Weird/worst Comment at Pre-op testing!

[Bndtoslv 292]

I went for my pre-op testing this morning. Surgery 6/30 yay! Anyway the tech who did my EKG was very heavy and she told me that she had researched the sleeve and even started the process and then got scared so she backed out. She then proceeded to ask me if I had heard of the procedure where "they don't cut you" and I should see if my insurance covers it! I was astounded because 1) she should NOT be counseling about procedures to patients just DAYS from surgery and 2) the first one. Anyway I am well-educated about surgery and bariatrics in general having been undergone a previous surgery and researching for almost 10 years now but seriously can you believe? Thankfully I don't scare easily but if I had been super nervous about my surgery and a "nurse" in scrubs told me to consider (what I know is plication) I would be freaking now.

[Miss Mac 6,261]

When I went for my pre-op EKG, the tech told me that I was not big enough for bariatric surgery and was taking the easy way out. I told her that she should call my surgeon right away and tell him that she disagrees with his diagnosis. That shut her up. When the Press-Gainey Survey arrived in the mail, I mentioned her by name.

[JamieLogical 8,684]

Wow! Some people!

[heavyb 37]

In my humble opinion, you are right to be upset. The tech that spoke to you was way out of line and not qualified to give such input. I did ask each of my clearing practitioners what their opinion was and given almost all supportive input.

[Bndtoslv 292]

In my humble opinion, you are right to be upset. The tech that spoke to you was way out of line and not qualified to give such input. I did ask each of my clearing practitioners what their opinion was and given almost all supportive input.

Thank you! I am not so much upset but concerned. I have spoken with many many doctors about my options and researched this heavily for about 2 years since my band "failed". I also was very knowledgable about the band. My concern is that if someone who is not so confident has a similar encounter…. should I "report" her to someone? I hate getting people in trouble. Just to be clear - this was not a doctor, rn, pa or even an LPN this was an EKG tech.

[NikkiDoc 312]

That was crossing the line. I would either call your surgeon if this is the hospital he works out of and let him deal with it or call the hospital administration and find out who you should talk to.

[1SlimmerMe 122]

I had the same thing happen to me and my husband. The RN completing his preop work up (2 days before the surgery) told me that we didn't look big enough to have the surgery. This was after she looked us up and down with so much judgment. I brushed it off and continued with the process as I didn't want to upset my husband.

They really need to understand that is is our choice and ppl like us are the reason they have a job. We have gone through so much to get to the point of preop and final tests. If insurance and the surgeon approves, who are you to go against them.

[slvarltx 332]

I had the "what are you doing here" comment from the RN during pre-op as well.

[Sharon1964 2,530]

Call the hospital and ask to speak to someone in "Risk Management". If they ask what it's regarding, tell them "EKG techs giving inappropriate medical advice."

if it's not a hospital, call and ask to speak to the Medical Director.

[brr 17]

I went for my clearance from my family doctor and he asked me how much weight I hoped to lose, and I told him my goal. He then said "well most people only lose a small amount of weight, less than 10% of their current weight." He didn't fuss about giving me clearance or discourage (specifically) getting it done, but it felt like he was trying to.

[Babbs 14,680]

Yeah, I can't even remember which pre op thing it was I was doing, but yes, she looked at me in disbelief and said "Well, I think you look great! I can't believe you're big enough to have that surgery!"

I told her my BMI, high blood pressure and diabetes disagreed.

And OF COURSE she was obese. Go figure.

[JamieLogical 8,684]

I went for my clearance from my family doctor and he asked me how much weight I hoped to lose, and I told him my goal. He then said "well most people only lose a small amount of weight, less than 10% of their current weight." He didn't fuss about giving me clearance or discourage (specifically) getting it done, but it felt like he was trying to.

Um, tell him to read up. That is clearly untrue. There have been multiple studies concerning the loss of excess body weight from WLS and all of them are well above 10%. Studies have shown that VSG patients lose on average, over 65% of their *excess* weight within the first year. Obviously what percentage of your total body weight is excess weight is different for every person, but it's HIGHLY likely that for anyone undergoing WLS, 65% of their excess weight would account for much more than 10% of their total body weight.

[FitFunFamily 53]

Ugh! So sorry you had to put up with that.

I'm currently in my pre-op process and everyone has been wonderful, except my psychologist. She spend 30 minutes of our 60 minute appointment talking about herself (tall, slender) and how "weight loss is easy" and she lost 14lbs from just eating smaller meals - she "didn't even exercise!" She then detailed two recipes to me I should try.

Seriously? If I only had 14lbs to lose, I probably wouldn't need surgery. I don't consider that a health crisis - mostly vanity pounds (which are fine, but don't confuse that with my BMI of 54).

[Wendyfm 494]

At the last class before surgery I had a fellow patient to be ask me if I had already had surgery. To be fair I was the smallest person there, my BMI at that point was still well over forty, so I was by no means skinny.

[JamieLogical 8,684]

Ugh! So sorry you had to put up with that.

I'm currently in my pre-op process and everyone has been wonderful, except my psychologist. She spend 30 minutes of our 60 minute appointment talking about herself (tall, slender) and how "weight loss is easy" and she lost 14lbs from just eating smaller meals - she "didn't even exercise!" She then detailed two recipes to me I should try.

Seriously? If I only had 14lbs to lose, I probably wouldn't need surgery. I don't consider that a health crisis - mostly vanity pounds (which are fine, but don't confuse that with my BMI of 54).

Are you serious?!?!? Was this a psychologist that was specifically recommended for bariatric patients?