how do you know it's right?

Okay advice like that I would know right off the bat was wrong. My eleven yr old is even too old for those. That and in that flipping novel I got from one of the 4 classes I got actually has it in there that gummy vitamins,Flintstones ect are in the "no" column, just like the "whey shots" and calcium carbonate.That flipping book and the last class cost me $290 dollars! Ridiculous =x  Between the surgeons office and my PCP's office, it seems like I am at one or the other weekly to check something or meet their NUT or the psychologist. I was excited to get my revision surgery so now I dont have to pay for my million visits for 90 days. 30 bucks a visit does get pricey. That and in a moment of "I worked all night I should be sleeping now"  weakness, I signed up for some research program they are doing. =/ I just hate being told all doctors are wrong. All the surgeons at the practice I go too work their asses off and  their staff is very qualified. They have said the same things Kelly said and have it all wrote down. The one lady that does the classes has been working in WLS for 30 years...She knows her stuff. Now if they would all quit calling me in the morning and wait until after 3 pm, Id be a happy camper.

I never said all doctors are wrong.  In fact, in another thread I specifically said that I was NOT trying to suggest that your doctors are wrong.  What I was asking here was how people know that their doctors are right?  Which actually suggests that I think doctor are right, at least sometimes.

I'm glad to hear all your health care providers are 100% right 100% of the time.  Unfortunately, some of us are not that lucky.  My surgeon told me to take calcium carbonate, that I did not need to take any iron at all, and that drinking soda would stretch my pouch.  Clearly he was wrong about some things.

I deleted my original post because as my gramma used to say "if you dont have anyting nice to say, dont say anything at all" and after all, it's Christmas.


Kelly, I appreciate everything you have to offer this website. Your family and friends must feel lucky to have you.

Just because YOU have surgeons who provide adequate, reliable information does mean that everyone does for Heaven's sake!!!  MANY people here are given BAD information from their surgeons and nutritionists and they blindly trust them when they are to,d the protein bullets are fine, gummy vitamins are fine as long as they take two, etc.  Also, not everyone bothers to question what they are told... not everyone, perhaps, is as intelligent as you when it comes to health matters.

No one ever said ALL doctors are wrong.  I think you should read Kelly's post again.  The information
she provides is the only GOOD information some people here get when it comes to vitamins and I think her question was an important one.

Lora

I don't think anyone is accusing doctors of INTENTIONALLY giving out wrong information. WLS is an elective procedure so along with the business of our health, they need skinny, healthy people as marketing devices (and let's not forget the fact that most bariatric surgeons practice because they are passionate about eradicating obesity). So that is to say it would behoove them to give you correct information so that you live a long, happy and healthy life.

However, like in any profession, new developments happen. New studies, new findings. This is where I think many surgeons get tripped up. If they don't keep up in the bariatric medical world they don't know that their advice might be outdated. Like I said above, my surgeon is great and I adore him but he did not know that I was not supposed to take vitamin D2 from a gel cap for my deficiency. I had to print out information and give it to him. Once he was aware he changed how he advised others, but surgeons are not God. They make mistakes, they fall behind on their reading and some allow their belief systems to dictate how they practice medicine.

This does not make them Lucifer. And we are not sacrificial lambs. It's OUR job to stay on top of our health and to question anything we're told. Bottom line for me: this is my body. It's worth something to me. So research, to me, isn't a vote of no confidence for my surgeon, but an act of self-love for me.

I've learned more from Kelly mostly and other knowledgeable people on this board than I have from anywhere else. Also I read the ASMBS. I think my surgeon is super knowledgeable and helpful, but I won't see him again for 6 months and the new woman who runs the support groups from his office is awful and gives us handouts that are inaccurate and doesn't know diddly about vitamins. I'm not even sure what her title is. I think they all hate to run the support group and since she was the new one it fell to her and she has clearly no experience leading a group, no skills in group dynamics or listening or anything. Usually the group devolves into newbies complaining about constipation or gas....

I'm considering what I actually want from a support group, cause I'm sure not getting it here. Mostly I want some accurate information, a group of people who have been through this, some kind of couselly-type info, nutrition info. Doesn't seem like it would be so difficult to run a decent support group, but apparently it is more so than I would have thought.

I'm so happy I have a good support group.  It's not much of an educational group, it's mostly just support.  emotional, mental support and working on those "head issues."

I hope you can find the type of group you're looking for.  You could even start your own if necessary!

I have learned so much from this site and individuals like Kelly. I am truly grateful and blessed. Not all the information that was given to me in my pre-op class was correct, (especially those nasty protein shots), and some things I am learning through trial and error. This whole experience is new to me as I am about a week and a half out, but without this site and my support group I would just feel lost. People on this site try to help each other based on the knowledge they possess or the trials and tribulations they have experienced. One who would be a fool to believe that educating oneself should only come from one source. I relate this to when I write papers from school, you have to be able to back up your paper with credible resources.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but Doctors are human and can make mistakes or be misinformed, so having others to turn to is a big help.

Well ladies and gentlemen enjoy your Christmas

 I just wanted to say, thank you Kelly!  You give so much wonderful information. 

I think my group did a great job of education folks but they didn't get it all right.  They suggest Optifast vits that have the wrong kind of calcuim and only say you need 4 a day.  On food stuff, and recouping they did great.  But thank goodness I could research myself and learn here or I could be one of those having problems.

Thanks kelly for all you do here and Happy Holidays.