I had my vertical sleeve done on 2/12/13. My surgeon felt that since I am 6' 3" tall that 250lbs would be a good target weight for me achieve. Which is a pretty reasonable weight for a man my height and build. My heaviest was 8/12 when I was 358lbs. As of today, 3/11/13, I am 316lbs.
I just had my four week follow-up today at my surgeons office and I am devastated and depressed from the visit.
I suppose I should preface my post with what happened with my one week follow up. At my one week follow-up, I was unable to see my surgeon that performed my procedure and instead saw the RN at his office. The RN basically said that in regards to weight loss that the first month really doesn't count too much since your body is readjusting to your new stomach, fluids are moving around, fat being redistributed, etc. That being said I was getting all the Protein and Water in I was supposed to and they were satisfied with the results.
Today I had my four week follow up, and again I was unable to see my surgeon. Instead I had my follow up with the surgeons assistant. So far I have lost 20lbs in one month, have lost 10% of my BMI, and was told by the surgeons assistant that I was not doing enough to loose weight and that my ultimate goal should be 200lbs...not 250lbs like the surgeon said.
I started to immediately get deflated and depressed because I personally thought that losing 20lbs and 10% of my BMI in one month was pretty good considering this is just 4 weeks post op. Then I got depressed and confused because I was told that the first month doesn't count by the RN, but the surgeons assistant is telling me that the first month does indeed count. Then I was confused and angry because the surgeon said I should be 250lbs and this person is saying I should be 200lbs...thats a big difference!! I left there today angry, frustrated, confused, and felt like a utter failure.
Too add insult to injury the surgeons assistant also said that I was at the low end of their statistics in regards to where my weight loss should be and that I should be doing better. However, going into this whole process no one from this office told me that I should be at X in one month, at Y in 2 months, and Z in three months. In other words I was made to feel poorly because I didn't meet his goals and expectations when he never told me what those expectations were. Before I left he wanted to see me in 2 months from today and didn't even tell me what he wanted to see from me or expect from me in two months. It's kind of hard to score a touch down if you don't know where the end zone is.
I really do not want give up going to my follow-ups knowing how important they are. But if no one in that office can communicate to each other, IE what my ultimate weight goal should be; 200 or 250lbs, and be treated so horribly for what I feel was a good result then I am not sure if I want to go back to that office again. I do plan on sticking with what my nutritionist has laid out for me, continue to get my protein, and exercise. I will continue to push on in my weight loss but am really uncertain if I wish to do so with this office.
I just needed to get this off my chest and was wondering if anyone else has had an experience like this? I'm a pretty tough guy, but this one had my near tears today.
