Ignorance regarding weight loss surgery

[LynRN 294]

So, I am an RN and studying to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. In my Health Promotion class, we were discussing obesity and weight loss surgery. Many of my classmates, all RNs and soon to be primary care providers, had negative opinions of WLS. They all knew someone or took care of someone that had WLS and gained all the weight back or had complications or eating disorders or whatever, which may be true. But I was completely taken aback by the negative attitudes, and frankly, ignorance and misinformation about WLS that still prevails, even among healthcare professionals. My position was that, for the right patients ( those that are mentally prepared and willing to do the work), WLS should be viewed as a viable option in the treatment of obesity. BTW, they don't know that I had VSG.

So, a little about me. I am a 32 year old wife and mommy of 3 and 5 year old little boys. I am 5'2 and at my highest, I weighed 276 lbs. That is a BMI of over 50. I am just shy of 4 months out and am down to 208. While I still have a ways to go, I am already smaller than I have been in nearly a decade. I had no real comorbidities to speak of, but I know it was just a matter of time. I am a black woman with a horrible family history of diabetes, heart disease and renal failure. My own mother has been ill for most of my life. She was diagnosed with Lupus in her 30s. Soon to follow were hip and knee replacements, renal failure (she's had TWO kidney transplants), diabetes, hypertension and TWO heart attacks. And most of this was before age 50. And guess what, while she is overweight, she was never the size that I was. My grandmother also died from complications of diabetes at age 57. My mother's youngest brother is also a brittle diabetic and on dialysis awaiting a SECOND kidney transplant and he's not yet 50. I was heading in the same direction and decided I needed to do something drastic to change my fate. So excuse me for taking "the easy way out" to save my own life and health, to spare my kids the fear of "waiting for the other shoe to drop" that I experienced growing up with a mom that was constantly in and out of the hospital.

Also, I wanted to lose weight before I become an NP. I just don't know how effective I could be at advising patients to lose weight or exercise or eat right when I was so heavy. So, I decided to help myself before I try to help someone else.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. Rant Over!

[Meintraining 104]

LynRN,

It amazes me how truly ignorant the medical field is about weight. I always hated going to the doctor. They always jumped to conclusions based on weight. It is sad to hear what is going on in medical classes. We are so sensitive as a society to so many issues and disabilities yet weight is certainly not one of them. I'm sorry you have to be subjected to that. I personally think your going to be the BEST NP because you won't be ignorant!!!!!! Way to go on changing your future!!!!!

[Dolfinldy1 69]

So, I am an RN and studying to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. In my Health Promotion class, we were discussing obesity and weight loss surgery. Many of my classmates, all RNs and soon to be primary care providers, had negative opinions of WLS. They all knew someone or took care of someone that had WLS and gained all the weight back or had complications or eating disorders or whatever, which may be true. But I was completely taken aback by the negative attitudes, and frankly, ignorance and misinformation about WLS that still prevails, even among healthcare professionals. My position was that, for the right patients ( those that are mentally prepared and willing to do the work), WLS should be viewed as a viable option in the treatment of obesity. BTW, they don't know that I had VSG.<br><br>

So, a little about me. I am a 32 year old wife and mommy of 3 and 5 year old little boys. I am 5'2 and at my highest, I weighed 276 lbs. That is a BMI of over 50. I am just shy of 4 months out and am down to 208. While I still have a ways to go, I am already smaller than I have been in nearly a decade. I had no real comorbidities to speak of, but I know it was just a matter of time. I am a black woman with a horrible family history of diabetes, heart disease and renal failure. My own mother has been ill for most of my life. She was diagnosed with Lupus in her 30s. Soon to follow were hip and knee replacements, renal failure (she's had TWO kidney transplants), diabetes, hypertension and TWO heart attacks. And most of this was before age 50. And guess what, while she is overweight, she was never the size that I was. My grandmother also died from complications of diabetes at age 57. My mother's youngest brother is also a brittle diabetic and on dialysis awaiting a SECOND kidney transplant and he's not yet 50. I was heading in the same direction and decided I needed to do something drastic to change my fate. So excuse me for taking "the easy way out" to save my own life and health, to spare my kids the fear of "waiting for the other shoe to drop" that I experienced growing up with a mom that was constantly in and out of the hospital. <br><br>

Also, I wanted to lose weight before I become an NP. I just don't know how effective I could be at advising patients to lose weight or exercise or eat right when I was so heavy. So, I decided to help myself before I try to help someone else.<br><br>

Anyway, sorry for the long post. Rant Over!

Good for you!!! I ended up going to a specialist because my family doctor is an asshole abt being overweight His solution is exercise (as in push yourself away from the table). I obviously tried that Doc. Not the answer for everyone. Bye-bye to that doctor!!!

[TBodmer71 245]

It also amazes me that every little ailment that you go to the doctor for is because of your weight. I had seen the same knee specialist for years and 6 knee surgeries (most prior to being severly morbidly obese). The last time I saw him for the same pain he advised me it is because of my weight. But yet when I was 100 lbs lighter and in my 20's and 30's he was quick to cut me open for the same pain.

[Camella 209]

It's sad that the medical community have these types of prejudices against weight loss surgery (and the obese sometimes). It is sad that some health care professionals see obesity as a personal failing rather than a potentially deadly disease. WLS is the only thing that will cure someone of diabetes. I was advised against surgery by several doctors, fortunately I didn't listen and I'm the most physically fit I have been in my adult life. The last doctor I saw didn't even know what sleeve surgery was. She kept correcting me and saying "you mean lapband" - very sad!

