Really Ticked! Seeing Internist BEFORE Orientation?

Hi Changes

First, congrats on making this decision  - I know its not easy.  I was one of the first thru St Joes program and I can tell you that all in all I have had a great experience.  We began appointments in a little dingy room off one of the surgical floors and now 7 years since I began, the program has been relocated to the new campus on West 5th.  It used to be a 2 man team - now there are so many nutritionist/nurse practitioners etc etc.

You will likely meet with Dr Taboni as your internest - she is great!

The main thing I wanted to say to you today is keep a lid on your emotions - if you start out from the beginning getting "really ticked" because they want you to see someone - then you might find other things in the process and post surgery difficult.  You have control over this - take it as it comes - follow what they say - and once you are post surgery work the program 100%.

  Don't ever forget how hard you worked or the waiting for appointments and surgery - use this as the gift it is and your last chance to get an even playing field in this war on obesity.  So when you are 3 or 4 months out and maybe you think you deserve a treat - remember what you go thru to get here and work it!

Hello Birdie,

Thanks for taking the time to write. I met with the internist on Friday, Dr. El Sharif, I think. He was very nice. 

Thank you for your suggestion to "keep a lit on my emotions' and for sharing your experience and suggestions for success. I do not believe that I will have any problem with seeing whoever the team feels I need to see (of course, not there yet--but I clearly understand that there may be several appointments awaiting). Where my issue lies is that this appointment was entirely unnecessary. I had asked my family doctor for a referral for surgery. She asked if I was interested in medical interventions (diet, optifast) and I told her no. Yet it appears that she made that appointment anyways.

I will get over this (am almost over this :) ). What's three months? Another three months (or so) will pass and before I know it, I will be at Orientation. My irritation is not with the program--but with my referring doctor. Apologies if I did not make that clear. An analogy: I go to a restaurant--a very very busy restaurant with many customers and few staff. I order a steak rare. The waiter asks, Have you ever tried octopus? I say no, I would like a rare steak. You wait and wait and then the waiter brings  your order. He has brought you the octopus. Because he didn't believe you really wanted the steak despite asking for it twice. So now you have to wait and wait again for the steak. I will enjoy the steak once I get it--and not argue with it. But the waiter probably won't be getting a tip! :) 

Enjoy your day! 

Have a good day!

I don't think he's referring you to the surgical orientation. There is a medical one as well. 

I'd be careful to clarify - once you start a medical program you can't even start the surgical program for a year. 

Good luck with it. 

Hi Bonefish,

Thanks very much for this information. I think my GP did send me for a medical consult, despite my saying to her that I was not interested in that and that I wanted a referral for surgery. She has only been practicing for a little more than a year, so perhaps she was not aware that there was a difference, although it is entirely possible that she feels she knows 'better' than I do about what I want because she thinks medical options are better. Not sure. I have written her a letter to express my dismay at the extra waiting time this will mean. Not sure if she will keep me as a patient, but it won't break my heart if she does not. :)

I did make it very clear to the internist that I was not interested in pursuing diet alone as an option. He sent me for bloodwork (which I have had done) and said once he gets the result he will add me to the registry. But it means at least a three month wait again. Ah well.

Thanks for taking the time to write. I am sure that many new members of this board will find your post valuable.

Carol

My family doctor sent me to get a lot of blood work done before she sent in my referral, so she could include the most recent results with the referral.  She also referred me for a sleep study, which probably wasn't entirely necessary, but I would rather err on the side of caution about these things.  This is not an easy procedure I've signed up for, so if there are any issues that need to be addressed that will make the surgery or recovery easier, I want to do that.  

While I am not quite in your age co-hort (I am 37) I have a BMI of 52, but no significant co-morbidities.  My blood pressure and sugars are fine.  Bloos work is all quite good.  I did have some pain in my knees, but that has improved with time, physio, and exercise.   

Did you agree to participate in the study?  

I hope the next steps in the process are less frustrating for you.

Hi Mindy,

Thanks for writing! Sounds like your are meeting all of the challenges head on and passing them with flying colours! I hope that the two months until surgery fly by for you!

I did not agree to participate! I wanted to wait until I saw the doctor to ask some questions and we both forgot to revisit my participation when the appointment was over. 

Have a wonderful day!