Repost of previous post. WLS forums, FB "support" groups, blogs...how do...

Having been here almost 6 years now, I am also appalled at how little some people know before they sign the consent to have surgery and how unrealistic some of the expectations are.  I realize that not everyone researches everything like I do, but I cannot believe how LITTLE info some people's surgeons are giving out (or how much of it they are not bothering to read or are just ignoring).  Unfortunately, ther ARE doctors who are jumping on the very profitable WLS bandwagon just to make money.  For that reason alone, I would NEVER consider a surgeon who has not been doing WLS for at least 10 years.

There are posts on certain topics here that I simply cannot open any more (and have not for several years) because it REALLY aggravates me to see those OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER again.  Like the 3 week stall posts.  Someone posts one of them almost every damn day here, yet every day there is yet another one! I just don't understand how people can NOT see them.  I know exactly what happens, though... People don't bother to read any posts (or very few), and then when they don't lose anything one week they panic and post their own "why am I not losing weight" post.  I admit that there are days that I cannot control the urge to respond and tell people that there is one of those posts every day so they should know that this is normal.  I know it probably comes off "mean" to the newbies, but, hey... how many of them will still be here six years later trying to help others?  VERY few.  Let them judge when they have seen the same question 700 times.

I almost never read posts that are about amount of weight loss or clothing sizes, or people getting to goal.  I do that to protect myself emotionally/psychologically bcause some days it is depressing to read about people getting into size 2 clothes when just my BONES might not even fit into size 2 clothes.

Sometimes I just have to take a break for a few days.  I come here to help, but I also come here to keep myself aware and on track.   I don't think I would have kept off all of my weight if I had done what most people do and just quit coming here once I was done losing.  Then I come back, not only for myself but because I know that some people are stuck with surgeons who give out little info action or nutritionists who are either poorly trained or know nothing about post-RNY needs... And I want to help get them good, solid information so they, too, can be successful.

Lora

You are one of the several "vets" on here that I have great respect for.  I often sit and shake my head, thinking, "How in the world can she/he be so nice and polite when answering such a question?" or when clarifying some silly information that was given to someone, or answering the same question for the umpteenth time in the same day?? 
Maybe the patience will come when I'm closer to goal or just further out, but for now...I need to stop reading everything. Until then, I need to keep my sanity and use a filter. 
 

Thanks, but I know that not everyone would agree that I am always so polite.  I have been blocked by several people (which is fine with me.).  My dad was a Marine so I am a pretty open, straightforward, tell-it-like-it-is person, but I do TRY to bite my tongue... A LOT.  Sometimes I allow myself to (temporarily) start a reply with "are you freaking kidding me?!?" just to get it out of my system, and then I erase that part.  :)

Yes, being selective about what you read here is KEY to staying sane. (Even then, though, sometimes you cannot "win" because then you might get nasty PMs about why you only respond to posts from some people or about certain topics.  Um... I do that because I *CAN* and because no where does it require ANY of us to open any particular post, let alone reply to it!  Sheesh!!)

Lora

yea ... well said... 

Thank you

Jan, you are correct on so many things.  I had to go through 26 weeks of classes for nutrition and out of that was 8 weeks of group therapy.  Then six months of bariatric classes that had speakers who were WLS surgeons including plastic surgeons. dieticians, physical training teachers, actual weight loss speakers and pictures.  Our classes were lead by people with doctorate degrees in the field of weight loss.  The amount of paper work that were given to us was huge and actual homework to complete.  We had to journal for 6 months and they were required to sign off your work before everything was submitted that you completed the class.  I haven't even gone into all the medical testing.  We had a 2 hour orientation at the hospital that showed us everything that was going to happen before during and after surgery.  They showed what our tray of food would look like.  The foley catheter they used, the bariatric patient rooms made for large people from the bathrooms to the bed to the chairs and NO other person in your room. Explained the shots we would be given for blood clots.  The Morphine pump we would use and hit every 15 mintutes and NO you cannot overdose hitting the button more than once. They had extra beds for your spouses on first come first basis and none were available so my husband bought a blow up twin bed put it in the room for two days to be there with me to help me also.  The nurses supplied him with blankets, sheets and pillows and food trays.  Now, tell me I didn't get the best of the best service???  If you cannot do morphine then something else will be given They explained in detail the procedure how long you would be in surgery.  The paper work I received way prior talked about patients sometimes have to be intubated again after surgery in recovery.  I thought, oh god, please don't let that happen to me.   Guess what?  It happened to me.  I could go on and on.  I am very fortunate I had to do this.  Not every program is made available to their patients.

Maybe because I was older at the time, maybe because I read so many books and researched.  Yes I was terrified to have the surgery.  I never had surgery before.  I had all the normal ups and downs.  I was incredibly sick after surgery with having my gall bladder out also, which I am grateful like a big dog because people end up having to go back in for this.  That was in the paperwork also!  There was little I was surprised about.  I don't go into how sick I was because I knew I had to go forward and it took me months to get on my feet because of all my other health problems. I didn't complain on the board because I didn't want to discourage the newbies from having surgery.  Only a few of the vets on here know about it. 

I was told by my doctor to go and get on Obesity Help.  Here is where I learned so many things and still do every single day, especially from the vets. 

I can NOT imagine going into this surgery without information.  The success and failure lies with me, but having education on this will make my transitioning into my "New Normal" a whole lot better.  Thank you Jan for bringing this up and giving us all a chance to say what is on our minds, and a big hand of applause to our vets that make this forum so helpful to each and everyone of us.  Jane  

wow, that program sounds 5 star. that's great. you're coming up on one year, congrats!

Thanks, Chris.  It was pretty damn grueling.  You either complete the class or you're out.  You don't have a choice.  Miss more than one meeting you have to start it all over again.  NO messing around.  Too many other people waiting in line to get into these classes.  Then there are the people who get virtually little information.  Even with that, you still have to be your own advocate and learn and educate yourself as much as you can.  Jane

If all preop could be like yours! 
I even thought about some sort of test or quiz to ensure that patients truly understand what is to come.  Something as simple as that could give the staff an indication as to what additional education is required, on an individual basis. 
As I sat, waiting for my gallbladder surgery, the waiting room was filled with patients for MY surgeon.  Several would arrive and we could hear them being greeted at the registration desk, and many began to talk in the waiting room.  So, even my surgeon who I consider to be very skilled, is running patients through like an assembly line!  I was there for gallbladder removal and hernia repair and many were there for RNYs.  It truly surprised me how many surgeries were to be done in that one day.  We were all told to be there at 6:30am, too.  I arrived to be told that I was a 10am surgery.  We heard "7:30am, 9:30am, 11am ..." so on. 
It does sound like you are in very good hands! 

When I do pre-op psych evals, I ask a LOT of questions to find out how much people really know about the surgery they have chosen.  Some people find it annoying, but I want to be sure they understand what they are about to do to their bodies and what the long term ramifications are, and that their expectations related to weight loss are realistic.  I have recommended that some people have another discussion with their surgeon about the surgery they chose before i will give the final "ok".  The latest was a woman who had chosen the DS but said she didn't think it really mattered all that much if she didn't take more than just daily multivitamins... She thought the surgery team was just trying to scare people into taking extra vitamins they didn't really need!!)

Lora