Just a Little Rant

[Lufifi 76]

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.

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

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.

[Diana_in_Philly 1,426]

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.

[Lufifi 76]

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.