nijireiki

At the last group meeting I went to, one of the staff at (the new location) Jacksonville Weight Loss Ctr. mentioned that patients can choose which surgeon they prefer to perform their surgery. This normally wouldn't be an issue for me, since I was assigned Dr. Cywes (he's a pediatric surgeon, and since I'm only 18, anatomically speaking as a woman I'm still technically "not mature" until my mid-20's due to bone ossification, organ development, etc.) and I would usually just stick with him. Unfortunately, the man gets on my ever-loving nerves. At my first appointment with him, it seemed like he did a lot of talking, and wasn't really listening, and jumped to some weird conclusions from what I was saying. He also recommended that instead of going to be by myself and read or listen to music when I'm stressed, I yell at my mother when she and I disagree on something. I... have no idea what kind of home he was raised in, but I need a place to live for at least the next year or so.... It also almost felt like he was picking on me (to try and get me motivated, I'm sure, but it was still weird that he would pick on my clothes), but it also seemed like his speeches were rehearsed and the same for every patient, "standard-issue". Of course I told my sisters and they think his speeches ("I can only guarantee you will fail", "You can't make the choice to have a well-fitting tucked in shirt", "You can't cross your legs like this", etc.) are hysterical. At my second meeting with him he talked even longer and kind of gave a speech/lecture on the cultural evolution of eating habits and carb addiction (it also irritated me that he got some of the speech wrong, but that's because I'm a giant nerd and knew that stuff already) in addition to his regular speeches, but I wouldn't mind a long appointment if it seemed like he really listened and heard what his patients were saying at all. The irritating behaviors were all back, but with the addition of using individuals as examples in front of the group; which again wouldn't be bad if he wasn't jumping to these odd conclusions about everyone's responses to his questions/prompts and if he wasn't making examples out of the people he solo'd out. All in all the group meeting was 2 hours long. I would go into more depth, but it would just turn into a rant where I make a lot of jokes re: what happened that are really off-topic to what I'm trying to find out, here. I'm in the weird position where I know what he is trying to say, and being able to glean that good information from the repetitive annoying crap, and why he is trying to say it in the way that he is. I also know that a different method of delivery would be more effective in the "piss you off to motivate you" plan, at least for me; but that doesn't stop him from pissing me off fruitlessly and it doesn't stop him from ruining my day by getting me so angry and, I feel, wasting my time. But I've heard he's an excellent surgeon (I've also heard that he is decidedly not an excellent surgeon, but there's definitely far more praise than criticism), and there is the pediatrics thing to consider, as well as the fact that I know Dr. C doesn't mean to come across as mean, that it's just his way of speaking and presenting information, blah blah blah. It's still annoying. I once flunked a highschool biology class because I couldn't stand the teacher, and I got an A when I had to go to summer school and redo it and passed the college equivalency exam for Biology that same year. Biology itself is not the problem for me. I reeeeeeaaaally don't want to take that same risk unless I know Dr. C is the better surgeon, because there's really no summer school for f****ing up a surgical procedure. There is only sadness, misery, and despair; I'd rather not be a sad, sad toaster made of glass post-op. Dr. Baptista on the other hand is a total unknown for me regarding surgical skill and demeanor in a one-on-one setting. That really freaks me out a little bit. If I'm going to use him for my surgery, I have to know what I'm getting into. At the informational meeting I went to before I started my appointments at Jax Weight Loss, Dr. B seemed much friendlier and made a lot more jokes, but he also talked about twice as much as Dr. C does. :biggrin: So much for not wasting time... There is also the benefit that I can actually understand Dr. B's accent better than Dr. C's Aussie one, which I guess other people have the opposite problem? It also seems like Dr. C has more stringent standards for pre-op weight and liver size than Dr. B has, though I can't really speak for that since I haven't met with Dr. Baptista. Is there anybody with a specific recommendation or warning against one or both of these docs? I'd really appreciate the information, especially if anyone has experience with both men. Thanks!!

Hey all, this is the introductions page, so here I am. Delurking... I am 18 years old, 5' 5.5", 250lb, and I live in NE Florida. I have finished all of my consultation appt's, and my insurance packet was just sent out a few days ago (I think). My surgery date isn't set yet... I'm nervous, but I'm excited! I've done a lot of research. I will either be using Dr. Cywes or Dr. Baptista for my surgery, and I've been going to Jacksonville Weight Loss Center. Anybody recommend one over the other, as far as surgical skill & convenience of fills? I was a skinny kid, but from when I was 12 years old, my weight just keeps eeking and eeking up; at my heaviest I was 265lb. I can look at myself and know I'm really built on a slim frame and I'm not meant to be "thick", but someone who doesn't know me wouldn't guess by looking at me. Sad, sad, sad state of affairs. I've pretty much been on-and-off dieting since then, too, so here I am! I really want to make this work. I don't have any serious (read: can't grin and bear it) health complications associated with my weight that I know of other than chronic fatigue, joint/back pain, and possibly migraines? Actually, written down that's pretty bad. I'm just used to it day in and day out! That's... depressing. Also, even within my immediate/nuclear family, and extended on both sides, my relatives have some pretty severe health issues associated with their weights, and I'd like to lower my risk factor for those as well. Also, this is just, like, the nerdiness and desperation for height in me reeeeaching out, but has anybody gained a few inches upwards from less spinal compression?? Wow, that was... long. ...I also like chocolates, roses, and long walks on the beach and I'm an Aries. :redface:

Mixed-race women here? Or any Native Americans in the house?? Osage tribe reprazent Seriously, though... anyone?

Hey guys. 18yo, single, no kids, about 250lb @ 5'5", living in NE Florida So far I've lived in MA (born and raised), CT, NY state, PA, WI, and FL... you'd think we were a military family the way we move so much! Insurance packet just sent out to Aetna 1 dog (Great Pyrenees; he looks like David Bowie in "Labyrinth"), 3 cats, and of course I'm allergic to all of them. :eyeroll: Very sadly unemployed!! D: