Not trying to be mean, merely concerned

Okay so I went to my blended diet meeting on Thursday and it was quite interesting. I don't know if it was because I have been researching WLS for so long (2+ years on this site and others) or if it is that I am (in 5 months) a nurse but I knew allready everything that that the nutritionist told us we needed to know and expect the first 4 weeks post op from surgery. Now that being said, just because I know it now does not in any way mean that I wont mess up once in a while (we never know do we). My point is...there were few, only a few, people there *****ally seemed to have no idea what to expect from surgery, what they can and cannot eat post op, even didn't know what meds/vitamins needed to be taken. I am merely concerned that people aren't ready and I hate to see anyone fail or worse get really sick. I have spent soooo long looking into this I just hope every pre-op researches what they are about to do so that there are no big suprises.

Katie

PS...good luck to everyone. Surgery date is 12/15 I can do this!!!!

I go to 2-3 support groups a month. I am post-op and I go to offer advice if needed and because I'm STILL learning something new every day!

I too have noticed a lot of "clueless" people but most of those people are new to WLS. For a lot of them it is their first support group and they are trying to take on information from the person doing the group and all the post-ops giving feedback can be VERY overwhelming!

Every day is a learning process for me and I'm 6 months post-op. I sometimes still don't know if I can take a certain med. My PCP will want to put me on something new and I'm like "well, let me ask my surgeon first", because I don't know!

Good luck with your surgery!

I think your concern is well founded.  Some of us are very lucky to have access to and the skills to use the internet to our advantage.  Not everyone has the ability or knowledge to do the kind of research into this that we can.  in fact, many people enter the WLS process because of their limited health information resources.  I have found those people to be very vocal at support groups and in the blended food class that I attended.  They WANT to learn and they are taking advantage of what the hospital is giving them.  Another thing i've seen up close is that people are intimidated by doctors and don't question them.  These groups without the docs give them a chance to speak up.

I do web research for a living, so i have an edge when it comes to these things.  My mother knows how to check her email and play solitaire on her computer...

Our job is to help those that we can in support group.  They will make it, they're just taking a different route.

Best of luck on your surgery!  You are in good hands at Newton Wellesley.  I loved everyone on Usen 6. 

Perhaps we'll see you on the 12/11 meeting.

Sue

it does seem the degree of information given and the post op diets are so massivly variable its hard not to wonder...I k now one patient that had surgery last week id looking forward to mashed potato for thanksgiving...and I will have to wait at least 6 more weeks...  I am going with my nutritionist and that 's it....But I am also glad for the staff I am working with and the very simple and well laid out nutritin plan they have for me.  

This website is a fountain of knowledge too and I think all of us who participate have a huge knowledge base to find out whatever we need ...I am so grateful for OH and the strenght in numbers it provides...Onwards to all of us...

to coin an overused phrase..together we can!!!

It seems that different doctors and nuts have very different plans for eating after the surgery -- it's probably not that the patient is confused, she may just have a different plan.

I don't go to support groups, because that drives me APE**** 

yep..I think i am keeping my mouth shut about my post op diet...i think my Nut (lovingly described...she is awesome..)  is one of the strictest around.   That said I respect the reasoning.  I am such an obsessive type that putting some time between me and dealing with food overly much is probably a healthy disipline at this point.    My initial results will probably show it too...
Can't help the world but I can help me....

5 days out and feel fine but sore...off th the vitamin guy in town to get set up...( he has asister that had the surgery and is a good guy aging hippy so I hope he has what i need..)  then a wall mart walk..( how pathetic but its indoors and its 20 freaking degrees out..we have no bigger place in town..)    thanks, friends and good luck to all of us....

blither blither cluck cluck.....sue

Aging hippy.  You just described our mall Santa. 

Hi Katie, I'd love to respond to your post, it's a great topic - before I do, however, I need to tell folks I've been "visiting" your Board for a few weeks - live just over the border, a Connecticut Yankee! Is it ok that I drop in to say hello and chat a bit? I'm an old-timer, nearly 5 years out from my bypass surgery in 2004 - this seems like a lively group! Take care, all. Maureen