Why are some weight loss surgery patients so clueless?

[haleytrim 244]

VSGAANN2014...I agree with your assessment. It's like ok, I've had the surgery and that takes care of the fat. Now that I don't have to worry about that anymore, back to real life eating and drinking. Wake up and smell the coffee!! This is a forever battle. The surgery is just a little help!

[LisaNLasVegas 91]

the million questions about stalls or the I'm two seconds out from surgery and have only lost 10 lbs what did I do wrong?

Those are the questions I just can't tolerate anymore. Everyone will stall and, no, you won't lose 100 pounds in 2 weeks. So many people waited months for surgery and then whine that they haven't lost weight fast enough. I don't even read them anymore.

[hopeful one 86]

I read SOME of these posts and for the ones who are asking the questions , I really hope some of these responses don't stop anyone from asking questions no matter what type of question it is, that is what this website is for, some need to think about this , sometimes people for one reason or another have to ask questions over and over , maybe they don't understand or can't remember , all of the needs to know are so overwhelming, I find mind self reading and re-reading information and even then I don't understand it all and you know SOME PEOPLE just don't have anyone close to them that they can talk to and will ask questions just hoping someone will care enough to respond to them , so people try to understand that some are SCARED to death, some have no support, some are going thru this journey alone except for this website so be careful with the way we respond to posts no matter how you feel about the question asked, just give them an answer and know you did what you could to direct them in the right direction.

[une nouvelle vie 327]

@@hopeful one I agree with a lot of what you've said.

A few (not all) of these responses remind me of the attitude so many have with obese people. Why didn't we just learn about nutrition and listen to our doctors and eat right? Why not find out the exercises that work best for us and do them? There's so much information out there about how to lose weight, how dumb obese people are for being lazy and fat and unwilling to change.

I get that it can be frustrating to see someone 3 days out saying they might eat pizza and is that going to hurt me, but I won't lie... many answers here ring of a smug type of "Tsk tsk, I'm glad *I* am smarter than that!" Yes, be glad you're smarter than that and you get it and know a bunch, not everyone is and not everyone does.

People come here for support and answers. Not just answers, but also support. Maybe they don't have people in their lives they can say "I sure would like a cheeseburger even though I had WLS!" to so they come here.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I can’t imagine that any WLS patient could be 100% educated about the complex causes of obesity, weight loss surgery, or WLS post-op care. It’s a very complex subject. I usually learn something new and useful each time I come to this or another WLS board.

I chose the “Rants and Raves” forum for this thread because in the last eight months I’ve felt both concerned and exasperated about some questions I’ve seen posted here that stand out from the majority. Some questions come from people who seem to have zero grounding in how to care for themselves. Others come from folks who seem to know the guidelines, but don’t believe those apply to them or acknowledge the dangers to them of not following the guidelines.

As I’ve learned today on this thread, some people actually don’t receive any instructions from their surgeons about recommended post-op eating stages or behaviors – not even written handouts!

The National Institute of Health, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric surgery all state that bariatric surgery can be an effective treatment plan for obesity, “… when combined with a comprehensive treatment plan.” This is defined as “… a multidisciplinary team of experts for follow-up care. This may include a nutritionist, an exercise physiologist or specialist, and a mental health professional ….”

I realize some patients have surgeons who only do the wet work and don’t offer comprehensive treatment. But to hear that some surgeons don’t even advise patients about after-care and that their patients must educate themselves solely using books bought on Amazon and from advice handed out by other patients—whether good, bad or indifferent—makes me ill.

It’s no surprise that WLS still has a bad reputation in some quarters.

[blondebomb 580]

I have to say that I'm one who received NO instructions. I waited thinking I would be visited by a nut in the hospital but nothing. Before discharge I asked the surgeon about it and he said he didn't use them as it cut into his bottom line. I know what everyone is thinking and I've thought the same thoughts but I can say I was so desperate to have the surgery and he had good reviews that I just trusted him. I don't ask many if any questions on this forum for fear of being ridiculed but others who have had the guts to ask questions have helped me learn so much. I google a lot and have bought some books but you are right, there are some or maybe just me that had no nut instructions and no follow up (except for weigh ins) care. If I ask questions he will answer them otherwise he rushes me out the door. He had this same (RNY) surgery 9 years ago so I thought I was getting someone good and someone who understood what we go through. I messed up big time. I'm just on my own along with reading answers to questions asked on this forum, books and google...

Wow..u have found the right place here. Ask all u need...u definitely will need help in right direction. .read read read! Did u not have ANY preop classes that qualified u for this? Anything? Hang in there!

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

I have to say that I'm one who received NO instructions. I waited thinking I would be visited by a nut in the hospital but nothing. Before discharge I asked the surgeon about it and he said he didn't use them as it cut into his bottom line. I know what everyone is thinking and I've thought the same thoughts but I can say I was so desperate to have the surgery and he had good reviews that I just trusted him. I don't ask many if any questions on this forum for fear of being ridiculed but others who have had the guts to ask questions have helped me learn so much. I google a lot and have bought some books but you are right, there are some or maybe just me that had no nut instructions and no follow up (except for weigh ins) care. If I ask questions he will answer them otherwise he rushes me out the door. He had this same (RNY) surgery 9 years ago so I thought I was getting someone good and someone who understood what we go through. I messed up big time. I'm just on my own along with reading answers to questions asked on this forum, books and google...

