Question:
Aftercare for stomach pain to tell or not to tell

when you have wls and say a silstic band and you develop pain months or years down the track do you tell the attending doctor or hospital that you have had wls in the past or is it irrelavant. i have had heart surgery in the past and if i get referral pain i have to let the dr know i have had heart surgery so say you get shoulder tip pain do you say incase its the band slipping i just dont want to go on to about it after i have had it and ost my weight telling the medical proffesion ihave had this as i will fell they will judge me a cop out as i have already had some negative comments like you just need disapline i dont want then thinking serves her right sort of thing. thanks for your replys    — [Anonymous] (posted on November 10, 2001)

November 10, 2001
WLS is MAJOR surgery. You should ALWAYS disclose ALL major sugeries to the physican attending you. Lack of information can lead to misdiagnois and prolonged pain. Don't withold information from a doc because you are concerned about a judgemental attitude. If a doctor gives you an attitude tell them, "thank you for your opinion, however, since the surgery has already been done, do you think we could move on to what the current problem may be?"
   — BethVBG

November 10, 2001
I agree with Beth. I had to go into the ER about a month or so after my WLS. I was surprised at the attitude the doctor gave me. He never said anything but his attitude was like " you did this to yourself". I have decided to make sure to always tell them because this is so important.I'm also thinking of wearing a medical alert braclet in case I can't tell them. And I have decided to tell them right of the bat that I don't want to hear any of their shit, just fix me.
   — K T.