K... guess surgery is out for me for now!

Ya.. ok.... last week was a major trip.

A warning to people exploring the idea of wls.  Don't gain an ounce, don't miss a thing.  I was just about quit with smoking (as required), and had gained 6 lbs that month.  Also, I was supposed to have my sugar checked the Friday before - but the endoscopy ended up holding me there for 8 hours (the surgeon had emergency surgery)...and I missed the blood test.  I figured I could get it the following friday,.. no biggie..  it's not like my A1c would have changed much.

I got so yelled at... I mean  yelled at..... and he YELLED that he would NEVER approve WLS because I am non-compliant.  He wouldn't even let me say that I spent all day in the hospital ... so I just rescheduled the blood test.

This doesn't make me a loser though... but it might make me just another statistic.  I went from 330 to 200 on my own will and kept that off for a couple of years.  During the past two years, I put about 30 - 40 (it fluctuates) back on and I was hoping surgery could help avert another real bad situation.  I'll just have to take another tact...

Picked up some cigs.... and went back to no carbs.  Since the doc's appt (thursday), I'm about 7 lbs down on the scale.  I'm almost completely detoxed of carbs again (I figure another 2 days).

In the interim, I will try to find a more fat friendly doctor.  GOD I MISS MY DOCTOR IN FLORIDA!  I still go see him every 6 months or so.. but it's a 10 hour trip, I couldn't feasibly do that every month for 6 months in a row to meet the 6 month medically supervised diet requirement.

Thanks for your support...... and if it so happens I can get this 6 month thing done elsewhere, and continue with Dr. Chasen (Trinity Bariatrics in Augusta, Ga), then I'll be back. 

WHY IN THE WORLD would you allow anyone, much less the hired help - and that's what your surgeon is - treat you like that???  What is wrong with you??

Find yourself a different doctor.  And while you're at it, make sure you check out the DS surgery.  Maybe this jackoff will turn out to be a blessing in disguise, if it leads you to rethink the procedure you were planning to find one that will work long-term.

It is my firm belief that some bariatric surgeons are among the worst fattie-hating people on this planet.  Like some cops, the absolute WRONG people are drawn to the profession, because it gives them a literal bully pulpit from which to abuse the people they despise.

Let me be clear.....   

It was not the surgeon or his staff who mistreated me.  Dr. Chasen and his staff are WONDERFUL, UNDERSTANDING people.  Dr. Chasen even told me not to worry about the weight I might gain as I quit smoking.  In the long run, I would be better off NOT smoking.

My insurance required a 6 month medically supervised diet - so I hooked up with the family practice which has a building just yards away from the surgeon and the hospital (all in the same place,... made it easier since I don't know the area).

My visit with the MD was scheduled for the 23rd.... so I had planned to get the blood test he wanted the Friday before.  That was the same day my endoscopy was scheduled.  This would have worked out since I couldn't eat or drink anything anyway - except.. the surgeon had an emergency, and a bunch of us got pushed back (perfected understandable).... so as I'm nearing 20 hours of no fluid, my throat was DAYEM parched by the time I got the test.....   so I just rescheduled the blood test for the following Friday.  I didn't think it would make much of a difference.. my A1c wasn't going to change drastically in 7 days. 

The MD wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise.  He just did his best to humiliate me... and ordered his staff to refund my money for the office visit.  Frankly, I've never seen anything like it... I was stunned all day.

There is nothing wrong with me - but let me tell you, I've endured a lot of indignities over the years because I'm fat......   I wasn't going to sit there and let this man bring me to tears in front of all of those people.  I just hit the door asap - sat in my car until I stopped shaking so I could drive... made like a shepherd and got the flock outta there!

Again.. let me say that Dr. Chasen.. the surgeon... is a VERY cool guy... and I met a few people who work at his practice who have had the surgery.. and are very supportive.  This guy has nothing to do with that practice.

Wow...that sounds pretty awful!! Can you change PCPs? I wouldn't want to see that doc for anything after the behavior you described!

Dr. Blaney is my surgeon. You are right, their office staff is pretty great.

Hang in there, don't let this one person stand in your way.

Best of luck,
Lindsey

I was 5 months into this 6 month thing... I juggled schedules, made arrangements..... one after the other so I could meet all the requirements -  I don't know if I have it in me to do it all over again.

On the 23rd (the day I saw that doctor) I was also supposed to go to their support/seminar (?) from 2 - 5 -      I was so rattled that I got in bed and didn't move.  I was going to go anyway, but this guy's words just kept smacking me in the face "there's NO WAY I'd approve you for surgery", so I realized that it would have been nothing more than a lesson in futility.  What would I be hoping to accomplish by showing up to this thing if the doctor wouldn't approve me anyway?

One very immutable fact - I am sensitive to many medications and will put on a lot of weight !  I do this with xanax (can do 12 - 17 lbs in 8 days) so I have been putting up with the effects of the anxiety instead of taking them (so I could try to comply with this weight loss requirement).   I saw this with the chantix, just not on such a grand scale.  I put 6 lbs on in 3 weeks.  Being free of nictotine is mandatory to have the surgery though, so I gave it priority.  I guess I should have tried to learn just what these people expect.  ie:  losing a certain amount of weight is mandatory THEN quit smoking when no one is monitoring every ounce I gain or lose.

You shouldn't have to start all over with a New PCE. Fet the past 6 montyhs records from the PCP from hell and take them to your NEW PCP. The one more month with the PCP doesn't matter if it a new PCP as long as you have the 6 months of visits.

Maybe your surgeon can recommend a PCP who is more tolerant of obese people. Good luck,
Holly

It is too bad your surgeon doesn't have a bariatric program that helps you along with your pre-op plan. At Weight Wise in Edmond I see a dietician, exercise physiologist and the surgeon once a month. I'm also required to go to support group once a month. It's all in the same building and my primary physician knows these doctors personally and is right next door.

I cannot imagine a doctor yelling at me. I used to be very tolerant of bad situations but as I'm getting older I fight back a lot more when I'm being wronged. I'd want to report that doctor for the mistreatment. Most doctors these days can be found on various sites where you can add a review. Go ahead and have at them and get some frustration out.

I hope you find the right team of doctors and support to help you on your journey. Bad doctors drive me nuts. Especially the ones who act like your crazy or overreacting because after all "all your problems are because your fat" (sarcasm intended).

Good luck with your future plans.

See if your suregeon's office can recommend you to a doctor that will be friendly and approve you.  Good luck

You shouldn't have to put up with that.  That physician is EVIL!

I will ditto what Becca said.   That practice has a wonderful reputation.  I am sure they have several WLS friendly primary care physicians.  

You are a better person than I am. I would so be reporting him to the medical boad and any one who would listen! I would make it my mission in life to make him feel as bad as he made me feel. Get your records and finish up with another doctor. You shouldn't have to suffer because he's an ass.