Disappointed and Confused

Hi Nancy - You are right - he does favor RNY over lapband but seemed hesitant to perform a revision on my after seeing all my test results - perhaps it's because I'm such a healthy fat person - my only issue is the weight (right now) - everything else is great! He did recommend water aerobics to me - I just have to figure out when to find the time to integrate exercise into my life - two kids and working full time doesn't leave a lot of options - but other people figure it out so I can too!

Hi Tammy,

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Dr. Raftopolous.  Did he do the original surgery?  I work in the healthcare field, ironically at St. Francis Hospital and Medcial Center, and I always tell my patients to ASK QUESTIONS!!  Also, NEVER let a physician bully you.  If he told you to stop making excuses and start excercising, he was way out of line.  Before you make any decisions about the next surgery, make sure you FULLY understand why he wants to do the revision or the band filling, and then YOU can make an educated decision about what procedure YOU want to have done.  Remember, the doctor works for YOU, you don't work for the doctor!

Good luck!

Allison :-)

Hi Allison - Dr. Barba did my original surgery - I just recently switched to Dr. R - this was my second appointment with him. Thanks for your thoughts - you are right - the patients are the employers!

Tammy, first big hugs to you. Now then, down to business: find another doctor. Any doctor who treats a patient this way has no business performing WLS - if he believes it's our "fault" for not being able to lose weight or keep weight off, then the only reason he is performing WLS is for the money - I don't want a doctor like that working on my body; and I certainly don't want him messing with my head. Treat the idea of a revision the same way you treated the idea of your initial WLS - research. Know what your options are. Decide what path is best for you. Then identify the surgeons in our area with the best reputations for delivering your expected outcome. Please, please, please don't waste another moment of your precious life energy feeling bad or defeated or broken - you're not. Just like before, this is about choice - personal choice, and only you are in control of those choices and what they will mean to you and your beautiful family in the end. As you know, I am suffering weight regain right alongside you. I am fighting with all my might - and I consider myself a pretty mighty gal - but I am not winning this war. There are so, so many reasons that we are "up against it" - that we have the odds stacked against us. It is not a simple matter of diet and exercise. I am eating less than 1,000 calories on most days and I am gaining - slowly but nonetheless I am gaining. I have not been active on any support boards for a while but I had to respond to you. Your body is confused, darlin' - it's not your fault. Find another doctor once you've researched and decided upon the procedure you wish to pursue in a revision. I'm right behind you. Be well, Tammy. Don't despair, it's only as bleak as you believe it to be. Choose the sun instead. Maureen

((Maureen)) Thank you - I totally am with you that this weight is not our fault - I mean I know that I don't eat perfect - but I certainly don't eat enough to be an obese person - I know I don't exercise the way I should but there are so many people in the world that don't exercise and aren't fat - it isn't our fault but life is just not fair and that's the truth of life - anyway - preaching to the choir here - I'm not sure I need to rule this doctor out yet - I liked him on the first visit was confused by him on the second visit (I had to hear how is 74 year old father with knee problems gets up and exercises every day - I didn't bother to ask if his 74 year old father was 100 pounds overweight) Anyway - I'm going to see him the end of May - and that is when I'll decide if he is the right doctor for me... so many people adore him as a surgeon and he has a great reputation and track record.

Now as far as you go - have you considered talking to a nutrionist? Maybe you're not eating enough? Are you getting in enough protein? Have you talked to your surgeon?

Thanks for the encouragement!

I switched surgeons for a lot less.  This  would leave me with major trust issues in that relationship.  Get that band checked out by another doc.  Should a band that slpped be left in place much less filled?  Good luck.