I can imagine you must be terrified at times. Please private message me anything I can help with. I am wondering are you having follow up bloodwork done, are you getting in the right Vitamins, do you have a primary care doctor who is monitoring you? If you have a hospital (or just google nutritionists in your area or ask your surgeon's nurse for a recommendation) nearby, maybe they have a nutritionist or dietician you could call and make an appointment with. Sometimes your primary care doctor can recommend it and insurance might pay. If not, I cannot imagine they would charge much. Just make sure you are getting the proper nutrition. I say again, thank God for Bariatric Pal because even though I read voraciously, went to bariatric classes, met with the psychologist and nutritionist several times, I have continued to lear and get help from the wonderful people here.

[hopeful one 86]

I just want to add this, As I have said many times before if you can, BUY THE BIG BOOK ON THE GASTRIC SLEEVE, It will give you so much info , mine is always with me. It will answer a lot of questions.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

I get pissy about the ones who reject answer after answer until they get the one they are fishing for.

[Kissifur 244]

I get pissy about the ones who reject answer after answer until they get the one they are fishing for.

I agree that those are the most frustrating. I have to admit that I have came here several times to get validation that doing the wrong thing is okay and the kick in the butt has came from all of you through other people's questions.

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

I have been shocked over and over again by what I personally did not know. I studied this for two years. did research and watched videos and asked questions on here and to my team. I did not know:

What to eat and when in detail.

64 oz. of Water..say what? I loved water..What I hate it now..Never heard of such a thing!

I did not know any nutritional retraining I would need.

I did not know that you can get a leak 18 months out.

I did not know that you can get reactive Hypoglycemia.

I did not know that when you gain muscle you get bigger.

I did not know that you could really die from WLS.

I did not know that people would treat you mean because you lost weight.

I did not know that people would tell me I took the easy way out.

I did not know that people can live without eating for 5.5 months...

I guess I did not know a lot. But then I live in one of the the poorest Provinces. Not to mention the most backwards Province in Canada when it comes to health.

I had no idea that most of the things that happened to me did.....I am shocked that more people are not aware of this life saving chance. And that more people die because they are not invested in the changing of lives....

I had no idea I would hate tuna after my surgery and I when it was I would be able to finally eat at all....I had to learn to eat again..Who does that!

I never knew that people sucked the chocolate off of peanut M n M's and thought they weren't cheating..They should have eaten the peanuts..you know! Or lick the cheese off Doritos and feel satisfied...Say what!

I know this is a little off the best but you know what I think: there are still people who think you can't get pregnant the first time you have sex.

For such a time of the information age. People are still eating boxed macaroni and cheese and thinking that it is good for you.

For now I will try to answer as many of those questions as I can and when and if I do tire out..I will back off and call it a day!

For now..nope!

Edited August 4, 2014 by RJ'S/beginning

[Jersrose43 837]

I ignore the folks coming in here for validation of bad habits

I am in insurance as some of you may know. What I tend to see is a clear lack of education, clear lack of understanding the healthcare system and most especially an absolute refusal of people to self advocate!

I love to educate people on how to work their healthcare system but it goes on deaf ears because they won't self advocate.

I can't tell you how many people do not know :

1- your doctor can be reached after hours. Call the office there is a service. If it's voice mail listen to the message. There is usually a phone number.

2- your doctors and their staff have heard EVERYTHING before ! Don't be embarrassed by anything ! Ask ask ask. Tell tell tell!

3- you're not 'bothering' the office. It's your right to receive health care. Go get it. Call if they don't return a call, call back. Again and again and again.

4-If your doc office staff isn't willing to support you they have a boss. Either it's the doc or another person. Find out and reach out.

[BladeFox 235]

I just don't respond. It could be that entitlement age where people want you to hand information to them on a silver platter, line by line, stage by stage.

[moonlitestarbrite 902]

i am amazed by the number of people to say they dont want to "bother" their doctor's office by calling. but really i think what is going on is a lot people dont follow through with what they are supposed to be doing, and so dont follow up, cause they dont want to admit they arent doing what they should be.

[par1959 470]

There are various reasons or excuses. Personally, I have notice age has much to do with the questions asked. I read as much as possible and asked lots of questions before going under the knife. I would think any responcible person would. If one does the research they will find this surgery is not a cure all. They will also learn about the mental challenges during this process. To those that ask stupid questions, I say go for it. Nobody but yourself is going to stop you from taking ingorant actions after surgery. Another issue I notice is many on this site dont cook. Is this because you cant cook or their to lazy. Cooking isnt that difficult. If you need help go take a few classes. There is an interesting article in this months National Geographic on America's new obese hungry people. Bottom line everyone knows that fast food is bad for you, but they doent want to take the 35 minutes to perpare a meal. It's much easier to drive on down to Mc Donalds. Another interesting point is these same people can afford to feed their kids but all have a IPhones or so it seemed. I have a great job and do not see a cost benifit to own an Iphone with an expensive data plan. If I were broke I would rather eat that know what someone is doing on face book.