I know my message is long, but please read it. I need help!!

[I AM NOT MY SIZE 69]

Hey guys, my one year was September 19. I went to my surgeon for a check in yesterday, I have gained 11 pounds. I am so disgusted I don't know what to do. He was so ugly to me and non caring. He told me I failed and there was nothing he would do for me. Then he told me maybe I should try Medifast...REALLY!!! I should have followed my first mind and not use him. I told him from the beginning my sleeve wasn't stopping me from eating and if it weren't for the scars I have, I wouldn't think I had weight loss surgery. I asked him did he remove 75% of my stomach, he didn't give a yes or no answer, instead he said the lady I just saw have the same size sleeve you have and she's lost 80 pounds, talk about adding insult to injury! Then he told me he didn't have to see me anymore. How often do you guys that are one year out or more see your surgeon? Is it suppose to be an ongoing thing or just as needed? I'm gonna request an endoscopy be done, I honestly don't think he sleeved me right. I feel so hopeless and like a failure as he said. Since my surgery I only lost 34 pounds and have gained back 11 pounds. My hunger never went away like most people does after surgery. Something is wrong! Should I request the endoscopy through him or my regular doctor? I'm thinking through my regular doctor. Please help me. I need advice.

[paddyski 168]

I haven't had surgery yet, but I am sorry for your experience and how you are feeling... But I wanted to write a few things, YOUR SURGEON sounds like an ass, sorry. No one has the right to ever make you feel like a failure. When I was trying to find a surgeon I found one similar sounding to yours, he came in rushed and never saw me as a person, just starting going in about how we will all fail... he was supposed to be the best? He hated his job and it came across so clearly... I walked out of that office and it affected me... I took some time before talking to other surgeons, I kept going through my list of things for clearance but kept asking for copies of records.... I have since found another surgeon and am excited to move forward with the process fingers crossed everything will go well. My point his words and his issues are just that his, his lack of concern and inability to listen or act on the patients behalf is another story, I would call the office and ask for the office manager to call you back, and let them know everything, his words, how you feel, your treatment etc. Tell them you want copies of your records and reports and give them the time you will be there in fact you can call the records department separately and get that started. Yes then go to a different dr. gi and go over everything with them. I will also say this 34 lbs loss in an unsupported environment when you feel something is off, IS AMAZING and in no way failing. Also not sure how you came to your goal weight I have same stats and my surgeon said the actual goal would be for me to reach 120lbs but that the stats are so off that that would not be ideal and 130 140 should be my range, she would be happy with 160. be proud of your self you have accomplished something amazing and no one's journey is the same. good luck and hugs

[Paul Clarke 108]

I am nearly 7 months out and from my experience, the hunger doesn't really go away. For me it is a constant daily challenge of managing what I eat and dealing with being hungry. I hate being hungry and I hate being cold, but for me that is the price of getting to the weight that I have set as my goal. Undoubtedly it has been hard, and I am frustratingly close to my goal, but you get out what you put in. The question I would have or you, is how much you can eat in one session. If you can only eat a cup or less, then the surgery was probably done properly. If it is more than that, then I would agree that something is probably wrong. My suggestion is back to basics, maybe start over from the liquid diet and do a complete reset. Follow the guidelines you got following surgery slavishly for a couple of weeks and see what that does. Personally I keep a food diary in myfitnespal, something I never thought I would do. However it helps keeps me honest with myself about what I am eating,

Also I agree your surgeon is an ass... No-one should call you a failure, this is really hard.

Edited October 18, 2018 by Paul Clarke

[Medowsweet 52]

If you're surgon is being mean and condensending, then maybe go-to your doctor and get reffered to a different weightloss surgery specialist if possible?

I don't know if the sleeve is wrong or if it is something else (hormones? Genes?) But noone deserves to be degraded

[I AM NOT MY SIZE 69]

Thank you guys so much for the advice and the positive enforcement. Yes he and his nurse are big asses! Lord knows I should have followed my mind and went to someone else. From the beginning he didn't think I needed the surgery. I just didn't feel like starting over. Boy I wish I would have now. How often do you guys see your surgeon since your surgery was done? I'm gonna call my regular doctor and my insurance company today. I pray my insurance pay for revision surgery.

[johnsons13 359]

I'm only 6 months post op. There are times I think my surgeon is an ass, but nothing compared to what you explained. I knew going in that I had/have an unhealthy addiction to food. One, I am an addict/alcoholic and food for me has always been another addiction. I also know but don't really think or remember it, but sometimes it's just head hunger and not real hunger. But when I "feel" hungry I eat and that's where I go wrong. I know that it is my fault I haven't lost more than I have. ( Sorry about the italicize writing when I take it off it automatically starts writing like that)

[CyndieRI 251]

I’m so sorry your surgeon treated you like this! That is so wrong! I’m only 8 days out from my sleeve surgery, but I am definitely hungry! And I don’t think it’s the “head hunger” that some people talk about. My stomach is growling and I would be happy with a carrot (not like I’m craving something bad for me!). I know at my surgeon’s office they see you at 1 year, 18 mos, 2 years and then annually after that (unless there is an issue). Good luck and I hope you find a better doctor to see!!

[Ed_NW 684]

One of my jobs (among many) is, I manage a fleet of trucks. I've been around commercial trucks my whole life as my father always had 4 or 5 of his own. I take the trucks to outside mechanics for repairs. It's been my experience that ego gets in the way when dealing with some mechanics. I've found, some mechanics don't like to hear what my thoughts are on the cause of whatever the problem might be. If I feel that's the case, I take my business elsewhere. If you act like you are the only game in town and you can be a jerk to people wanting to give you money for your services, you aren't going to get my business.

