Could Someone 'Splain This To Me?

[FluffyChix 17,415]

I promise I'm not judging anyone. I promise, this isn't in response to any particular thread already existing on this forum.

I'm genuinely confused. I "think" in the US that most of us who are in programs paid by insurance, must go through a supervised weight loss period prior to insurance approval. It ranges from 3-6 months or even longer--maybe even a year or more? During that time, in my plan at least, we painstakingly go over my doc's pre-op and post-op diet regimen along with the Vitamin and Water schedules so that there isn't any doubt about what I'm supposed to be doing at any point in time after surgery.

So how is it that I read all over the internet (not just here on BP) about patients asking what they're supposed to eat immediately post-op, or x days post-op, or x weeks?

I swear how I don't understand this scenario? Is it different if you're self-pay maybe? I'm sure it's quite diff if you have surgery out of the country through Medical Tourism, perhaps? Do surgeons really put their patients through this life-changing, anatomy-altering surgery without fully explaining what to do once the surgery's over? It just seems so scary larry sketchy...as in a recipe for disaster!?

So confused and concerned about these peeps! (don't mind me...I'm easily amused by the googly eyes on these guys!)

kthanxbye.

[336Mike 549]

I'm in the same boat a you when it comes to how your Dr. Handles things. The practice that did my surgery had a very intense program with group classes, several 1:1 meetings with RD and personal trainers, psych evals, etc. preop. Postop We have more RD follow up meetings, etc. We had binders for all the info to reference back...still, people forget and post to our private FB group questions that are covered countless times in all the meetings.

I also know of a practice the next county over that does none of these items...if you meet your insurance requirements you have surgery and then sent home on your own.

To sum it up, I guess some people genuinely do not know and some may just forget or aren't really paying attention during their preop classes, etc.

VSG 10/11/17 HW = 360 SW = 292 CW = 252.8 GW = 220 (6'5")

[FluffyChix 17,415]

6 minutes ago, 336Mike said:

I'm in the same boat a you when it comes to how your Dr. Handles things. The practice that did my surgery had a very intense program with group classes, several 1:1 meetings with RD and personal trainers, psych evals, etc. preop. Postop We have more RD follow up meetings, etc. We had binders for all the info to reference back...still, people forget and post to our private FB group questions that are covered countless times in all the meetings.

I also know of a practice the next county over that does none of these items...if you meet your insurance requirements you have surgery and then sent home on your own.

To sum it up, I guess some people genuinely do not know and some may just forget or aren't really paying attention during their preop classes, etc.

VSG 10/11/17 HW = 360 SW = 292 CW = 252.8 GW = 220 (6'5")

Thanks Mike! That does help clarify! Then too...reading comprehension/literacy may also be a factor I hadn't really considered. I have a huge binder! LOL. And I will also have 1:1 meetings post-op as well as my pre-op ones. I didn't have to do group meetings and they are so far away and at night, so I'm glad!

I was just really wondering how on earth this happens and how people handle it. I'd be scared spitless if I couldn't read/re-read all this boatload of stuff in the binder! *scratches head--which is better than scratching butt*

[Creekimp13 5,840]

[JohnnyCakes 593]

i know of someone, an older lady, who had gastric bypass surgery at a hospital in Georgia.

the next day, the daughter brings a box of Cinnabons to her in the hospital room. they proceed to start eating them. she tears open her new stomach and has to go into emergency surgery to save her life, cleaning cinnabons out of her abdomen.

moral of the story? there seems to be no limit to the stupidity of most people in this country. it is infinite and almost beyond the imagination. while some bariatric offices are better than others at preparation and patient education, none of that really matters when dealing with the average American.

look at our president.

[Healthy_life2 8,324]

55 minutes ago, FluffyChix said:

I promise I'm not judging anyone. I promise, this isn't in response to any particular thread already existing on this forum.

I'm genuinely confused. I "think" in the US that most of us who are in programs paid by insurance, must go through a supervised weight loss period prior to insurance approval. It ranges from 3-6 months or even longer--maybe even a year or more? During that time, in my plan at least, we painstakingly go over my doc's pre-op and post-op diet regimen along with the Vitamin and Water schedules so that there isn't any doubt about what I'm supposed to be doing at any point in time after surgery.

So how is it that I read all over the internet (not just here on BP) about patients asking what they're supposed to eat immediately post-op, or x days post-op, or x weeks?

I swear how I don't understand this scenario? Is it different if you're self-pay maybe? I'm sure it's quite diff if you have surgery out of the country through Medical Tourism, perhaps? Do surgeons really put their patients through this life-changing, anatomy-altering surgery without fully explaining what to do once the surgery's over? It just seems so scary larry sketchy...as in a recipe for disaster!?

So confused and concerned about these peeps! (don't mind me...I'm easily amused by the googly eyes on these guys!)

kthanxbye.

Seems to be common to come across patients that have little to no instructions.

If they google different reputable bariatric programs. Some will send the pre and post op information and nutrition instructions.

[FluffyChix 17,415]

3 minutes ago, jenn1 said:

Seems to be common to come across patients that have little to no instructions.

If they google different reputable bariatric programs. Some will send the pre and post op information and nutrition instructions.

Gosh, I feel so bad for them! How can this be possible? How can there be so many sketchy surgeons out there? It's so sad!