Edited March 21, 2014 by Camella

[Cstoneking 17]

In my profession I am a "mandated reporter".... One of our golden rules is "Speak of what you know, NOT of what you think you know". Too bad we can't make that a social rule :-)

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

Maybe just maybe you will be one that makes a difference in this uniformed area. Who knows how many people you are going to help...Good for you for saving yourself and going to be able to educate those who do not keep up with medical journals in their own professions....

No one knows it all and if you are responsible for lives..You should have a really good idea of what you may or may not be dealing with. Peoples lives are depending on it....

[jamilyne 102668 1,207]

I'm with RJ - I hope that maybe you can be the one to be a little more sensitive with regard to health care professionals. You've been through it and you have that voice that can help someone else. Trust me, it doesn't do any good for a doctor to keep harping about the fact that you have to lose weight. When a doctor made me feel like crap about it - guess what - I didn't go back. I knew that I was obese, but what I was doing didn't work and I had to have wls to overcome my obesity.

[LynRN 294]

<p>Maybe just maybe you will be one that makes a difference in this uniformed area. Who knows how many people you are going to help...Good for you for saving yourself and going to be able to educate those who do not keep up with medical journals in their own professions....</p>

<p> </p>

<p>No one knows it all and if you are responsible for lives..You should have a really good idea of what you may or may not be dealing with. Peoples lives are depending on it....</p>

You're right, RJ. My take on is that I, or my patient in the future, WILL develop health problems or even die as a result of obesity. If WLS can prevent this, then providers should be willing to explore it. I know it's not for everyone, neither should it be a first option for treatment, but because of ignorance, some providers don't even consider it.

[Mrs.RRn 2,110]

Being an RN as well, I see this all the time. I just think it's funny that the same doctors who prescribed me Adipex as a TEENAGER (yeah, like THAT was healthy) judge me for having wls.

[kll724 3,055]

You are so right! I went to my surgeon because he was a patient 1st! He understands our plight! God bless him and you for being a patient and an advocate, too! Karen

[LynRN 294]

Being an RN as well, I see this all the time. I just think it's funny that the same doctors who prescribed me Adipex as a TEENAGER (yeah, like THAT was healthy) judge me for having wls.

Right! I know lots of people that get it from their docs. I never tried it because I have SVT, but I did try Metabolife as a teen (could that be the source of my SVT?)

[parisshel 1,892]

I think this is a question of time. I predict that WLS will become the gold standard for weight loss and maintenance for obese people in a generation or two. More and more of us are having a WLS, and our results will be collected into databases which will show future practioners, especially when they compare our results with the results of non-surgical dieters (if they can even access them...hello Weight Watchers, I'm speaking to you!), and see that this will be the standard of care for those who seek to get to a healthy BMI and stay there.

WE ARE TRAILBLAZERS!

[LynRN 294]

<p>I think this is a question of time. I predict that WLS will become the gold standard for weight loss and maintenance for obese people in a generation or two. More and more of us are having a WLS, and our results will be collected into databases which will show future practioners, especially when they compare our results with the results of non-surgical dieters (if they can even access them...hello Weight Watchers, I'm speaking to you!), and see that this will be the standard of care for those who seek to get to a healthy BMI and stay there.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>WE ARE TRAILBLAZERS!</p>

This makes me want to specialize in weight management when I am done with school.

[CrazyJaney 775]

As an 18 year RN, all of that spent in a hospital, we are the least knowledgable or empathetic group of people when it comes to understanding obesity. It is a travesty how little the average doctor or nurse knows about how to TREAT obesity. You have a algorithm for treating everything else, but not morbid obesity. People see shows or magazine covers with "extreme" weight loss and think that's obtainable. Yes, I'll lose weight if you send me away to a Biggest Loser Fat Camp for 6 months and I'll eat what they serve and work out 10 hours a day. Not sure who will take care of my family or pay the bills while I go off and do that, but if I did, I'd be a hero! I have WLS and I'm weak? REAL LIFE needs REAL SOLUTIONS. Diet and exercise are the core but they are not the only solution. Your post pushed so many buttons for me. I started at 325 last fall. I'm 5'6 so my BMI was 51/52ish. I lost 28 preop and had surgery a week ago yesterday. Im 283 this morning. Many at work had noticed the preop weight loss. I had been pretty vocal about no sugar and several knew I was exercising. But I told almost no one about surgery for the reasons all of us posted about. I go back to work Monday. My husband asked me how I will respond when they ask questions sine I'll have likely lost 15-20 pounds since I've been off and 40-50 total. My answer? I don't know. I forgot to add that I'm a nurse manager of a tele floor AND 2 ICU's. Critical Care nurses have no filters and are type A by nature. They will back stab in an instant. My decision to be sleeved was well thought out and well researched and the best hope for a normal, healthy life. It's not about "caring" that they agree with or understand why I've done what I've done. But being "open" to the barrage of comments - the thought just makes me sick. I'm strong enough emotionally to deal with anything they throw at me - I didn't get here being a shrinking violet - but how sad that this is often seen as a negative. I wholeheartedly agree that we are pioneers. But man, do we have our work cut out for us!