Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Just a Little Rant



Recommended Posts

I live in Tallahassee, Florida and for my authorization I needed to visit a pulmonologist. Tallahassee Pulmonary lost my referral 3 times before offering me an appointment in March (my surgery is in December so... yeah) . My surgeons office, being the super awesome folks they are, were able to get me an appointment with a pulmonologist at Shands in Gainesville (about 2 hours and 15 minutes from my house). Not a bad drive and Shands has a wonderful reputation. I went and the people were extremely nice and thorough with the tests. I think that emptying my lungs until almost passing out has been my least favorite pre-op test! I'd take the camera being shoved down my throat over that lol. Anyway, other than the normal discomfort... it was fine.

Until I met with the actual pulmonologist.

I don't have her name here with me but she really pissed me off. She looked at my results, and said that I had better lung function and capacity than the average person. Great, right?

Then she asked why I was having these tests. I told her I was having a gastric sleeve. Her face changed (this is a doctor, a specialist, a medical professional). Then she asked...

"Haven't you ever just tried not eating so many carbs?"

What the literal... efffffffff.

I know that I gave her a cross between a side eye and stink eye and I replied, "No. That had never crossed my mind in the 30 years of being overweight. I just thought that going under and having someone cut out a part of my body sounded super fun!".

Folks, she didn't say it with good intentions. It was said in a very accusatory, rude tone. I responded by having my words drip with sarcasm.

I ten went on and had to educate this doctor on the fact that this is not a quick fix, and explained the surgery. She didn't know really what it even was... which in itself is fine because it's not her specialty.

But really... telling me that I should just stop eating carbs to cure my weight problems??

Ugh.

Anyway, my surgery has been approved and I am scheduled for December 27. Just wanted to rant a bit here.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good for you!

See and people wonder why we have to constantly be our own advocates not blindly accepting whatever any supposed professional says to us.

Doctors only know what med school and the research journals feed them. And it constantly changes because frankly it's all theory.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would make sure you let your group know about this woman's attitude so they don't send other folks to her. Just in case. Some people can't stand up for themselves the way you did.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Diana_in_Philly said:

I would make sure you let your group know about this woman's attitude so they don't send other folks to her. Just in case. Some people can't stand up for themselves the way you did.

I already did. Luckily, most people won't have to make the trip down there. I just couldn't wait for March and it was an anomaly that the Tallahassee Pulmonary group lost the referrals. Everything else has gone as smooth as silk.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×