Went to cardiologist appt for clearance, and could not believe how she was. Asking me how much the surgery is? Asking me do I know anyone that had it done, cause you have trouble swallowing & regurgitating. I don't know if she was just curios or just don't like the idea. But all I know is that she made me uncomfortable. The worst part is that I have to go back to see her again:(

Went to cardiologist appt for clearance, and could not believe how she was. Asking me how much the surgery is? Asking me do I know anyone that had it done, cause you have trouble swallowing & regurgitating. I don't know if she was just curios or just don't like the idea. But all I know is that she made me uncomfortable. The worst part is that I have to go back to see her again:(

You'll find there are a lot of armchair experts in surgeries they've never had. People will go on and on and on about someone they heard about who knows somebody they saw who had talked about somebody they used to know who may have had a surgery of some kind... Then they instantly translate that hearsay and rumor and misinformation into the exact surgery you're planning to have. It's weird, and completely unsettling. They can be so convincing! But when you pin them down for facts in the case, the whole thing falls apart.

The worst offender of this sort of behavior I've come up against was a night nurse in the laboratory at the hospital where I had my surgery. I stayed two nights in the hospital following my band surgery, and she was called in to change the IV from one arm to the other, due to complications. While she was working, she asked why I was in the hospital. I told her I'd just had lap band surgery. She went off on a tirade about how that's a waste of time and money because it never works and how I should have hypnosis like she did, (she was immensely obese), and on and on. Um, can you SEE how much pain I'm in having just HAD this surgery? Your stupid comments are just a tad late, ya know? I finally told her to please stop talking because I didn't want to hear it, and I reported her to the regular staff. Talk about inconsiderate! Jeez...

Consider the source, and stand your ground. Don't let them waste your time or energy. If you're having the surgery because you want and need to have it, then it's none of their business. When you see this person again, if they start grilling you about stuff, offer to give them the name of your surgeon, so they can get the facts directly from someone who knows best how to treat them. Then look at your watch and tell them you're in a bit of a hurry, and say, "Can we please deal with why I'm here?"

Good luck!

Dave

I had to get xrays taken before my surgery and when the tech saw that I was having bariatric surgery she said "oh no, that sounds just awful. And painful. Good luck, really." It cracked me up. Just remember that the cardiologist is NOT a bariatric surgeon and you probably know more about the surgery than they do. I'd also tell your surgeon that they may want to re-think referring patients to that cardiologist.

[Went to cardiologist appt for clearance, and could not believe how she was. Asking me how much the surgery is? Asking me do I know anyone that had it done, cause you have trouble swallowing & regurgitating. I don't know if she was just curios or just don't like the idea. But all I know is that she made me uncomfortable. The worst part is that I have to go back to see her again:(

I had my surgery on 6/27 and I have not had any problems w/ swallowing or regurgitating. I can only drink about 3-4 oz at a time...but I feel full!!!

Went to cardiologist appt for clearance, and could not believe how she was. Asking me how much the surgery is? Asking me do I know anyone that had it done, cause you have trouble swallowing & regurgitating. I don't know if she was just curios or just don't like the idea. But all I know is that she made me uncomfortable. The worst part is that I have to go back to see her again:(

My cardiologist wasn't too happy about my getting lap band either. He kept saying you don't need this. In the end I got my clearance from him and then I got the band.

FYI-My blood pressure was anywhere from 140 over 84 to 150 over 92 and this is with taking two BP pills daily.

Now after losing just 25 pounds my BP is running the 120's over 70's!!!!! Still taking the two pills but Oh what a difference! I hope to drop at least one pill soon.

So what the heck did my cardiologist know????

My cardiologist wasn't too happy about my getting lap band either. He kept saying you don't need this. In the end I got my clearance from him and then I got the band.

FYI-My blood pressure was anywhere from 140 over 84 to 150 over 92 and this is with taking two BP pills daily.

Now after losing just 25 pounds my BP is running the 120's over 70's!!!!! Still taking the two pills but Oh what a difference! I hope to drop at least one pill soon.

So what the heck did my cardiologist know????

I had the same problem w/ my BP and now my BP is also running 120/80!

My cardiologist wasn't too happy about my getting lap band either. He kept saying you don't need this. In the end I got my clearance from him and then I got the band.

FYI-My blood pressure was anywhere from 140 over 84 to 150 over 92 and this is with taking two BP pills daily.

Now after losing just 25 pounds my BP is running the 120's over 70's!!!!! Still taking the two pills but Oh what a difference! I hope to drop at least one pill soon.

So what the heck did my cardiologist know????

Probably didnt want to lose you as a customer.

Twice, I've had abdo and chest xrays and CT scans in the past 12 months and of course, my lapband shows up. Both times, people have commented "oh, you dont need that surgery". It makes me laugh, dont the stupid idiots realise the reason I look like I dont need weight loss surgery is BECAUSE I had weight loss surgery? D'oh.

And today i was at the pharmacy picking up a blood pressure script for DH and he's also doing Meal Replacement shakes at the moment (sigh, will he never learn these things just dont work?). So I picked him up some supplies and the lady at the counter commented "why on earth are YOU doing this?". I thought, how would she know if I'd just lost like 100lb and was working on the last few?". What a silly remark.

I hate when surgeons cross the line and get personal though. MY colorectal surgeon is a bit like that, he's a real blokey bloke (to coin an Aussie term), very down to earth and rather blunt. He's not been deliberately rude and was only concerned becuase my weight dipped alarmingly low after my bowel resection, but to say that I looked better a bit heavier wasnt really his place, I dont think. Nor did he need to point out that he could see all my ribs in my chest and that I'd lost my boobs. And nor did he need to seem so leeringly appreciative when I went to see him a week ago 10lb heavier! Its really hard when you have to trust someone with what is a pretty intimate body part and function and you think that they're looking at you as a man/woman thing rather than purely as a surgical/medical case. Yet at other times I guess we complain about being treated like a number and not a human being, lol.

I've been lurking - pre-surgery - not quite ready to participate. But I felt I had to share this with you. My cardiologist took me into his office before my pre-surgery cardio exam and congratulated me on making a life and health-changing decision. I was blown away. He understood the surgery, explained the benefits from a cardio standpoint and asked me if I had any questions. Hopefully the next pre-op doctor you see will have their facts straight and be a bit more supportive.