Taking the first step.......

ShelliR
on 6/19/04 1:01 am - West Kingston, RI
I'm going to the mandatory seminar that Dr. Pohl requires before his initial consultation. I go on July 1st....and I can't wait. I see my M.D. on June 30th to let her know that I have come to this decision. I'm scared and nervous and oh so excited that I just can't talk about anything else. I'm nervous about the psych evaluation (no, I'm not crazy)....(or am I...LOL). Anyway, I hear it's very stressful and traumatic. Does anyone know what they're trying to determine? Common sense tells me that they just want to be sure that you're doing this for the right reasons and that you're determined to succeed and will follow the Dr.'s and nutrionists guidelines. However, I'm told that it's much deeper than that and it makes me nervous. The reason I'm nervous is because I'm one of those sensitive types....you know...the one that cries at the Kodak commercials or at the Pick a Pet of the Week because I feel so bad for them and want to go adopt them all. Will I pass this evaluation or will they bring out my super sensitive side and have me leave there a quivering mass of goo? Help!!
kenziesmommy
on 6/19/04 3:07 am - Riverside, RI
Ok, here ya go My opinion: I went for my psych a few months back and to me it was as easy as can be. She just asked me straight forward questions. eg: Do you have an eating disorder? Are you in an abusive relationship? Do you have help now and will you have help in the future with your weight loss? What are your plans in the future? Have I tried commiting suicide or think about it? etc......... I thought those were questions I expected to be asked. I was never nervous because I figured if I just told her the truth then I wouldn't have to worry about later saying something different ya know. It was a very quick visit with her. I actually waited much much longer in the waiting area. OK, now to let you know what to basically expect.... I went to his seminar last October. They tell you it is three hours long. Now depending on how many times he is stopped and how many millions of questions he is asked it can go faster or slower. I happened to attend on a night where a person discussed every thing that went on in her life since birth. I think it was almost 3.5 hours by the time he finished. He told us there was no need to take notes because everything he goes over is in your packet. At the end of the seminar everyone gets into al ine and they pass out the packet. Inside is all the info you could possibly need on botht he Lap Band and the RNY, it may have other ones but those are the only ones I was interested in. There is also a sheet with all the tests you need to have done. He gives you the people and numbers to call. I thought it was pretty cool because I hate having to call people that aren't familiar with my doctor and his procedures. I started making appointments right away but you can do it at your own leisure. My first appointment was in November and my last one was in May. It took that long for me but who knows for each individual person. I also never called to see about cancelations. When I had my sleep study I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I also went to see an ENT because the sleep doctor (Dr Millman) said I needed to have my tonsils out before I could even attempt tp have the by-pass. I ended up having a UPPP. They removed my tonisls, uvula, scraped my pallette and removed cartalidge from my nose. Took about a month to heal. I now have a cpap. My ENT thought it would be good to have it before the surgery so I am use to it for when I come home after the by-pass. All the other appointments are pretty ok. The gal bladder u/s wasn't all that bad but laying there for a long time made my back hurt. I just shut my mouth and took it. Usually they let you stop when you can't handle the pressure of being on your back. I just wanted to get it over with. The HIDA scan wasn't fun for me. The first part wasnt all that bad but when the doctor injected that stuff into my I/V it made me very ill. It came and went pretty fast but still it was a little unpleasant. Not everyone goes through that the tech said but I was one that did. Still though, it wasn't all that awful. I felt fine afterwards. I only need to have the scope and from what I have read most people have no complaints. I highly reccomend that you read others profiles. I have learned alot about what to expect. I look in all the states. I really enjoy seeing the before and afters. I also like reading about ups and downs because it makes me more in tune with what can happen, what does happen and how each person managed to survive through it all. I hope everything goes great for you. Oh BTW, when I was going to meet with my PCP about wanting to have the surgery I was so nervous that he wasn't going to say YES, I should have it. Funny thing was, he was so nice about it (which usually isn't him) and didn't even give me one second of a problem. He said I should have it and he supports me all the way. If you need any more of my own personal advice or just want to talk to someone you can e-mail me @ [email protected] HTH's Shannon
ShelliR
on 6/19/04 9:23 pm - West Kingston, RI
Thank you for such a thorough response. I've been wandering through this site for some time, just reading and soaking up experiences and information. Like you, I'm just trying to get a feel for what I can expect and don't want to jeapardize the possibility of having surgery. But what you said about just being honest and letting the chips fall where they may is probably the best advise I've heard. I had never intended to decieve, but was fearful of my honest answers.......but my thinking is that they would prefer an honest, forthright answer, than one that seems contrived and rehearsed. I think I'm still gonna be a bit nervous and I actually believe that it's more anxiousness than anything. I just very much want to be approved and get a surgery date........then I'll be a little better......but still nervous! LOL. Thanks Shannon! Thank you for the encouragement and the honest portrayal of what I can expect. That's exactly what I was looking for.
