My NUT is a nut

[futurefeatherweight 64]

Okay, she's not really a nut but it seems like every visit that I have had with her, she has told me something that doesn't jive with my surgeon's dietary handbook that was written by another dietitian on her team. I have pretty much decided that I'm not going to visit with her anymore.

I am a little over 4 weeks post-op. I kind of want a different nutritionist but I don't want to seem rude and I am currently not having any nutrition problems that I can't figure out on my own. I have called the surgeon's office a couple of times when she was telling me things that were way different than what my surgeon's PA told me. The surgeon told me that the PA and the guidebook were correct. Generally, the NUT is way more restrictive, doesn't think that I should be taking my pills whole, doesn't think that I should eating any meat other than canned tuna or chicken salad (chicken and mayo only). I just don't think that she understands how annoying it can be to be unnecessarily restricted to only certain foods. Should I seek out a different nutritionist? I don't necessarily think she is bad, I am just puzzled as to whether or not she has actually read the handbook that her coworker has written for my surgeon.

[KristenLe 5,980]

If you don't think you need one right now - just go by what your surgeon and guidebook say.

[Barry W 336]

I am a chemist and I think there is an awful lot of bad information out there that can be confusing for both lay people and health care workers alike. If you don't have confidence in your nutritionist I wouldn't hesitate to find someone else to advise you. Also, once you get past the special restrictions of the first 2-3 months, you should basically be following the same nutritional advice as everyone else - lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, emphasizing fish, skinless turkey and chicken for Protein, plenty of legumes, and moderate amounts of healthy (fiber-rich) whole grain carbs, along with Portion Control to keep your weight moving down.

[Babbs 14,681]

I am a chemist and I think there is an awful lot of bad information out there that can be confusing for both lay people and health care workers alike. If you don't have confidence in your nutritionist I wouldn't hesitate to find someone else to advise you. Also, once you get past the special restrictions of the first 2-3 months, you should basically be following the same nutritional advice as everyone else - lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, emphasizing fish, skinless turkey and chicken for Protein, plenty of legumes, and moderate amounts of healthy (fiber-rich) whole grain carbs, along with Portion Control to keep your weight moving down.

With all due respect, I wouldn't advise whole grains that early out. Protein should be priority, and usually after you finish the necessary amount of protein, there is no room for anything else. Sure, as time goes on and you can eat more, whole grains are a healthy part of a diet, but I feel they are not appropriate up to the first year of WLS. If there's room for anything else after protein, it should be a non starchy veggie.*

*This is MY opinion and what worked for ME to get down to my goal weight.

[highfunctioningfatman 2,675]

Not everyone in the medical field graduated at the top of their class...

[theantichick 2,204]

I'm a nurse and I have yet to meet a nutritionist who was worth a darn. The absolute nonsense I've heard from nutritionists would be laughable if it wasn't so serious. If there's a conflict between what your surgeon says and what your nutritionist says, go with your surgeon. I have declined to meet with the nutritionist further because it's a waste of time and money. There are decent resources out there if you as a patient have not learned about basic nutrition that will cost less and be real scientifically proven information.

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[LisaMergs 2,857]

I'm a nurse and I have yet to meet a nutritionist who was worth a darn. The absolute nonsense I've heard from nutritionists would be laughable if it wasn't so serious. If there's a conflict between what your surgeon says and what your nutritionist says, go with your surgeon. I have declined to meet with the nutritionist further because it's a waste of time and money. There are decent resources out there if you as a patient have not learned about basic nutrition that will cost less and be real scientifically proven information.

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Mmmm. I think the same could be said of any profession. A good nutritionist is worth their weight in gold. Paraphrasing one of our fellow posters- not all graduated in the top of their class. Belittling an entire profession is extreme. They obviously have credibility if institutions are employing them, people have had success following their guidelines, etc.

In a Bariatric setting, you want the team to be on the same page- but there will be differences of opinions. How great those differences are is really what's key. If she is more restrictive- then she is likely erring on the side of caution- which is ok.

