Advice: Going through with the surgery

[Lifestyle Changer 49]

You could have your PCP provide your surgeon with your test results showing you have PCOS. Also have your PCP talk to your surgeon on your behalf. My PCP and a few of my other specialists advocated my surgeon letting him know that the gastric sleeve surgery will help my health and disability tremendously.

[LilaNicole20 250]

On 10/28/2021 at 1:32 PM, Namiland said:

Hi all. I'm new here (obviously lol).

I met with my surgeon for the first time a couple days ago. It was INCREDIBLY discouraging. Honestly, I'm not even sure if he was trying to discourage me or if he was attempting to make me see just how much I'll need to do to take care of myself.

He asked me what kind of surgery I wanted (btw, I'm with Kaiser Perm in NorCal, they only offer two types: Bypass or Sleeve). I told him that I'd read about both types but wasn't entirely sure which would be best for me. I'm a former smoker who quit 2 years ago. He replies with, "Honestly, I wouldn't recommend surgery at all for you."

He went on for the next 45 minutes essentially telling me that my PCOS is all in my head (I was diagnosed with insulin resistant PCOS in 2009 NOT by Kaiser and they refuse to acknowledge it because they didn't diagnose it and refuse to test for it) and my continued weight yo-yoing over the years is simply a result of me being lazy about exercise (tell that to my wallet and the gyms I've joined in the past) and make poor food choices. In the end, it felt like he was attempting to talk me out of doing the surgery because my weight issues were all my own fault because I've "self-diagnosed" myself with PCOS to blame it on something other than myself. Yep, he told me I'm self-diagnosing. He also indicated that I've likely put on enough weight just to meet the requirements of the program.

Now, I'm struggling to decide if I want to continue with surgery or if I should just crack down on myself and follow a strict diet/exercise plan for the rest of my life. But to be clear, this is 100% a surgery I want to help with my PCOS (as research shows it does). My previous doctor told me that due to the insulin resistance, my body is holding on to the weight because it thinks I'm starving myself. So it craves carbs like crazy and I have to exercise 3 times as hard as the average person to lose the same amount of weight.

I'm feeling very discouraged and spiteful. I felt, after that conversation, that I want this surgery just because of how rude the surgeon was. Part of me doesn't want it because what if he's right? What if I AM just lazy and putting blame on something as a result.

Ignore this doctor. Go through with the surgery. You'll figure it out.

[LilaNicole20 250]

On 10/28/2021 at 4:01 PM, Namiland said:

That's what it is currently. With my PCOS, I yo-yo a lot. Last year, it was 32, 10 years ago it was as high as 42. I've already been approved by my insurance anyway. I'm definitely going to do the increased exercise.

Thank you

I work out like an animal and it just makes me more hungry. Keep that in mind. Weight is lost in the kitchen, unfortunately. But I will say that because of the exercise, I'm not gaining.

[You Are My Sunshine 85]

On 10/28/2021 at 12:32 PM, Namiland said:

My previous doctor told me that due to the insulin resistance, my body is holding on to the weight because it thinks I'm starving myself. So it craves carbs like crazy and I have to exercise 3 times as hard as the average person to lose the same amount of weight.

Mine as well. I have PCOS and insulin resistance. Was put on Metformin (I was praying it would help me lose weight, it didn't). I lost 40 pounds and was working out, but working out made me absolutely exhausted.

If you'd like to get the surgery, and don't think "doing it on your own" is going to bring you the results you need, then it's definitely something to explore. Have you already tried that and gained it back? Sorry if I missed it.

I find surgeons and some doctors very difficult to read and therefore interpret, like you have said. Maybe it's another conversation to have with that surgeon if you trust him, OR find another one and see what they say. My surgeon is hot and cold. I trust her surgery skills, but her people skills are a bit different.