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What do you guys think of this situation?:

My surgeon doesn't seem to think I really need the surgery. I am 5'2", I weigh 204, my BMI is 35.6, but I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol , severe sleep apnea. acid reflux, and a pre

diabetic. I'm one of the lucky ones, if you want to call it lucky; my body has a lot of muscle and hardly any flab, so I don't look as big as I am, but that still shouldn't make him judge me the way I

feel he did. I think he thinks I'm being vain, but I told him I have been feeling horrible lately due to the extra weight and health problems. I pray he does the surgery right and don't leave to

much stomach in. I just don't feel like going back through all this to use another surgeon. My insurance company said I could, but everything would have to be resubmitted and approved again.

What would you guys do in this case? I know doctors take an oath of ethics, but as we know not all of them live by it.

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I would find a different surgeon. I seem to fit the same description as you... @5'6" and 232 lbs, I had sleep apnea, GERD with Barret's esophagus, and was just uncomfortable and feeling generally lousy.
When I went for a checkup with a doc covering for my pcp, she pretty much told me I was being lazy in making this decision! I left the office in tears... it was so embarrassing! I am 45 and this has been my struggle forever!
I found a great surgeon who believes that those of us with a lower BMI ( in the WLS world) can be helped greatly with WLS. I had my RNY on 7/10 and have lost 42 lbs. I have never felt better. It is worth pursuing this to change your life!


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I am so happy everything worked out for you. I have my surgery day, September 19 and started my pre-op liquid diet

yesterday. I think what I'll tell him is, I'm gonna get and endoscopy done to make sure everything was done as it should

be. How much stomach is suppose to be removed? Is it 85%?

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I'm glad everything worked out for you. Which part do you agree on, I should find another surgeon or tell him I'm

gonna get a endoscopy done to make sure everything was done right?

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I would find another doctor. You need to feel that your doctor is going to treat you with same care as someone bigger. Do you feel comfortable with him? Do you feel he can address your concerns without criticism? If the answer is no then look elsewhere. This is a major decision in your life and you are going to need all the support you can get including your dr.


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I totally agree with Jacky247 on this: Find another surgeon. You have to have trust in him or her and believe that person has your best interests in mind. Trying to force a surgeon to do what you want is a bad idea. This is a hard enough journey even with positive vibes all around.

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I feel like crying. My heart is telling me to find another surgeon, but my mind and situation is telling me to stay with him. I don't

have the time to take off my job to do the leg work of finding another surgeon and I don't have the money for test he might

want ran. My primary health doctor is friends with my surgeon, maybe I can express my concerns with him and have him talk to

my surgeon as well.

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There is no way he can fake my surgery right? I mean others will be in the operating room with him. Oh my gosh! I hate I

have let my mind wonder off like this. Now I'm really worried. I'm about to give his office a call. I need to express my concerns

and let him know just where I stand and if he feel like he can't give me the respect and peace of mind I need, I will get another surgeon.

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Definitely talk to your doctor about how he made you feel. I am 5'8" and I weighed 208 on the day I had surgery. I had tyoe 2 diabetes and was one step away from needing insulin to control it. I ended up going to Mexico to get my surgery and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

My diabetes is in remission and I feel better then I have in years. Lower BMI should not prevent you from having access to such a life changing surgery.

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I am so happy everything worked out for you. I'm going to voice my concerns for sure and you're right a lower BMI shouldn't

prevent me from having the surgery or the life I deserve. I'm going to tell him that and more. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement.

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I am so happy everything worked out for you. I'm going to voice my concerns for sure and you're right a lower BMI shouldn't
prevent me from having the surgery or the life I deserve. I'm going to tell him that and more. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement.

My stats are close to yours as well. 5'4, 210 lbs, sleep apnea, GERD, High BP. I am having Gastric Bypass tomorrow. My surgeon has been very supportive from day one. Those surgeons are out there. Not sure where you are but my doc is Dr. Turnquest in Houston. Best of luck!!

Sent from my Nexus 6 using BariatricPal mobile app

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I wish you the best of luck on tomorrow. I pray all goes well with you. I hope you weren't to affected my the big storm

out there in Texas. I'm in Alabama.

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I wish you the best of luck on tomorrow. I pray all goes well with you. I hope you weren't to affected my the big storm
out there in Texas. I'm in Alabama.

Thanks, we live in Central Houston and we're spared the damage. Good luck talking to your Dr. Or finding another one.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using BariatricPal mobile app

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That's good you and your family weren't affected. Keep us posted on your progress and take care.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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