What you know vs. what they know

Yes, this was inspired by the thread about whether a surgeon's office can make you purchase THEIR vitamins.

This got me to thinking. Firstly, I agree with Kelly. That's unethical. It's NOT bad for surgeon's offices to sell vitamins. It can be mutually beneficial for both the patient and the practice. But FORCING you to do so - at their prices, when in reality there are a plethora of options - is wrong.

But I know a few people who are going through the pre-op process who are more than willing to do it and I see a common trend. They feel like they don't know what's good for them. After all, aren't they the ones that are so fat, so unmotivated, such failures as to have to have bariatric surgery in the first place? (Their thought processes, not mine.)

To that I have to say this: consider the fact that you KNOW yourself well enough to know that your life, for whatever reason, needs to change. Consider that you've researched your options and have found the bravery to take that first step. Consider that you are the one who lives in your body, in your life situation. And only YOU know what you can afford to do and are willing to stick with.

I think your surgeon's recommendations hold a LOT of weight. They are the experts in the WLS realm. But in my estimation you absolutely have the right to:

1. Get a second opinion: if your surgery practice has rules you don't like you absolutely, at any time in the process, have the right to shop your options. This is not to say you should look for a program that caters to what you WANT (i.e. your vices that got you here in the first place) but if you see a red flag (being made to buy vitamins you can't afford), shop around. If there are other options available, even if you've started the insurance process, you can still LOOK at thiem.

2. ASK QUESTIONS AND DEMAND PROOF. Kelly says this all the time and it is so true. Why are these vitamins required? HOW are they better for me than other vitamins? She posts the ASMBS recommendations every other day (and a hunch tells me she will in response to this too. Thanks, Kels!). READ THEM. Because by reading them you know what the industry standard is. The ASMBS defines a bariatric center of excellence, so if your surgeon is recommending things that are in disagreement with the very body that deems them worthy of performing your surgery (in the eyes of the insurance company paying for the surgery) I would absolutely demand to know why. And moreover ask for PROOF. What study says this is best? Where can *I* read up more about it?

3. Express your challenges and needs. Your bariatric staff is YOUR team. They work for YOU. You do NOT work for them. Truth be told, your success is an important part of their business model so if they can do something to improve your success, it would behoove them to do it. But they are not the principal, not your daddy. They are knowledgable resources. Utilize them. Take their advice seriously but also know your own situation and limitations.

Bottom line: you deserve good care. Yes, your life needs to change and bariatric surgery can absolutely do that for you. But don't be so eager to rush into a "miracle solution" that you overlook the red flags that could, invariably, lead you right back to where you are sitting right now.

OK, here is the link to the ASMBS guidelines for those that want to read them.  nutrition.otago.ac.nz/__data/assets/file/0005/4784/Bariatric NutritionReading.pdf

Thank You for posting this.  I'm printing a copy and keeping it in my notebook for reference.  Thank You for your willingness to share information.
Thanks,
JJ

I agree with this post. I know that when I was pre-op and going through my classes the NUT told us that the hospital pharm carries BA vits and you are able to get them there IF you want to. I did b/c they were correct in telling me I could get them cheaper there than the Internet, which I did discover was true after doing my research. It was a 90 day supply and I liked the fact that I wouldn't have to worry about it for 90 days. Now, that being said after my 90 days were up and doing more research I purchased my own vits, making sure they were in accordance to the ASMBS requirements. They never said I HAD to by their vits.

Sometimes, I am shocked in the lack of research that I see in regards to WLS. Some people take more time to research a car then they do WLS and all the aspects that go along with it. I love to see informed patients. Knowledge is POWER.

People should never ignore red flags! That red flag is there for a reason....I made lists to ask/question my surgeon with every appointment and so did my husband. I even asked WHY he chose bariatrics. LOL

Any doctor's office, or surgeon's office that requires patients to purchase something (especially if it's substandard) should be ashamed of themselves.

I think part of the reason people put up with some of the stuff they do from the surgeons' offices is that they SOOO badly want/need the surgery, they don't want to rock the boat, make anybody mad, get kicked out of somebody's "program", have to start the process over, etc. It's partly the "still being a doormat as an overweight person" syndrome, I think. And I'm not saying this is the reason for EVERYBODY, just some, I suspect.

 Oh I would agree 100%. 

BUT. Insofar as our life situations are at least, in part, a result of our decisions, one of the FIRST good decisions you can make, even before you have surgery is to stay committed to advocating for yourself.

I was so lucky. I was about fifty times more ignorant than the most ignorant person any of you could think of. But I have a good surgeon and he explained things to me even if I didn't ask. And he supports me in this journey still.

I didn't think I was worth the effort back then. But I think it's important for us all to know that we are!

Yep. I too was so fortunate to have a good surgeon and his office was good as well. Six years out and I make sure I see him at least once a year.

THANK YOU! that article answers all my questions about vitamins and the whens and whys. What a great resource!
Cherie

Well I am kinda new, since my surgery was in April...however...that said, there is absolutely no way I would allow someone to "force me" into anything.  I get the insecurities...we've all got some in some form or another, but I'm the type that if I was told I HAD to buy from them I'd ask..WHY?  then I would say bye and move on to someone else.  It's obviously a scam to me anyways.  When I was researching this (and I did tons of research, even on the doc) I had a list of questions that I wrote down before hand... and I was fortunate enough to get lucky on the first strike.  It should be noted that I am somewhat stubborn and believe in taking a more proactive attitude towards things...hell isn't that part of why we did this surgery?  To be more proactive and invest in ourselves?  All my questions were answered and even some that I hadn't thought of.

When I had to meet with my nut, they had tons of samples of vitamins, protein drinks/powders and everything else you can think of and a list of facilities to obtain them... Not once was I "forced" or felt as if I were to buy anything in particular.  Just made sure that the choices I was making were the right ones.  And both my doc and nut are always at my disposal for any future issues/questions...

To surmise...I agree with you and Kelly