DR ARANOW IS HOLDING MY APPENDIX HOSTAGE!!!!

LMAO so I see him for a follow up regarding my appendicitis- he wants to see me in 2 months and we'll schedule a date for it's removal- he'll do a bit of an exploratory lap at the same time just to see what else is going on....anyway the meanie says he wants me to see Liz- the dietician in the meantime...I argue (as much as I dare argue with god) I know what I am doing- he says no- let's make sure I am not missing anything and have any deficencies pre-op....so I complain I know what to eat blah blah blah....so he looks at me and says " you want me to take that appendix out?" Oh man- I said "wow you are mean- this isn't even related to my gasric bypass and yet you are being a hard ass" he laughed- said "yup- see Liz"....sigh....so I made an appointment with Liz.....what's a post op patient to do....LMAO.

Hey Momo, Be glad you weren't turned into a" pillar of salt" after talking to your doctor that way! LOL. Actually its a good reminder to all of us that its "ok" to ask questions of our doctors. We have as much a responsability to watch out for our health as they are and should feel quite comfortable asking questions of them. Take care and hope this all gets put to rest ASAP.

Sounds familiar....seems he told someone I know that same thing, about ten minutes after you saw him!!! Liz must be down in her quotas!!! I'm bad about going to see her...I've not gone since surgery..(hitting myself on the wrist) Paula

You're Gutsy, Girl!!! Hope all goes well with Liz and the surgery

As much as I respect and admire Dr. A, I believe the big push to get people in to see Liz post-WLS is to support her salary; in other words, his agenda is fiscally driven. Not so difficult to understand, it is a business after all. Still, I could teach nutrition (what formally fat person who has tried every weight loss method in the book couldn't?) - I do my own thing and am holding my own quite successfully 3-years post-op; and when I need to talk to someone, I see a nutritionist referred by my PCP, in my area - which is quite a distance from Middlesex Hospital. We just need to take care of ourselves successfully in our own manner - and chose the people, including professionals, that we feel will assist us in maintaining our success. Take care, Maureen

Hi Maureen, I disagree. Although I am not post op yet, and maybe you'll tell me to shut my yap, I think Dr. A is working the program that he's a part of. He trusts Liz and Kim because he works so closely with them. I actually feel bad for some post op patients who don't know what to do, who to see, what to eat, what vitamins to take, and are posting their little hearts out trying to get help - you see it all the time on the main board. For Dr. A to want Momo to see Liz prior to surgery - yeah, it seems a little strange - what other surgeon would want you to see a nutritionist prior to an appendectomy? Probably not too many. But, she is a GB patient. He is her surgeon for life. I think he's covering all his bases and that's what makes him a great surgeon and the program a great program. Don't get me wrong - I think that the man is beyond rich and the staff must get paid pretty well too. And Liz - at $30 for 15 minutes, she's not doing too bad either. If they're fiscally driven, they've got to be doing a damn good job at meeting their goals. But, I do think it's more than that for them. I think they truly enjoy helping people - why else would they be in the professions they are in? Michelle

Your points are well taken, Michelle, but I stand by my theory. I'm three years post-op and have gone from 360 to maintaining a weight of between 140-145 (this photo is outdated, I don't really look like this anymore!) -- I work very hard at my program. While I greatly appreciate Dr. A's team and his philosophy for maintaining successful weight loss, I believe we should have a very strong voice in our own program - and if that means we chose to see professionals outside of Dr. A's staff, for whatever reason (mine has to do with logistics - I am more than an hour's drive from Middlesex), we should have the right to do so with Dr. A's support. But he pushes his dietician very hard and does not accept his patients seeing people outside of his program. The only reasonable explanation for this is money. The bottom line. And like I said, I get that - it's a business. I just stand firm on taking control of our own cir****tances and success - we need to work in partnership with Dr. A, and with all other professionals, including our PCP, to ensure our health, wellbeing, and continued success. Take care, all. M.

MoMo my sista! Ha! YOU HAVE MET YOUR MATCH! Anyone who knows me knows that I am a big proponant for all of us to regularly see a nutritionist. I still see mine monthly. Why? Because my needs may change, my stress levels may change, etc. I still need a team to keep me on top of my game with this weight loss journey. She keeps me level headed. And keep in mind... just about everything we do from the day of surgery is related to how we manage post op. Oh wait.. I am talking to a nurse, right? You healthcare people are the worst when it comes to being told what to do! You know I say this all with all due respect for your serious approach to your post op management. T.