Angry, Frustrated, and Lost

It has been a while since I posted on the boards, but I think this is the best place to find some kind of resolution or at least get a good lead on a direction to go in....

I had my gastric bypass on February 25th 2008. I started out at 275. I am almost 9 months out, and I weigh in at 220. My doctors office is in Columbia, SC. I am with Dr. Tribble and Dr. *****ett.
When my journey originally started back in 2007 with his office they did a great job at helping me out with everything from Tricare to surgery - classes to prepping myself and my family for life after surgery. While some of their staff has changed I am very angry at how their staff pretty much dropped the caring side after my surgery. They have turned me away for my appointments because their office was running several hours behind, they don't return phone calls, and over all don't really seem to care that my weight loss isn't happening.

If I had known I'd have such lack of support and direction I'd have never went through with the surgery. I am just ready to give up on my surgeon's office and hopefully find another who actually cares that I had the surgery and knows the needs of a gastric bypass patient - and are willing to go the distace to meet them.

Please help - anything at all - I'm really lost here.

Hi!  I am mostly lurking these days but saw your post and thought I would offer some advice. First off I am so sorry you are going though that with your surgeon.  Have you actually talked to the surgeon about your frustrations with his/her office.  I know I am allowed to email my surgeon directly if needed.  It may take a few days to get a response but I always get one. If that does not work, I would try finding a Primary Care Physician that is familar with Gastric Bypass patients or even another GI surgeon that is familar.  This is a tough journey and it last the rest of your life.  I am 2.5 yrs out and still count on my surgeon to be there.  I also have a PCP that knows and is familar with my needs now.  I may be wrong but you can have your PCP draw the needed blood work anf follow up care and give a copy to your GB surgeon. 

Hang in there, your weight loss will pick back up.  You will have the stalls and plateaus all through out.  Just do not let it get you down.  Go back to basics and also change up your exercise routine.  Sometimes if you do the same thing over and over your body, for lack of a better phrase, gets use to it and stalls the weight loss.  Before I had the surgery I walked 3 miles 4-5 times a week and could not lose weight.  My eating has something to do with it as well.    But even when I was watching what I ate, I also stalled!  So change up your exercise and concenrtrate on protein first then veggies.  I am trying to get back to that as I have slid alot over the past 6 months.

This is hard!  But you can do it.
I hope this helps
Julie

HI

My name is Chris and I am a lurker...sounds like confession time...

Sorry you are going thru this but I agree with Julie-switch it up and take matters into your own hands. It comes down to what you eat and what you do. I concentrate on the protein also-take the vitamins for everything else. I slip, we all eventually do, but its not whether you slip but if you get back on track and how fast you do get back on track. Surround yourself with successful people, befriend successful WLS people, and and learn from them

Then its also what you do. Even with the Dr and support medical staff, its up to you. You had the surgery, you've been thru one of the hardest parts (the first few months), if you survived and lost 50lbs, you can do the rest. It is just different kind of work and time to switch gears. Exercise is the only answer. And you will plateau, we all do. I ran a total of 26 miles this week---and lost 2 pounds...that is discouraging!! But it is what it is-a plateau and it will pass. Just cannot get discouraged...which is why I have successful people as a back-up to keep me moving and keep me going

I wish you the best-I do not know your Dr, mine is Dr Bour and I have nothing but great things to say about him, and his staff. I am sorry this is happening to you. Time to do for yourself, and change things up....Good luck, always remember the board is here for you

Chris

Chris,

I must say I have not put in 26 miles this week ... I wish I could say I had.... I find your post to be encouraging and something I needed to read. After re-reading what I wrote several times today I did notice something very stupid of me.... my blessings.

There is a new member on our board, Annie B. - she is a WONDERFUL person. She contacted me about a week ago and has since given me a new sense of hope.... she has been VERY successful!! After months of prayers and thru the help of this website, the military, and just good luck in general... I really think Annie is going to help me get on the right track!! I am lucky enough to have her just a few miles from my house!

She has introduced me to a new protein that I DON'T puke up ... and to a number of resources as far as vitamins and nutrition goes. Heck, I even got to out to a movie with her last night ... and that was the first time in YEARS that I had gotten to just go out without my husband or son...

I know this is a journey - such is life - and its what I make of it that counts. I need to get over my pity party - pick myself up - and go back to basics ... and start again.

I am scared however that I may have stretched my pouch. I have zero confirmation that I have but its something that I am scared to death of doing.

Sometimes I get so frustrated at myself - I did 4 years of cancer and you know what - I can do this too - I CAN and I WILL !!!!!!!!!!!   The only reason for failure is because of myself... my choices... and when its all on me... it all adds up to one thing - I'm the SOLUTION to my very own problem.

I will do this thing ... one day at a time, one hour at a time if I have too... but I didn't come this far to screw myself over now.... tomorrow is a new day - - - and I will treat it as such!

WOW-I was going to sit around all day but reading your post---now I am motivated to go out and run...thanks!!
We all have those days-its what you do the next day that counts, but it looks like you have found your angel in Annie.
Good luck to you, the board is always here for you when you need it

Chris