WLS class today - Ottawa

So I had my WLS class in Ottawa today.

I enjoyed the information given by the behaviourist. She was great. I actually had her years ago when I did the CORE program there.

We had Josee for the second half.
hmph.

I know she doesnt have many fans here and to her credit, she really seemed to know what she was talking about....HOWEVER....I must say, I am glad they gave out the book because I would be in tears!!! She totally rushed through it and we were done BEFORE 3pm!!! She could have easily taken the last hour that we were supposed to have and gone through it much more carefully and thoroughly. I was completely boggled by all the vitamin stuff. I will be studying my new "bible" for the next month just to be able to get it straight!!

One thing that really bothered me though, was the number of people in the class who seemed to have ZERO knowledge of the procedure, lifestyle afterwards, behaviour changes necessary for success, even what a healthy diet looks like!! We did a simple game/exercise and were given cards with pictures of a variety of foods like a roasted chicken breast, a salad and then also greasy pizza, ice cream, chocolate bars, etc. When asked to pick foods to eat AFTER SURGERY, some people picked the pizza...."well its healthy because it has all the food groups"

WTF??? Seriously???
How did they get to this point in the process????
EVEN if thats what you really think, you have GOT to know that's the wrong answer!!!

Josee was very good and explained that maybe if they made their own whole wheat thin-crust pizza with chicken, pineapple, lots of veggies etc....but the picture was obviously the greasy take-out kind. I thought they had to be joking and messing with her just because she was French, but apparently not!!!

Anyways, this got me to thinking about things other people have said about what info Ottawa is giving out and I thought, well what if people dont do any kind of research at all on their own, and only go by what they get from the WMC? Is it enough?? Obviously there is a lack of knowledge somewhere if these people are going into surgery thinking they can stop for pizza on the way home from the hospital!! (ok not really but you see what I'm getting at...)

I asked a lot of questions and felt a bit like the teacher's pet but I didnt care. I was there for me and I wanted to know what I need to know to get through this.

It should definitely be more than a 3 hour class in my opinion, especially if the majority of people are coming away with so little.

Hiya,

Thanks for the update on the WLS Education Class.  I am waiting for a call to have this scheduled.  I would be one of the people that would extend the class with questions if I found the presenter to be skimming the book.  Thanks for the heads up!

Judy

Hey Jennifer, i remember at the class, shocked by the number of people who knew abo****ely nothing about the surgery. Nothing. Made me feel better about knowing enough,but afraid for those who didnt.

Exactly Monica.....afraid for those who didn't....

I never think I know enough....but when I heard the questions like, "Why do we have to take vitamins? If you say the small intestine is moved up, then that means we absorb things faster than everyone" it makes me think maybe I do know a thing or two, but also feel very badly for the poor soul going into this with so little preparation. But also makes me question the process a little and wonder how these people got to this point in the process, yanno??

The class is still fairly early in the process tho. Hopefully the people will learn that they don't know, and where to get the info that they should.

Everyone i meet, every time i go for an appt, i tell them about this website, and how to get more information.

I also went through Ottawa but had Jennifer teach the class, The class should have been from 1-4 but we got out around 3:20. I felt that it was rushed as well. In my opinion Ottawa has instructed these classes so ofter that  they are rushing the class to get it over with, forgetting that most people do not have a clue about whats to come post op.

I could not believe the people that showed up with Timmies in their hands or a bottle of diet coke. One person was mowing down on a bag of Lay's potato chip. I couldn't help but think and feel sorry for these people that just don't have a clue. The class could have taken time to explain more to people that have not educated themselves. I cant help but think that perhaps some people are going into this blind because their doctors have suggested wls as an option for them.

How having said this I do want to point out that Ottawa's care after surgery is AMAZING. The staff in the ward was unbelievable and I am internally greatful to them.

thinking back I just dont know were I would be if I hadn't discovered OH. I was so full of knowledge sitting in the class so I wasn't worried about what I didn't know because I new that I could find the answers needed her from my OH family.

That's good to know about the Ottawa hospital staff and aftercare. That makes me feel much better.

(I have to admit that I had a Timmies with me too but it was a decaf! I swear!!)
 

about people having Timmies or Diet cokes with them at this thing. It's still ok at that stage. You don't know their path, you shouldnt judge them. Even munching on a bag of lays is ok.

They havent had the surgery yet. Yes, they should be trying to make changes, but we all know that's difficult. Even more difficult to be judged by other.

Maybe those were decaf timmies with milk.

You don't know.

Maybe that was that person's only diet coke this week, and he's cut back from 10 a day.

You don't know.

Maybe the person with the lays used to eat three bags a day, and cut back to one.

You don't know.

Dont judge.

 Beautifully put. You wrote exactly what I was thinking.

 I echo what you are saying Jen.  I was in the classes (four 2 hour classes back then) two years ago and was just as surprised at you at how little people knew about what was about to happen!!

So glad you are moving along in the process!  I am UBER excited for you, girlfriend!!

Sue