CONFUSED...

OK....I am so confused about the way that I am feeling. Maybe your guys can help me figure it out. I just got back from my appointment with my primary care physican. I made an appointment with him to update him on my decision to begin the journey for WLS. He wasn't rude but he wasn't as excited as I hoped he would be. He really didn't know anything about Dr. Bour. That bothered me. He also didn't seem to know a lot of WLS. When I tried to tell him about it, I felt like he wasn't listening to me. He dismissed what I said with a comment like "I knew that." He did admit that he only has had 2 of his patients have the surgery. He has always been a doctor to believe everyone could lose weight with diet and exercise. When I informed him of the result of all the test my reproductive endocrinologist put me through he agreed that weight loss surgery was a good option. Although I didn't feel that he was excited like me. I still think he feels that I can do it without the surgery but I am beyond this. Been there, done that!! I don't really know what I am feeling. Just disappointment I guess. I guess I'll show him when I lose the weight.... Quick Question..... Has anyone you have heard of not lost a significant amount of weight with this surgery? Rachel

Rachel, Don't be confused Darlin' not everyone including our PCM's agree with WLS. This is not some miracleuos cure for obesity, but instead is a tool to jumpstart us to make healthier choices so we can live a healthier life style. Yes there are some for which this surgery has not been as sucessful as it has been for others. I'm sure the reasons are as different as all of us are. The question I asked myself was, "How hard am I willing to work?" Even now I'm not losing as fast as some others, but I'm not discourage because I know I'm going to give it my all, and that's all any of us can do. So focus on what you need to do, and as Nike says "Just do it!!!...and I'm sure YOU will be surprised at just how successful you will be. I'm cheering for ya!!! Tonya

Rachel, I agree with Tonya. Not everyone is going to be excited about you deciding to have WLS. Many people who are not obese, just can not relate or don't understand what it is truly like to be obese. They may never understand. You have to make this decision for YOU. Not for anyone else. It is not the end all to obesity. You will still have to battle your weight. It is a "tool" and nothing more. The difference after WLS is if you use the tool you will be successful. In the beginning, you will loss weigh no matter what. After the "honeymoon" phase it will be just like anyone else trying to loss weigh. BUT, you will be much smaller and will have adjusted to using your tool.Right now I consume roughtly 600-1000 calories a day. At my present weight, that is not enought to maintain my present weight, so I am losing. As my weight loss increases the amount of calories that I need will decrease. That is where you have to start working at weight loss and maintaining your loss. YOu do that by sticking to your diet and exercising. If you don't follow the plan that Dr. Bour gives you then you may not be as successful. Just like Tonya said, you have to ask your self what you are willing to do and how hard are you willing to work. I have battled my weight for years and I am so glad that I made the decision to have this done. I would do it again in a minute if I had to. I know that I will have to work at this, but now I feel like I am fighting a battle that I can win. So can you!!!!! We will be here to help you!!!!!! Melissa

Thanks to both of you for posting. It made me feel better. I am so excited about getting started. I just went to the mall and got so depressed about buying clothes. I am so ready to get on the losing side!!!! Thanks again!! Rachel

rachel, your doctor doesn't have to be excited. you do. tonya and melissa are dead on (as usual). like they said this is not a miracle cure, it is a tool just as this forum and our support group. the more support you have the better. now, i am in no way saying anything bad about any doctor, i just know that dr. bour is EXTREMELY competent and very knowledgable when it comes to bariatrics. he is a specialist. your PCP is not well versed in reproductive endocrinology so you were sent to a specialist. same goes. we have different doctors for different ailments. you are the only one that can make this decision. and we will support you all the way.

Rachel, Everyone is right. Not all Drs are going to share in your excitement. But we do! This is your decision and sadly there are people out there that believe this surgery is the easy way out. It is not! It takes alot of commitment on your part. And if you already walking the path, then you are committed. Just keep your eyes on the goal and like Tonya said..."Just do it" You have the whole OH family behind you cheering you on. Good luck! Hugs Julie

Hi Rachel I know just how you feel. When I first asked my PCP to put me in for Gastric Bypass, he agreed readily enough. Then he prefaced the whole thing by saying"You know you could do the same thing if you just had your jaw wired shut." It was just ignorance speaking. Now that I have lost 124 pounds he is quite impressed!!! Go figure. Don't be discouraged my dear. Just keep remembering where your TRUE support is ....HERE!!! You will be fine. Half the way is making the decision and it sounds to me like you have done that. Congratulations. Nancy from California

I've had the opposite experience. All my doctors have been supportive of me and it's just my family who don't seem to be excited. This is more so true on the plastics end. I've had 5 rounds of plastic surgery so far and they were there at the hospital waiting with me only on my first. All the others I've driven myself there and went into by myself with other arrangements made to pick me up. Sometimes it was my sister picking me up and other times it was my friends. I had to postpone round 6 of plastics last week because my surgeon agreed that I would get better results if I lost a little bit more before that surgery. When I told my family, I got consistent words of 'you don't need to lose anything more, you're already skinny, you're going to look sick, etc, etc, etc. I even made the comment back that those were not the words of support I would be looking for..... but that is their opinion. I'm a tough girl though and know that I'm doing what's best for me. So as for your PCM, don't worry if he doesn't seem to be excited or supportive. As long as you are, that's all that matters. Good luck!!