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.

@@FitFunFamily I'm glad you reported it and it seems others did as well and that your bariatric clinic got the hint and changed their recommendations. I'm not saying that psychologists should be blanket approving WLS patients. There are some people who truly are psychologically unprepared for surgery and it is good that most programs require psychological evaluation. But the psychologists involved should be well educated and well informed about the issues they are counseling on!

Shaking my head.

A month after VSG surgery I had gall bladder surgery. The anesthesiologist said just before we went into the operating theater, "Wow. You don't look big enough to qualify for bariatric surgery." And he didn't mean it in a nice or a good way.

On that date, thanks to pre-op diets and the first month of post-op eating, I'd already lost 30 pounds.

I just said, "You should have seen me 3 months ago."

Jeez -- what else can you say to an asshole who's just about to put you under general anesthesia?

My own surgeon didn't think I could reach my goal of 100 lb loss and said I'd probably only lose about 2/3 rds of that amount. After 2-1/2 months out from surgery I'm at my halfway mark having lost 51 lbs. I still think I can lose the rest over the next year. Don't let people discourage you. Read the success stories and follow the plan. We can make our goals and provide encouragement for each other.

As a healthcare worker who works in an OR and does bariatric surgery almost every day, this makes me really sad. My hospital is a Bariatric Center of Excellence so every staff member who comes in contact with bariatric patients has to attend annual sensitivity training. You should never feel shamed by the people you are trusting with your care! Please don't hesitate to speak up for yourself, these people obviously need a reminder that they are there to support you not judge you.

Smh. I was sleeved on 6/22. The care tech who was getting me prepped told me I wasn't big enough to need the surgery and I should just exercise. Then she went on to say she has a daughter around my age (im 25) who she wouldn't dare let "get that mess done". I couldn't believe it. This was surgery day! Like you, I don't scare easy and I have a strong mind, but I kept thinking what about the people who aren't as strong as me? She could scare those people out of surgery talking like that. When my hospital survey comes in the mail I'm going to report her.

Edited June 29, 201511 yr by Rochellevsg

Wow.... just wow.

Kate

@@Rochellevsg I hoped you reported this person to your surgeon!

These people should undergo some sort of job training since it seems

that so many people in hospital/doctor settings have NO idea how to work with patients, especially when your talking about a huge decision like WLS.

Stay Strong!!

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.

The exact same thing happened to me at my very first nutrition class. The funny part is that my BMI was 37 at the time so by no means low.

My sleep apnea nurse also gave me the same "you're not big enough for surgery..". SMH

Edited June 29, 201511 yr by lexiemustang