QUestion

Last night I attended a support group meeting and learned that there are doctors who do not accept people who have Bipolar as patients for WLS. This has me puzzled. How are there so many post ops with bipolar? Is this not true for most doctors? I know several who have had WLS who have Bipoloar or do people purposely not tell bariatric surgeons this because they know they'll get denied?

well i chose to "forget" about my neurologist that ive seen for my migraines because they found out nothing was wrong with me because they never called me back.. (i happen to work for the hospital and read my own stuff) so i can see why people would leave things out...but i would be pretty pissed if they chose not to do my surgery because im on medicine for anxiety

My therapist and I spoke the need for pre and post surgical therapy. I feel that there should be mandatory psych follow up after the surgery.  According to my therapist, this is something that can not be mandated.  Many patients do not follow up with their physicians after any type of surgery. Once the surgery is over, the patient goes on with their life. This is for any type of surgery.

We know that WLS surgery is on the torso and not on the brain.  So to be successful, one has to determine why one overeats. Therapy might be beneficial.  I suggested that surgeons point this out as another of the tools that we need.  If the patient can avail themselves of therapy or counseling then they can begin pre surgery.

Because the cost of the additional psych visits maybe cost prohibitive for some, many surgeons offer support groups. It is up to the individual patient to take advantage of the information that is available to them.  We all have to be our own best medical advocate. 

We live in a metropolitan area that offers so many centers, support groups and community health services.  I feel for my fellow WLS post ops that do not have the opportunities that we do.

I haven't been back to that meeting since.  I'm afraid to talk about what is really "eating" me because of the same kind of response you got there.  It's all roses and no negative, everyone is glowing like they did the first time they had sex!!  It's too funny to look at all these people like they have their addiction licked, when the in reality the journey is just beginning.  I agree that depression and bipolar and still dealing with the real life are real issues post op but nobody wants to take a deeper look.  It's best to keep everything rosey and positive because that is what sells surgery ....and these meetings are like a marketing tool for Dr. Ahmad.  I empathize with your frustration.