Tears In The Doctors Office

Im sorry this rant is a little long. i just had to fet this off my chest. My doctor made me cry today =[. I was sitting in the office of my lung doctor this morning, coughing and wheezing from an asthma flair up, when he tells me I need to loose weight.

I said that's great, I'm going to a wls seminar this Thursday! Know what he said? "Oh that's not for you. You're not big enough, I wouldn't recommend something so drastic." Then he turns around and says he's sent patients to get the SAME surgery before! But no, I just need diet and exercise.

Are you kidding me!? I can't walk up the stairs at home without having to rest 2 or 3 times. And I still have to whip out my rescue inhaler once I reach the top. I can't carry my daughter out to the car by myself. What kind of exercise does this man want me to try? Last time I tried to exercise I ended up in the hospital for a WEEK trying to get my breathing back on track. But it's all good. I love exercise. I really do. I miss it. My lungs just can't take it right now.

And diet?! "You need to be eating 'normal' foods in smaller portions." (Nutrisystem, Adkins, WW and several others are apparently not normal.) Man was talking to me like all I do is sit on the couch eating chips and cookies all day! Are you kidding me? I love healthy food! I try my hardest to avoid lots of junk. I just have a problem with portion size. And that's what this VSG "tool" is going to help me to fix. I can't help it that I feel hungry all the time. If I eat smaller portions, I will start binging on horable sweets and my wight will balloon. Ya think THEN he'd say to go ahead with the surgery?? I'm just thinking God right now that I don't need his approval to go ahead with surgery. The nerve of some people!

I'm sorry this happened to you - some people including doctors just don't get it. I was like you - ate healthy and exercised before surgery - I was the most obese in shape person I knew. I couldn't lose much and if I did it went right back on despite eating normal portions and the right foods. For some of us that doesn't work long term. You are right to know that weight loss surgery may be what you're looking for - I hope your asthma gets better and you're able to lose enough to exercise properly and not have the flare ups you do now. Don't listen to old thinking doctors who thing diet and exercise cures all things. I hope he's not your primary doc and isn't the one to give you a referral to a weight loss doctor. Hang in there - it gets better and again, I'm sorry. Nobody should feel that bad especially when the hurting words came from someone in medicine.

Jen 11+ yrs post op rNY

Just because he's a doctor doesn't mean that he's not an uneducated a**hole when it comes to WLS - grrrrr!  

So sorry you had to hear this.  But if you are a lightweight it's really good practice for what you'll hear from other people in the future ie. friends, family, co-workers.  Figure out a good response now and practice it :-)

Don't worry - everyone on this message board will be here for you when the time comes. 

Being a lightweight is tough.

Once you get past the tears, get mad...and fix things. ONLY your PCP and a Bariatric Surgeon need to be involved in your decision.

IF your BMI is over 40, go for it. If between 35 and 40, you will need a co-morbid to qualify.

A place to talk to other lightweight's who have been in your shoes: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_lightweights/

BTW, my BMI was all of 35.2 at my first meeting with my surgeon. I BARELY qualified but I DID qualify.

Liz

 

 

I personally would NEVER let some fool doctor,pulmonologist or any other make me cry. They are not worth tears.. Doctors are a dime a dozen,even pulmonologosts. I would be finding. Myself a pulmonologist who knows jack **** about Wls,for one thing.



Ys,be glad and hope you don't need a letter from him before it. Is all over with. If you do need a letter you might. Be looking for a new lung doctor sooner than later.



Even now,3 years post op I don't keep doctors in my life who are ignorant. Or unsupportative about Wls. There are simply too many choices to keep one who doesn't want to work for me. I do,after all,employ them.



Carry on. You are the only one who gets to make this decision and we got your back. Keep us posted on your journey.

Gl

Before and after you do the wls you will hear all kinds of stuff from people. Good and bad. The way I look at it, is like this. If someone is being mean or ugly to me. Then they are leaving someone else alone. I am 8 months out. I have heard it all. You do what is right for you. Don't worry about the bad stuff that come from other people. You have to live with you.  Good luck and I hope everything works out for you.

WHAT??? All we needed to do wha****ch our diets and exercise?? Holy crap! Why didn't anyone ever tell us that???

(INSERT SARCASM HERE_________________)

 

Personally, I'd find another doctor. They're a dime a dozen.

Ask him if there is a pulmonary rehab program you can get into. I didn't even know there was such a thing but I read about it on the internet. I just started the program and really enjoy it. They teach ways to breath and how to exercise monitoring how you are doing while you exercise. That said the sleeve will be an excellent addition to any exercise you can do. Good luck to you I have the same issues with COPD.

I had to try to convince my PCP that I needed surgery. For once, I'm glad that my doctor is in a clinic with other doctors, because I got a referral from another doctor there. :) But since she is MY doc, I had to do my followup visits with her and she tried so hard to talk me out of it. At my final visit, it came out that she was jealous...she and I were about the same weight/size and she couldn't fathom doing the surgery for herself, so why would I benefit from it?? Just because she's a doctor doesn't mean she doesn't put her personal and emotional self into her work. But, I stood by my decision. And here I am...livin' the dream! :)

What a wonderful community this is!!! Thank y'all so much for all the support. After doing so much research and decision making, it's completely devastating to have someone tare you down like that. My family is so supportive that I just wasn't prepared. I'll be ready for the next one though! I should not feel at fault for trying to concor my health issues and regain my life!!!