[FluffyChix 17,415]

7 minutes ago, JohnnyCakes said:

i know of someone, an older lady, who had gastric bypass surgery at a hospital in Georgia.

the next day, the daughter brings a box of Cinnabons to her in the hospital room. they proceed to start eating them. she tears open her new stomach and has to go into emergency surgery to save her life, cleaning cinnabons out of her abdomen.

moral of the story? there seems to be no limit to the stupidity of most people in this country. it is infinite and almost beyond the imagination. while some bariatric offices are better than others at preparation and patient education, none of that really matters when dealing with the average American.

look at our president.

Dear God and all that's holy! Then it goes back to @Creekimp13's graphic! That's just truly horrifying and scary!

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

I admit to the same head scratching as @FluffyChix I have a tendency to think everyone is capable of finding, reading and absorbing information the way I do, and that is probably wrong-headed as all heck....slap head. However I don't think 'most people' are truly stupid as much as under educated, and that is a different can of worms.

[jess9395 5,449]

Also some insurances don't require the 3-6 months of supervised weight loss and visits. I had my four year follow up appointment a few months ago and in the exam room my doc had a chart posted for info with a list of insurance companies and their requirements. About a third of the ones listed (mine included) had none. I had six l weeks between my first looking up info and surgery date. I only had to get all the clearances or might have been quicker. My insurance didn't require much and I have a biggie in California.

[psyance 32]

I had virtually no preop or postop instructions. I wasn’t even taught how to handle/empty my JP drain after my hospital visit. My surgeons office scheduled me for my first “followup” 6 weeks after my surgery. I called and changed it, because I wasn’t about to have a JP drain for 6 weeks. Indeed, my surgeon gave me no real instructions on postop diet. I had a sheet from a nutritionist that I saw 4 months prior to surgery (I use “saw” loosely, it was done over Skype). I’ve received much better info here than I did from any preop appts (which were just basically a weight check once a month). My surgeon was rated highly online, and I liked him well enough, but the info from his office was pretty light (especially after reading what others have gone through). So, some of this isn’t a “stupidity” issue. I just don’t think people know the difference between what will be a good surgeon/program and what makes for a bad surgeon/program. Had I not found this community, I would have thought my experience was the norm.

This brings up another point. When people on here say “follow your surgeons program” or “have you checked in with your surgeon about X”, they might be doing everything they were told (which is to say, not much).

[FluffyChix 17,415]

6 hours ago, psyance said:

I had virtually no preop or postop instructions. I wasn’t even taught how to handle/empty my JP drain after my hospital visit. My surgeons office scheduled me for my first “followup” 6 weeks after my surgery. I called and changed it, because I wasn’t about to have a JP drain for 6 weeks. Indeed, my surgeon gave me no real instructions on postop diet. I had a sheet from a nutritionist that I saw 4 months prior to surgery (I use “saw” loosely, it was done over Skype). I’ve received much better info here than I did from any preop appts (which were just basically a weight check once a month). My surgeon was rated highly online, and I liked him well enough, but the info from his office was pretty light (especially after reading what others have gone through). So, some of this isn’t a “stupidity” issue. I just don’t think people know the difference between what will be a good surgeon/program and what makes for a bad surgeon/program. Had I not found this community, I would have thought my experience was the norm.

This brings up another point. When people on here say “follow your surgeons program” or “have you checked in with your surgeon about X”, they might be doing everything they were told (which is to say, not much).

Good Gawd! This terrifies me! I'm so sorry you were left out in the wind!!! Knowing what I go through with my doc, it's just so easy to assume that this must be the way it's done. I've now seen my surgeon for 5 visits. I will have a 6th visit January 4, and then have my RD appointment right after that.

@jess9395 That's amazing and also terrifying!

You guys bring a new perspective about this journey!

[GreenTealael 25,352]

My insurance was not as rigorous and didn't require the weight loss or waiting period, so that may be a factor for some. Also the classes vary greatly by center. I received a 4 page book on the diet after surgery and IMHO it was not detailed enough in respect to variations on themes of food groups. So the amount of information distributed can be vastly different and people come to sites like these to glean information from others in similar positions

Because honestly at 8pm my Surgeon and NUT are no longer answering non emergency questions...

[FluffyChix 17,415]

17 minutes ago, Tealael said:

My insurance was not as rigorous and didn't require the weight loss or waiting period, so that may be a factor for some. Also the classes vary greatly by center. I received a 4 page book on the diet after surgery and IMHO it was not detailed enough in respect to variations on themes of food groups. So the amount of information distributed can be vastly different and people come to sites like these to glean information from others in similar positions

Because honestly at 8pm my Surgeon and NUT are no longer answering non emergency questions...

True! LOL!

I think in some ways, because I've been studying nutrition for years as a lay person, so much of what I've learned in my RD appointments is "old news." But important news nonetheless! So it makes it important to step outside of my own reference frame to understand a problem, fully. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[BusyMom945 63]

I know with my program I only received information about the current phase. So, I didn't get information about my 2 week liquid diet until the day I started. In the hospital I received my info about phase 1, Clear Liquids and Protein Drinks only, then at my 2 week appointment, I received info about phase 2 and 3, full liquids and mushy food. I think they did it this way to try to simplify the process and so patients wouldn't skip ahead. I know my program was very different from my sister's who just had the sleeve done as well. I do like the way my program broke it down not to give too much information all at once and they had nice handy sheets on what to focus on.

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