can you change drs after surgery???
Has anyone ever changed drs afterwards? Can I do that? I think I need to be seeing someone else. I haven't been happy with that practice since my pre op visit but I was so close to surgery date I didn't want to change then. I have not been happy ever since. They cancelled the first appt without telling me. The second/rescheduled appt was cancelled and again rescheduled due to snow that didn't even happen until that evening. Third appt (this one) they called and tried to reschedule but my work schedule wouldn't allow the change they wanted so we kept it the same. I have never delt with an office like this. I know some people who love this practice. Makes me wonder if I am going nutty.
Sandra,
I know you have been having a problem with this office for awhile, and I am sorry that it isn't getting any better, but I would encourage you to hang in there. I know that Helen is gruff and not much on personality, but she is like that with everyone, so I would just ignore it as much as you can. You know how you feel you're doing, and that's all that matters. I have never had an appointment to be rescheduled there, so I have to think that you are just being way unlucky with all of the supposed snow and such. I'm thinking that the inability to reschedule for this last visit because of your work schedule, which I know you can't do anything about, might be the reason that you weren't able to see Dr. Miles this last time. I think I saw him for the first time at my 3 month visit, so it might be that he wasn't able to be there that day and that's why you had to see Helen instead. Just a thought. I'm sure you've already made your return appointment, but I would suggest calling back and telling the receptionist that you want to make sure that your next appointment is actually for Dr. Miles, because you haven't seen him since your surgery. She should be able to tell you who is supposed to see you. If it's not him, then ask her to find you a different day (convenient for you) when you can be assured that you see him. I would wait until you see him in person before you make any decisions about changing surgeons. I would also suggest coming to the support group meeting in April. I know it's a long way away, but Kim (who leads the support group meetings) works closely with Dr. Miles, and I know that she would be receptive to your concerns and would take them back to him. Plus, I think she even said that she was going to try to get Dr. Miles to come and speak at the next meeting anyway, so that might be a good thing for you too. Just hang in there! It sounds like you're doing well, no matter what Helen says!
Meredith
I know you have been having a problem with this office for awhile, and I am sorry that it isn't getting any better, but I would encourage you to hang in there. I know that Helen is gruff and not much on personality, but she is like that with everyone, so I would just ignore it as much as you can. You know how you feel you're doing, and that's all that matters. I have never had an appointment to be rescheduled there, so I have to think that you are just being way unlucky with all of the supposed snow and such. I'm thinking that the inability to reschedule for this last visit because of your work schedule, which I know you can't do anything about, might be the reason that you weren't able to see Dr. Miles this last time. I think I saw him for the first time at my 3 month visit, so it might be that he wasn't able to be there that day and that's why you had to see Helen instead. Just a thought. I'm sure you've already made your return appointment, but I would suggest calling back and telling the receptionist that you want to make sure that your next appointment is actually for Dr. Miles, because you haven't seen him since your surgery. She should be able to tell you who is supposed to see you. If it's not him, then ask her to find you a different day (convenient for you) when you can be assured that you see him. I would wait until you see him in person before you make any decisions about changing surgeons. I would also suggest coming to the support group meeting in April. I know it's a long way away, but Kim (who leads the support group meetings) works closely with Dr. Miles, and I know that she would be receptive to your concerns and would take them back to him. Plus, I think she even said that she was going to try to get Dr. Miles to come and speak at the next meeting anyway, so that might be a good thing for you too. Just hang in there! It sounds like you're doing well, no matter what Helen says!
Meredith
I guess I was just faced with what I was trying so hard to ignore. That is that I am not losing the weight as quickly as I should. I know that Dr Miles had said at my pre op appt that he didn't think I would go below 200 lbs. I was 291 at the time. I was really upset about that and wanted to prove him wrong. I guess he was right. They say that you loose most of your weight in the first 6 months. If I continue to lose at 2 lbs a week, I will have lost only 26 more lbs for a total of 72 lbs. I won't even be under 200. I don't want to give up on my goal of 145 but it seems like all the professionals are tellling me that I won't get there. I am trying really hard not to feel defeated. I am just wallowing right now I guess.
Sandra,
Who is to say what you 'should' be losing anyway? Despite what anyone says or what your long term goals are, you have to look at the fact that you have lost 45 pounds in less than 3 months!! Have you ever lost that much weight in such a short time period?! I'm guessing not. I know I sure haven't! What you have accomplished so far is amazing for YOU, and whether it's more or less than anyone else is something you can't let yourself consider. Everyone's body is different. I see people on this board who have lost the same amount of weight as I have in a much shorter time period and then there are others who had surgery much earlier than me and still haven't lost as much as I have. Just because your body is moving at a different pace than other people doesn't mean that you won't eventually get to your goal. You have to just keep pressing forward and, like you said, prove all of the doubters wrong. If you will look at many of the weight loss tickers on here, you will see that some people have listed what their dr's goal weight is for them and then listed separately what their own goal weight is for themselves, and many of them are already past what their doctors told them! I have a band and started out at 248 lbs. Dr. Miles' goal for me is 180 lbs, which is only about 70% of my excess weight. He says that statistically, that's what most bandsters lose. But my goal for myself is 145, and there is no way that I'm going to be satisfied with 180. I'm 6 months out now, and I'm at 192. The weight loss has really slowed to the point that I'm down to about 1 lb a week, but even if it means that I've got to keep going at that pace for another 47 weeks (or longer), I'm going to keep working at it because I know that I've got it in me, and this is what I had this surgery for. It's all about what's in your head and your heart. This surgery will give back what you put into it, but for some people like us, it just takes longer to reap those benefits. Keep your head high and keep pushing forward. The only thing that you need to be ignoring is the expectations that other people want to force on you. I know you can do it, and I can too, so we'll just keep moving together! Good luck and God bless!
