I've been approved for surgery and expect to get a surgery date scheduled in about 1 month. I really don't like my nutritionist and I feel like I've spent the Past 6 months just going through the required motions without getting anything out of it. I know the basics but have a lot of concerns about post op. Can I switch nutritionists now? What kind of nutritionist do I look for? The one my surgeon works with is so stupid and I just want to find someone helpful that I can call/email after surgery in case I need it.

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Good luck!

This is a common complaint around here. I'm sure there are good NUTs out there -- somewhere. A few BP members have loved their NUTs.

But not me. I've had three NUTs, none of whom have added anything new to my knowledge. Two of them asked me to pick up a plastic piece that was the same size as 3 ounces of meat. It was like going to bad kindergarten. And pre-op, when you're on your best manners and struggling to jump through all the pre-surgical hoops as fast as you can, it's a struggle not to tell them that you have been dieting longer than they've been alive and could mentally calculate the calories and macronutrients of any f**king amount of any f**king food they could name.

BTW, my surgeon's P.A. told me their patients are all very dissatisfied with the value added by all the nutritionists available to our surgery practice. The P.A. and surgeon are frustrated, too. But she said they haven't been able to find other NUTs who are any better.

Happily, the P.A. is very knowledgeable about bariatric nutrition. So she's become my post-op nutrition consultant.

Good luck!

Oh yeah, my NUT wasn't terribly effective. I had to lose 10 pounds and it was really hard to lose. I'd go to the nutrition appointment and she'd say, "Well, you're down another pound, so it's going in the right direction. Are you chewing everything completely? Are you making meals last 30 minutes? Are you exercising on schedule? You're doing everything right, so just hang in there." Yup, I paid for that advice 4 times. No diet advice, no suggestions on how to change the exercise routine, etc. She's a nice person, but it's also hard to look at someone who is 5'10", weighs probably 135 lbs., and think of her as some sort of support person on this journey. I finally started losing weight when I went onto strict Adkins induction. I've lost quite a bit, but losing those first 10 took about 12 weeks!

Maybe you could reach out to the hospital your having surgery at?

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I was really lucky to have found a surgeon that also has a wonderful NUT on staff. I'm sorry you are not happy with your NUT. It really does make all the difference in the world to have people on your team that you really feel you can count on when needed.

It might be tough or awkward to switch pre-op if your NUT is physically part of the surgeons staff, but if it's just a referral relationship then I would say go for it. If it is a staff NUT, you may have a conversation with your surgeon. If you don't want to, then I would say interview some independent NUTs and go with who you feel comfortable with and who you feel will help you ultimately succeed. That's what's important in all of this. Making sure you are comfortable with the people on your team.

The best advice is don't settle for what's there or readily available. Find the right choice for you. Best of luck.