LACK of Pre-op Education

It has been an extremely long time since I have posted! It is with a heavy heart that I post this message. First off let me clarify, I do not regret my surgery. I however have a HUGE problem with the amount of education that happens pre-op. I have now watched MANY of my WLS friends divorce and trade food for other addictions. I have heard the stresses and mental changes of WLS compared to those experienced after a sex change. However, before the sex change surgeries are performed over a year of intense therapy is required. Post-op another year. Mine required a 45 minute consultation. I did a lot of my own research but the statistics I have witnessed first hand it I have come acrossed in my research. I would really like to hear of others that fear the surgeons share some responsibility in the misfortunates of some of us experience post-op. I know some will say it is our own responsibility. I have been in counselling since my surgery. However, most shrinks are not aware of the severe changes associated with the surgery. I would like to hear from anyone who feels there is a lack of pre-op education.

I too, feel that there should be more preop AND postop discussions and info....The psychological aspect of all this is very daunting, and it's a change for life....Dede

Dede I have been seeking help on my own but find very few professionals know how to deal with the changes. I am now dealing with other addictions and feel my surgeon has failed me in a lot of ways. I regret not using the board more as I got further out. I encourage you to find a group of people that you feel comfortable with and use the help they can offer. All my best to you on your continued journey! ~Van

hi i understand what your going thru. i have had a hard time with it ive been out for 4 months now ive been in the hospital 4 times. with things happening from the surgery. but im happy i did it. and i have seen pll marrages fall apart from pll having this surgery but thank god mine has gotten 100% better. and i found out i could have had cancer if i didnt have this surgery. because they had to do a test on me after the surgery and found something that would not have beeen found if it was not done and i could have had come down with cancer so thank god for that , and there is help out there for after the surgery thats what wls groups meetings if i didnt have them i think i would go nuts and here to to be able to have ll to chat with. and before i saw my surgen i knew every thing she was going to tell me. i looked up every site i could find before i did this. ty please email me if you need a friend, [email protected]

I agree!! I feel I was given enught information propr to surgery, plus there is a wealth of information available. But I don't think enough information is provided after the surgery. Besides the obvious physical changes there are so many emotional changes. Not to mention how people now respond to us. I believe this education needs to be provided after surgery because prior to we are not going to understand it. We just don't know what we are in for. We are so excited about losing weight and feeling and looking better that it is hard to imaging that some of these wonderful changes are going to be difficult. I have not found the support groups all that helpful for those of us who have been out a while. I had Lap RNY 3+ years ago. Those who are still on the honeymoon don't understand. Plus, they don't always want to hear about some of the downside. Would I do it again? Absolutely! No question. But i do wish there was more out there for those of us who are a little further down the WLS road.

I agree 100%. I think that to many people have this surgery without understanding fully what they are about to go through. Believe me I would have this again in a heart beat. My doctors were excellent about the complications that could happen, when I interviewed with my DX. He asked me what the worst thing that I thought could happen and corrected me when I didn't mention death. They stressed the importance of keeping up with the program, we are required to attend monthly support groups for the first year and then semi annual check ups for up to 5 years. but what I found out was that the support group is like going to an AA meeting. You state your name and mention the kind of surgery you had and maybe a word or two about yourself. It doesn't go into the hard emotional stuff. You may learn about journalling what you eat or how important vitamins are. I have been shocked into how hard the change in my appearance is. My relationships with just about everyone has changed in some way or another and the transfer of addictions is appalling-- luckily the shrink with my office has started small support group meetings, we have been able to accomplish so much more. Unfortunately I am the furthest out patient, I had mine 17 months ago- so I don't have anyone yet to let me know what to expect--- but hey thats why I come here.... again I would have the surgery in a heart beat, I have lost 125 pounds and have had very little problems. donna

I was in no way prepared for how hard mentally things would become. I suffer from emotions prior to surgery, but wouldn't admit I was an emotional eater. I decided to see a therapist who I had saw for a few years. However, he was all wrong for me. Textbook wise, he knew his therapy and psychology. However, he kept trying to drive me into the arms of people I didn't know and trust, support groups. I was not comfortable with this. I had alot of changes in my health care providers in the past year and I'm pretty good at disguising things to make them look not so bad. Overall, I think the $500 for the post op nutritional program was $$ wasted, when I could have so used some theraphy. I do not like the attention my weight loss has drawn, all the compliments and comments. I do not like looking at my body and thinking it's ugly. I do not like the fact I began bing eating, however, it's never too much. I do not like the fact I still don't like who I am after this WLS. And I especailly do not like the food police who have something to say every time I eat something, like it's any of their business. So, I admit I'm an emotional eater. I fired the therapist because he was making appointments with me then making me run 20-40 minutes late getting back to work, during our lunch time sessions. He would be like, tell your manager, they have to work with you. I hate my manager and don't want her to have a fleck of information to use against me. UGh. JT

