how do you know it's right?

My surgeon said two multi's. Thats it. Eat low carb, come see him if I have any trouble. Oh, no protein shakes and no eating anything other than three small meals a day.

My vitamin d got low, and is still low. He said to take the gel capsules you can get at walmart and walgreens. Uh, No!

I am like Nikki. I take everything everyone says with a grain of salt. My father was misdiagnosed by a dr. years and years ago and almost died because of it. I was misdiagnosed years ago and sent home three times from the e.r. Told my pain was in my head. Ended up almost rupturing my gall bladder.

Doctors are people. They are human. They will make mistakes. We all do. I will not trust my life to someone blindly because they went to school years ago.

Just because they went to medical school doesn't mean they have kept up with all the latest info. Usually they are behind in info because they spend all their available time working.

I've asked doctors about continuing education, because when I worked as a massage therapist it was required. Two of them refused to answer my question. One said he would do it, but would look for the shortest cont. ed. class he could get by with. That he was just too busy. Doesn't inspire trust does it?

 I hear you!  It's one reason I tend to go to doctors associated with the medical school - they are professors so they teach, and are involved in research.  

My Pop-Pop was treated as if he had Alzheimer's (I guess they can't tell if it is or isn't until you pass on?) and given meds that eventually overtaxed his liver and killed him. Turns out it was a severe b12 deficiency.

I have low trust in doctors but I am also sort of lazy. I am trying to make it my business to read and research more about my body, especially since I am at the point where my deficiencies are presenting both physically AND on a lab sheet.

Not everyone has the same level of quality with their surgeons. Some have a comprehensive program, some just the surgeon, so it all depends.

I went with a center of excellence, and with a hospital whose reputation I trust. So that was a start. I also came here for a lot of information, as well as talked to a lot of people in real life. We didn't discuss all vitamins,as I know iron, b12, etc get talked about at the first follow up (we talked about multi and calcium, and were told we needed to take others, but details were to follow).

I also think that many people rely on surgeons as follow up care, when that is not their area. They rely on specialists in those areas. so that is another thing to consider where there are follow up issues. I think it would be great if more PCP's were trained in bariatric followup

Maybe as WLS becomes more and more common, more PCPs will learn more about it.

I feel quite fortunate that my PCP is very open to the various RNY-related info and medical articles I have given him.  (I assume he actually reads them, LOL!). He seems very open to learning since an increasing number of his patients are having WLS of some kind.  One of the things he was not aware of before I had my surgery was the D2/D3 issue and how large a daily/weekly D3 dose it often takes for RNYers/DSers to get (and keep) their levels up.

Lora

My PCP is very open too and always learning about wls, we always discuss things and I am happy to have a PCP that wants to learn about wls , I think he does more than my wls surgeon does.He told me my protein levels were good, I always ask for a copy of my blood work, when I looked at it my protein level was low, he also try to get me to take the little football oil caps . when I went to my PCP he had already ready read my blood work and said my protein level was down and I should not be taking the green oil caps. He had research it. I know that Doctors are human but it is good to always research things. this site on here about question and answers have helped me a lot too with talking to people on here, that is why I like Kelly, she has helped me a lot too, when she put  out some information on here, I start researching it and checking it out. Thanks Kelly

My PCP is the same way.  She did not know much about RNY but is learning and is open to learning.  For instance, she now uses the list of labs I get done with all her RNY patients.  She accepts what I say about the amount of B12 and D3 I need - she was open to reading the research I took her on those topics.

  I've  said before..."not all doctors are equal".   As someone else commented, medical schools are a good place to find competent specialists, but you still need to follow your instincts and do your research.

LOL - sorry, Kelly, I have to laugh at some of the responses you get. As one of the most reliable sources of information, and consistently willing to walk people through stuff you sure get a lot of hogwash your direction, don't you? lol
Anyway, I appreciate you.
(edited to add... if a  "C" is a passing grade in medical school then there are surgeon's out there who should have to display their college report cards!  Keep questioning them, Kelly - and keep giving us the information you find!  :)   )

My surgeon is top notch and his staff is as well. They did have Flintstones on their list, but have since gone to Centrum Silver with Iron supplements. My surgeon did a televised RNY for med schools and hospitals internationally. He has a 5yr follow up plan and the surgeon, nurse, NUT (dietician)  and office manager all attend support group  (though the support group is changing format and is kind of chaoticI didn't know where to question or what to question until I came here. So far pretty much everything matches up, but like Nik, I now question everything.