Meredith
Who is to say what you 'should' be losing anyway? Despite what anyone says or what your long term goals are, you have to look at the fact that you have lost 45 pounds in less than 3 months!! Have you ever lost that much weight in such a short time period?! I'm guessing not. I know I sure haven't! What you have accomplished so far is amazing for YOU, and whether it's more or less than anyone else is something you can't let yourself consider. Everyone's body is different. I see people on this board who have lost the same amount of weight as I have in a much shorter time period and then there are others who had surgery much earlier than me and still haven't lost as much as I have. Just because your body is moving at a different pace than other people doesn't mean that you won't eventually get to your goal. You have to just keep pressing forward and, like you said, prove all of the doubters wrong. If you will look at many of the weight loss tickers on here, you will see that some people have listed what their dr's goal weight is for them and then listed separately what their own goal weight is for themselves, and many of them are already past what their doctors told them! I have a band and started out at 248 lbs. Dr. Miles' goal for me is 180 lbs, which is only about 70% of my excess weight. He says that statistically, that's what most bandsters lose. But my goal for myself is 145, and there is no way that I'm going to be satisfied with 180. I'm 6 months out now, and I'm at 192. The weight loss has really slowed to the point that I'm down to about 1 lb a week, but even if it means that I've got to keep going at that pace for another 47 weeks (or longer), I'm going to keep working at it because I know that I've got it in me, and this is what I had this surgery for. It's all about what's in your head and your heart. This surgery will give back what you put into it, but for some people like us, it just takes longer to reap those benefits. Keep your head high and keep pushing forward. The only thing that you need to be ignoring is the expectations that other people want to force on you. I know you can do it, and I can too, so we'll just keep moving together! Good luck and God bless!
Meredith
I Sandra. My name is Stephanie. I too felt frustrated at how slowly my weight was coming off in the beginning. In fact, during the first 4 weeks, I was losing muscle and water and not so much fat. When they checked my weight from week 4 to week 6, I had only lost 2 or 3 pounds. I was so disappointed. However, I was told that was good because I had gained muscle and lost fat. That is why my weight had not changed much. Now at my 3 month appointment, I was told I lost 10 pounds of fat in 3 weeks and gained one pound of muscle and 2 pounds of water. My doctor has never told me a goal weight to achieve. He said it is not how much I weigh, but what my weight is made of. In other words, he wants me to build up muscle in order to help burn the fat. By gaining the muscle, sometimes my weight does not change for awhile or as quickly as other people who have had the surgery. I have set a personal goal of 160 to achieve, but whether or not I'll get to it, I do not know. If I am meant to be in the low 200's then that is the weight I need to maintain by eating right and exercising. If I won't be able to do a happy dance by seeing a 1 on my scale, I'll definitely do it when I can finally ride on a roller coaster again without help from someone to fasten me in. I'll be happy when I can ride on an airplane without an extension belt. I'll be happy to sit in an auditorium seat next to someone without my arms spilling over to the seats next to me. Please be patient, taking life one day at a time, and don't let anyone make you feel anything but successful and proud.
Hi Stephanie. I have decided to be happy no matter what the office says. I went into my closet yesterday and filled 3 knee high rubbermaid containers with clothes that no longer fit me. I donated them today along with 6 kitchen trash bags of clothes from my son's closet. It has been since about 2002 that I have been at the weight I am at now. In 1995 I had lost weight going down from 300 lbs to 145lbs. I stayed at that weight for about a year and then gained about 20 lbs. By 2000 I was at 200 lbs. After that I gained about 20lbs a yr until I was at 311 lbs in 2008. Scary how fast it seemed to come on. But I am losing it much faster than I gained it so I should be very happy. Not only am I 68 lbs from my highest, I have a clean closet! 
It made me laugh to read what some of your goals were. I cannot wait until I can ride a rollercoaster. I hate going to back to school night because I cannot fit into the desks and I stand in the back at the wall. I don't like spilling into the seat next to me at the movies etc. Airplanes are so uncomfortable. I feel so sorry for the squished person beside me. I have gone from 311 to 243 and I can already feel/see the difference. I cannot wait for another 50 to go. It has been a great experience. I will not let the rn's attitude change that for me.
I really hadn't thought about muscle. I have definitely gained a lot of muscle. I can feel them in my legs, butt, arms and shoulders. I can actually flex my pecs! thanks for the upbeat talk. I was just wallowing but I am done now.
It made me laugh to read what some of your goals were. I cannot wait until I can ride a rollercoaster. I hate going to back to school night because I cannot fit into the desks and I stand in the back at the wall. I don't like spilling into the seat next to me at the movies etc. Airplanes are so uncomfortable. I feel so sorry for the squished person beside me. I have gone from 311 to 243 and I can already feel/see the difference. I cannot wait for another 50 to go. It has been a great experience. I will not let the rn's attitude change that for me.
I really hadn't thought about muscle. I have definitely gained a lot of muscle. I can feel them in my legs, butt, arms and shoulders. I can actually flex my pecs! thanks for the upbeat talk. I was just wallowing but I am done now.
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