I can so relate to what you said in this post - I hate my new body, I find myself wearing my "fat" clothes as I feel better in them, my pants fall down, but when I was fat I was happy and I knew who I was, I hate it when people comment on my weight loss and people look at me, to anyone who didn't know me before surgery I just look like an ordinary person, but to all of those who knew me before it is hard for them to understand.  Even my son thinks I took the easy way out by getting this surgery, and that has hurt my heart.  Nothing about this surgery has been easy for me and I am 9 months out and still having problems.  There is not enough support for post op or even pre-op and there is not enough studies being done on the way this surgery effects your heart and your head.  I wish you all the best and share your pain, laughter and tears with you.

I am pre-op and I have been inundated with pre-op education about what to eat, what to watch for re: post surgical complications, what to do with excess skin, but all that my surgeon or insurance company has required of me emotionally is a psych eval.  My insurance company requires a 6 month supervised diet/exercise program supposedly to "increase my chances of sticking to the post-op diet." I believe it is for other reasons, but that is another story.  The reason why most of us are obese is not for physiological reasons (at least not usually exclusively), but for other reasons such as eating disorders, depression, self-image issues and a variety of emotional and mental issues.  We are not told to look inside or work our hearts and minds in this process and as a result those core issues are still there, but just more exposed, like an open wound after wls. Yes, it is our responsibility, but it is also the responsibility of our medical providers to guide us in areas where we have come for help.  As someone who has worked on her weight and other issues with a therapist on and off for years I am fortunate to have someone to work with me through these issues.  I would not begin counseling with him at this point because he doesn't have experience with these issues, but he has colleagues who will work with him behind the scenes and I am comfortable with him.  I went to several therapists before finding one I liked.  Most of them felt distant and soem seemed to talk down on me.  Whenever recommending a therapist to anyone for any reason I have always given the following advice:  1.  Interview them - ask them if they have had experience with your particular issue (in our case, obesity and post-wls issues).  If no, then tell them you would be more comfortable working with someone who has experience in that area and ask for a referral.   If yes, ask them how much experience they have and specifically what kind of issues have they seen after WLS. 2.  Prepare for Your Consultation.  Go to a 1st consulation and write out a one page story of everything in your life that has brought you to WLS or whatever issue you are seeking help with.  The first appointment is usually the most difficult.  In getting a new therapist up to speed you usually go through all of the bad stuff in your life and you do it in an hour.  You then walk away having done nothing but putting it on the table.  Most people are so depressed after a first visit that they want to dive into a giant cheesecake while doing drugs and consuming a toxic amount of alcohol before jumping off of a bridge.  Many people never go back to therapy after 1 or 2 visits for that very reason.  It is much easier to hand over that one page then start talking about details.   3.  Assess then Move On.  After the first meeting assess whether you liked the therapist, whether you felt comfortable with him/her, whether you had respect for his/her opinions and whether you liked his or her approach.  It is often very difficult to tell what you think after the first visit since they are even miserable after meeting with the greatest therapist in the world.  If you have a feeling that you are talked down to, that he/she just doesn't get it or it doesn't feel right for any reason then find another one.  If you think you can work well with that person then promise yourself you will go to at least 4-6 sessions before reevaluating.  Therapy does nothing if you don't go. It is essential that you feel comfortable with a therapist for therapy to work.  Most therapists are book smart. Most therapists will have some patients who rave about him/her, but the bottom line is if you do not trust and respect him/her for any reason it will be a miserable and ineffective experience. Having said that, once you find a good therapist stick with it.  You get to the point where you almost look forward to going and you feel like you have accomplished something by going.  Better yet, many issues will be headed off before they can fully rear their ugly heads if you are working with a therapist BEFORE you are in crisis. It is never too late to start.  For those of you who are having problems, get help now.  There is no reason why you have to struggle through them yourselves.   Jennifer p.s. as an aside, when looking for a therapist most of us would do best with someone who is a behaviorist.  I have personal biases against analysts who walk you back through your childhood and make you relive it.  I think it is harmful except in a few cases. That is just my opinion and many will disagree with that one.

Reading your post is making me feel really blessed that I live close to a wonderful bariatric facility.  I've attended a pre-op support group (and continue to continue attending that).  They also offer a post-op support group.  Then some of the people from that group have formed ANOTHER support group that meets at someone's home.   They also have a book study group.  I also just recently found out that they do regular sky-diving trips (of all things!), and they are going on a pilgrimage, or retreat, together yearly.   I believe that these things are key to optimum success.  They are a support network unlike any other, and I am so grateful that I can be a part of it.