EBDM- evidence based decision making is commonplace in healthcare now. Perhaps she has been at this a long time- or is a newbie. Those things factor in to her comments and criteria post op for you.

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[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I asked the program nutritionist like 3 questions, she revealed herself as a twit. Never went back to her.

You can lose weight without a nutritionist.

@@Barry W

Humans have no bioligical need for carbs.

[Babbs 14,681]

@@OutsideMatchInside

Exactly.

[ShelterDog64 2,364]

I see almost everyone here saying 'nut'...do you all really see nutritionists vs dietitians? There's a HUGE difference between the two; my program only employs dietitians because of their education and expertise. "Nutritionist" is an unregulated, non-accredited title that can be self-given vs the 4 year bachelor degree or 3/2 advanced degree plus accreditation that the title "dietitian" brings to the table.

There are good and bad in both areas, but I'm always going to go with the one who has a degree and whose title requires continuing education for accreditation.

[rebecca wills 190]

I agree after I had mine tell me to go online to find recipe's for gluten free recipe's for celiac. Clearly someone who lacks common sense. I need someone who is knowledgable.

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[theantichick 2,204]

I only had an option of a NUT. Dieticians are fine but most programs have NUTs. And I frankly have never met one worth my time.

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[Meow999 20]

The first "nutritionist" I saw (my insurance and surgeon required a clearance from one or the other) was a complete and total corn flake. I'm a nurse and she scared the hell out of me!! i told her what I needed and she completely ignored me and tried to sell me on some package of multiple visits, measurements and counseling. i think she fancied herself some kind of therapist. I actually see a real therapist for other reasons. This whack job said "she'd be glad to speak with my therapist, here just sign this release." Um, how about NO! I told my therapist this and she replied, "oh, hell no!"

I wrote off the $140 as a loss and told her to go fly a kite. The RD (registered dietition) that i found (and paid out of pocket for, again!) saw me and we spent some time clarifying what I knew about appropriate protein/carbs/ etc.amounts, portion sizes and so forth. She did her report the same day, gave me her card and said to call her if I had any other questions. Much, much more relevant!!

"want a different nutritionist but I don't want to seem rude and I am currently not having any nutrition problems that I can't figure out on my own."

As far as being rude, nevermind that. It's your body and you need to do what sounds right for you. if unsure...see your surgeon. This person should NOT be dictating a darn thing about your pills. That is wayyyy out of her scope of practice. Does she have any clue as to what may be crushed or not? I doubt it.

[mi75 1,241]

I see a RD that is associated with my original bariatric surgeon (changed insurance, changed practices, then went back and paying out of pocket).

I too am a nurse, and I will just say this. I am a heart nurse. That means that I KNOW cardiac. I've been in every avenue of cardiac nursing for well over 25 years (inpatient, outpatient, cath lab, electro lab, stress lab, tilt lab, transplant team). But, if you ask me about chemotherapy or pediatrics, it's like a deer in the headlights.

I see Nuts and RDs the same way. Yes, they have all been to school. RDs have pretty much all been through the BA program that gives them proper education and certification. However, they all specialize in something different. I have only encountered ONE RD ever that is a specialist in bariatric medicine. So...if the RD isn't specially trained in bariatrics, they are going to give you textbook advice.

I would follow your surgeon's recommendations to a T. My surgeon emphasizes heavy Protein diet for quite a while (really no grains or fruit for a LONG time). But again, every program is different, so it's best to consult with your provider.

[higher 966]

I was required to see a NUT in my surgeon's practice. Not sure if she was a dietitian or a nutritionist. Anyway, on top of recommending I eat baby food post-op ???? she told me advises women my age not to drink alcohol after surgery because "oops, they all end up pregnant!"

I found that SO offensive, so unfunny, and so stupid that I never went back to see her again. On top of generally thinking she was an idiot. But I did consult the charts and tables she gave me fairly often post-op because she had printed them out from somebody else's website who was obviously smarter than her.