Jacqueline C.
on 6/19/04 4:36 am - Woonsocket, RI
Michele, I just completed my psych eval this past Tuesday. I don't know if Dr. Pohl uses the same team as Dr. Harrington, but I can tell you that the evaluation, while long and comprehensive, is only as stressful as you allow it to be. In my case, I had a 3-hour interview with one doctor, followed up by a short interview (20 mins.) with the psychiatrist. The purpose of the evaluation is two-fold: to see whether or not you have any mental illness issues that might make surgery risky for you, and to insure that you understand the seriousness of the surgery and the subsequent changes it will make in your life. I was nervous because I had a suicide attempt 18 years ago when my husband filed for divorce, and I knew that qualified as a major depressive episode. I was honest about it, plus all of the psychotherapy that I received over the years after that incident. They were more interested in knowing what I had done to help myself afterward, and my willingness to seek help if I need it, than they were in the dumbness of the action. You'll probably talk about your background, you eating habits, why and when you eat...the stuff that you probably expect to talk about. Please try not to stress over it, and if you're nervous when you get there, tell them right up front. I'm sure they expect it. Be honest with them, and the chances are you'll do just fine. In my case, I knew the results before I left the office that day, and I'm sane (or maybe just crazy enough to do this?? ) Jackie
mary S.
on 6/19/04 9:44 am - anywhere, VT
Oh Dr. Pohl is still doing lapband surgeries?? One person on this site went to one of his seminars and said that he was kind of negative about the lapband. My daughter had that surgery and almost died from it. I certainly would think twice about having this done!!!
ShelliR
on 6/19/04 9:16 pm - West Kingston, RI
I'm sorry about the bad experience that you and your daughter had to go through, but if I may be honest........I find your insensitive manner of presenting it to me to be rather disturbing. Is it your wish to frighten me away from the surgery itself or from the surgeon? I will take your comments in the manner in which (I'm hoping) they were given....which is with good faith and with a concience. Best of luck to you and your daughter.
DivaRN71
on 6/19/04 8:48 pm - RI
Michelle, I had the psych eval done, and even though I hated it , it was more because it was a nuscience to me than anything, thats all. It is very comprehensive, which is a good thing to rule out other disorders. I am supersensitive myself and get all upset over the smallest things (even more so toward animals now since I got my pug puppy ). Are you my evil twin You'll be fine, just sit on the soft seats to save your tush. I do wish you the best. Welcome to the journey. In response to the inappropriate comment pasted by another individual, I had the lap band by Dr Pohl and I am doing just fine. Dr Pohl never said a negative thing about the lap band, and he is doing more of them every day. Which ever surgery you choose (and I see that you did not mention anything) is a personal decision and both of the surgeries although associated with risk have great outcomes for those of us who have suffered from obesity for years. I am sorry that had to be put in your reply section. To put an end to the issue I am going to report the comments made by that individual to the Obesityhelp.com people,and perhaps I will also bring it to Dr Pohl's attention if continues. It is an unneccessary harrassment for everyone on this board, it's slanderous, and I for one am sick of it. Best wishes Michelle, you're in great hands !!!! Stephanie
mary S.
on 6/20/04 2:36 am - anywhere, VT
I am responding to your reply. I never said that Dr. Pohl did my daughters surgery . I said that someone else said that he was negative about the lapband at one of his seminars. Actually he hasn't done that many of them, around 40, and the consenous is that the surgeon should have done around 100 of them to be really experienced. I am not harrassing anyone . I am trying to tell people what can happen with AGB surgery. It is not an inapporpiate comment. I think people should know that this could happen to them too. I am sure Dr. Pohl is a excellent surgeon . I never said he wasn't did I??? I personally think it's not a good idea to put a foreign object into you body. I also see on these message boards that people are doing these surgeries just too look good. I thought it was a matter of life or death before you resort to any WLS? I have a right to freedom of speech!!!!! I am not being slanderous . What happened to my daughter is a fact.
DivaRN71
on 6/20/04 5:54 am - RI
I am going to close this reply by saying this, I can go back find all the links to your posts where you absolutely mention Dr Pohl and Roger Williams Medical Center, but quite frankly, I am tired of it. Why don't you post these things to Dr Roye's or Dr Harrington's patients, because your agenda is with Dr Pohl and with anyone having the lapband done. You have done the same thing on the lap band message board. This girl did not say one word about having the lap band done, all she said was she was a patient of Dr Pohl's. People can find out what can happen during any WLS from attending a seminar or going to the Inamed website themselves. Your agenda is to frighten people when they are already vulnerable and nervous about it to begin with. Foreign objects in bodies include total hip and knee replacements, pacemakers, titanium and metal plates, cartilage replacements, heart valves and stents,dialysis and cerebral shunts, stomach staples and lap bands which all serve a purpose to make someone healthy and productive. As part of the weight loss process, you will look good in the end, it's a bonus and a perk.This isn't cosmetic surgery if it were it would be done by a plastic surgeon. You can't have the surgery with out meeting medical criteria. Whatever they need to feel better about themselves is what it's about and up to a surgeon, psychiatrist and the patient to decide. What you write on the boards is your interpretation of what happened, oddly enough not your daughter's. If it were my daughter I would be supporting her, not spending my days writing on message boards. Here are some definitions, thanks to Webster: Main Entry: [1]li·bel Pronunciation: 'lI-b&l Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, written declaration, from Middle French, from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber book Date: 14th century 1a : a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression b (1) : a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt (2) : defamation of a person by written or representational means (3) : the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures (4) : the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a libel Main Entry: slander Function: noun Etymology: Middle English sclaundre, slaundre, from Old French esclandre, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense --more at SCANDAL Date: 14th century 1 : the utterance of charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation 2 : a defamatory oral statement about a person -- compare LIBEL Use those as a means of helping you, because they could be used against you in a court of law, your lawyer could tell you that, freedom of speech or not.
lisa20
on 6/20/04 6:47 am - attleboro, ma
AMEN! I also remember all the negative links posted by Mary regarding Dr. Pohl. And if Iam not mistaken they were right before your surgery, Stephanie. I feel that if Mary's daughter had researched well enough she would have known about ALL the risks. Dr. Pohl makes them VERY clear both at his seminar and at his appointments. Thank you Stephanie for wording your post so well!! Lisa
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