, I could see why the ins would be reluctant to do the WLS. Once most people know some of the reasons for the mental screenings, they get calmer. I've also been able to counsel Men about dealing with the anxiety of the approaching surgery. In my case, although I am naturally very anxious, I was calm going into both of my RNYs ( I had a revision due to staple line disruption). I asked all of my friends and relatives to pray for me and found out after my surgery that they had put me on prayer lines in their churches--I had people accross the country praying for me. I was considered high risk at the time of both of my RNYs. I'm a Roman Catholic and had a priest give me the Sacrament of the Sick (formerly know as the last rites) before each of my surgeries. Your clients may want to get spiritual counseling as well. Being high risk, I wanted to get all aspects of my life in order prior to my surgery.
I really don't think you are going to get much cooperation here even though your reasons for posting here seem noble. I still think the best thing you can do for your male patients is to have them look at our forum.
As far as why Men seek WLS, aside from caring how we look, the reasons are probably similar to the Women. When I weighed 571, my doctor only gave me a couple years to live and that was 7 years ago. I'd say most men either have health problems or are afraid of developing them. I see a lot of men post who have children and want to be alive to see them grow. Most of us have tried every conceiveable diet we could think of and have lost weight for a while only to gain it back with interest. Sounds familiar doesn't it?
When I first joined OH back in July, 2000 there were very few sections and about 99 % of the questions dealt with weight loss and the surgery. But, as OH grew, it kept adding forums and the discussions often stray from our reason for being here. I've posted some Off Topic (OT) posts when something in my life was bothering me. Oftentimes it would be because of mental problems. Most of the time I try to stay on course and talk about WLS, strategies for staying on the post-op diet, and helping pre-ops. Aside from purely medical conditions, a lot of people get worried about going for a mental evaluation. I had my shrink write to the ins, but I do see the logic of seeing a therapist for help changing behaviors. As far as mental status goes, I've often advised pre-ops that the ins companies want to make sure the patients are able to deal with life and the WLS. I'm bi-polar and on meds, but if someone is suicidal or suffering from a major mental illness, I could see why the ins would be reluctant to do the WLS. Once most people know some of the reasons for the mental screenings, they get calmer. I've also been able to counsel Men about dealing with the anxiety of the approaching surgery. In my case, although I am naturally very anxious, I was calm going into both of my RNYs ( I had a revision due to staple line disruption). I asked all of my friends and relatives to pray for me and found out after my surgery that they had put me on prayer lines in their churches--I had people accross the country praying for me. I was considered high risk at the time of both of my RNYs. I'm a Roman Catholic and had a priest give me the Sacrament of the Sick (formerly know as the last rites) before each of my surgeries. Your clients may want to get spiritual counseling as well. Being high risk, I wanted to get all aspects of my life in order prior to my surgery.
Thank you for taking the time to response. I will respect this forum is for only men and step away. Your insight has been extremely helpful and I hope that those that see my post are as helpful as you were willing to be. Any and all insight is greatly appreciated.
I was unclear what PM was and I hope that my direct contact is enough.
Again, thanks for taking the time to respond and give me some guidance.
Lisa
I was unclear what PM was and I hope that my direct contact is enough.
Again, thanks for taking the time to respond and give me some guidance.
Lisa
On a personal note. I am 62 yrs old and decided on WLS for heath reasons. My PCP and I tried several medications and diets to shed lbs. Nothing worked. FEAR of a shorten life span finally motivated me. Vanity, mirrors and clothes sizes were not enough. Even seeing how thin the rest of the world was did'nt affect me. Just thought americans were all overweight
I am 2.5 mos out, adjusting to food/beverage intake, eating smart and exercising. This is a LIFESTYLE CHANGE for this old dog and it makes me feel I am really doing something positive for myself. My family feels the same way - kinda like my own 12 step program
Its good u are bringing this to the front of the stove. Men may seem to tender this subject like their faith. Its important to know and believe but not to discuss
I am 2.5 mos out, adjusting to food/beverage intake, eating smart and exercising. This is a LIFESTYLE CHANGE for this old dog and it makes me feel I am really doing something positive for myself. My family feels the same way - kinda like my own 12 step program
Its good u are bringing this to the front of the stove. Men may seem to tender this subject like their faith. Its important to know and believe but not to discuss
Thank you for taking the time to respond. The responses I have received have been so helpful. As a WLS patient myself, I take this as a privilege and a responsibility to give those who provide me with the opportunity to work with them the best service and emotional preparation I can. I feel I have fallen short with the male population.
My research has identified that men who tend to use the coping skills of positive self talk and faith have a higher depression level and what would seem as negative coping for men of crying (more a female trait per society standards) and ignoring the situation as being related to lower depression levels after WLS. The actual insight you and the others who have responded to me give me a different aspect.
I want to respect that this is strictly a men's forum and appreciate responses sent to my email of [email protected].
Thanks again and any other insight is truly appreciated!
Congrats on your success!
Lisa
My research has identified that men who tend to use the coping skills of positive self talk and faith have a higher depression level and what would seem as negative coping for men of crying (more a female trait per society standards) and ignoring the situation as being related to lower depression levels after WLS. The actual insight you and the others who have responded to me give me a different aspect.
I want to respect that this is strictly a men's forum and appreciate responses sent to my email of [email protected].
Thanks again and any other insight is truly appreciated!
Congrats on your success!
Lisa
Most Active
Recent Topics