I've always thought of Doctors in the same way. If a doctor can listen to the patient and have a discussion rather than just plug their ears because they are predetermined that the patient is wrong about everything they are about to say, that's the doctor for me.

Someone else on here mentioned one time that they liked Dr. Shaw Somers and the show he was on in the UK called Fat Dr. His videos on YouTube were some of the first that I came across over a year ago when I was contemplating WLS. If your Dr. isn't at least half as understanding and compassionate as Dr. Shaw Somers, I say he/she is in the wrong profession, go find another Dr.

[I AM NOT MY SIZE 69]

@johnsons13, @CyndieRI, thank you so much for responding. johnsons13, I pray it gets better for you with everything. This is not easy. People that say surgery is the easy way out, have not had surgery. CyndieRI, I pray all goes well for you.

[I AM NOT MY SIZE 69]

@Ed_NW, I love the way you worded your response. It makes so much sense. I'm gonna call my insurance company and see if I'm allowed to go to another weight loss surgeon, even if he or she didn't do my surgery. I don't have to see my surgeon again, it's obvious he doesn't want to see me again. I know something is wrong, felt this way almost immediately.

[Paul Clarke 108]

So things I do when I get hungry (in addition to making bad choices sometimes).

1. Have a drink. I live on Crystal Lite.

2. sugar free Jello. They are 5 or 10 cal's, so pretty hard to go wrong with that.

2. Sugar free fruit cups. The Dole or Delmonte ones are around 50 cal.

That is usually enough to get me through another couple of hours. Personally I try not to think too far ahead, just get me to the next meal time if I am hungry.

[GreenTealael 25,360]

2 hours ago, I AM NOT MY SIZE said:

Hey guys, my one year was September 19. I went to my surgeon for a check in yesterday, I have gained 11 pounds. I am so disgusted I don't know what to do. He was so ugly to me and non caring. He told me I failed and there was nothing he would do for me. Then he told me maybe I should try Medifast...REALLY!!! I should have followed my first mind and not use him. I told him from the beginning my sleeve wasn't stopping me from eating and if it weren't for the scars I have, I wouldn't think I had weight loss surgery. I asked him did he remove 75% of my stomach, he didn't give a yes or no answer, instead he said the lady I just saw have the same size sleeve you have and she's lost 80 pounds, talk about adding insult to injury! Then he told me he didn't have to see me anymore. How often do you guys that are one year out or more see your surgeon? Is it suppose to be an ongoing thing or just as needed? I'm gonna request an endoscopy be done, I honestly don't think he sleeved me right. I feel so hopeless and like a failure as he said. Since my surgery I only lost 34 pounds and have gained back 11 pounds. My hunger never went away like most people does after surgery. Something is wrong! Should I request the endoscopy through him or my regular doctor? I'm thinking through my regular doctor. Please help me. I need advice.

Request a barium swallow test with copies for your records. You can then seen your sleeve and proceed to choose your path from there, whether a consultation with a new team or a follow up with this doctor. Don't take no for an answer. Take charge.

Also, let's be really honest because I don't want to speculate: how's your diet, forealsies...?

[FancyChristine15 810]

Yes, your surgeon does sound like an ass, BUT how have you been eating? I doubt that he opened you up and just didn't do anything. I get hungry too. In fact, as I'm writing this, I'm hungry and wanting some lunch! I just can't eat a lot at one time. The food choices that you make, affect how much you can eat of something too. I don't know how you're eating; you've been asked a few times, but you haven't responded. How is your diet? The surgery is only part of weight loss equation. My surgeon explained that the surgery won't do it all for me, I have to eat right, exercise, and drink Water too. Do you keep track of your food, Protein, and water? The surgery will not fix it all for you; you have to make changes too in order to see results.

[Lola4rmKona 82]

I agree with everyone that surgeon is straight up asshat. I am 18 months out and my surgeon made it a point to see me and have blood panels checked every three months until I made a year. After that, I now have to check in every 6 months with the option to call his office or work cell in case ANYTHING happens. He takes leaks very seriously and encourages me even when I didn't lose half my weight at a year. His advanced nurse practitioner who was in my surgery with him runs support group for wls patients once a month. My point is, this is not only an expensive surgery but it is life altering. This surgeon you have needs to give you all the support you deserve. Since that is not happening, I would research another in the same field/hospital. If not, look through insurance provider lists for options and start making calls. This is your life, change starts with you. Dont let some jack make you feel lesser than. I cannot stand those ones. No support at all. I am sorry you are going through this. You do not deserve that. Please make those calls asap. Rooting for you to find a proper surgeon and team for your revision. Do research, read reviews, gauge attitude towards patients. Ugly can't hide and usually shows on the first day of meeting. Listen to your gut and if it feels wrong, leave asap. Good luck! Aloha

Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

[I AM NOT MY SIZE 69]

Thank you everyone. To answer the questions about my diet. I try to make healthy food choices, I might slip every now and then. I know my main problem is the amount of wine I drink every night. Since my mom and two sisters passed, wine has been my coping mechanism. I drink plenty of Water. Wine and water are the only things I drink. I have two glasses of wine per night. I have vowed to stop. Didn't have any last night and the bottles I had I gave them to my sister and cousin yesterday. My sleeve have never stopped me from eating a full meal, never! I would stop myself, because I know I should. My doctor has never checked my blood, never checked for leaks or suggested I have any type of test to see if there's a problem. I pray my insurance will pay for a revision and allow me to see another doctor. I admit I didn't do all I could have done, but my sleeve seem nonexistent. I'm about to make some calls now.