Question:
nurse said i didnt lose enough weight
I went for my 3 month post op check up and the nurse said I should of lost at least 80 lbs. I lost 60 lbs. my starting weight was 293 lbs. does that sound right to everyone. I thought I was doing good. — [Anonymous] (posted on October 21, 2001)
October 20, 2001
I think that 60lbs in 3 months sounds very good for you. I have heard in
general terms, expect 20 the first month, 10 in successive months, or
expect to lose 30% of your excess weight in the first three months (this
still sounds like you're on track!). Do the BMI calculator on the home page
and I think you will see that your loss will appear to be average. I'm
curious if the doc thought you were on track. Sometimes, while I do respect
the medical community, I do not always take their comments or judgements at
100% face value. We all have probably experienced some great judgements and
"opinions" by medical professionals in our past if we are obese.
Congrats on your loss and remember we all will lose at our own pace,
regardless of insensitive comments by others.
— Molly S.
October 20, 2001
I can't believe that the nurse would say that! I am so appalled. I think
that losing 60 pounds in three months is unreal! Also, that 60 pounds is
gone forever. I would like to ask that nurse where she gets her
information. Did you ask the doctor what he thought? I can't believe he
would agree with that remark. I am 5 months out and have lost 80 pounds and
my doctor is thrilled! Just keep doing what you are doing, don't let anyone
tell you that you aren't losing enough weight. I am sure that with the
surgery as a tool you will continue to meet all your personal goals, and
those are the only ones that matter. Best of luck!
— Vicki K.
October 20, 2001
Your nurse has the bedside manner of a mallet, without the mallet's
intellect. Your weight's fine. Consider informing the surgeon who he has
working for him/her.
— Chuck O.
October 20, 2001
I would have been so "MAD" at the HUGE INSULT, that I would have
probably let her have it right or went directly to the office mgr or DOCTOR
! ! ! !...I wonder if she could lose #60...gosh that's #20 per
month...THAT'S TERIFFIC!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!..and if those
comments fly at your next visit...I would say something..she is out of line
— Joi G.
October 20, 2001
What in the world is wrong with that lady?! Sixty pounds in three months is
incredible! It took me six months to lose 60 pounds and my surgeon said I
was exactly on track. I know some people lose a little faster, but how in
the world could that nurse expect more?
Does she even understand the surgery? Does she believe it's magic? And how
rude and insensitive can she be? Isn't it bad enough we've been through so
much dealing with our weight? Does she have to comment that you haven't
lost enough? I think that was just being mean! Besides, she is not the
surgeon, and I highly doubt that she even knows what she's talking about.
Grrrr! I hate when unqualified medical people make statements about things
of which they know nothing! Sorry about the rant, but it makes me so angry!
You just keep doing what you're doing, you're doing fine. Also, I would
make sure the surgeon knows she made that comment, it could be a dangerous
one to make, especially if someone is highly sensitive. Congratulations and
good luck!
— Maria H.
October 20, 2001
Talk about "kicking someone while they are down". I would still
talk with the doctor or the office manager about her conduct. First of all,
she is playing the roll of doctor by telling you what your progress should
be. She is acting like she is an expert when all she is doing is weighing
you and probably taking your blood pressure. Unfortunately we have some
stupid nurses who we often wonder just how they got their degree. But they
all aren't like that. Most are nice, caring people. I think you are doing
great. I am 7 weeks post op, starting weight 285 and I pray that by 3
months I have lost 60 pounds. But if I don't I am not going to worry about
it. And you shouldn't either. Even with plateus we are loosing weight
faster than any other way. And like someone else said - It's not where you
start or how fast you get there, it's that you get there. Great Job!!!
— K T.
October 21, 2001
The nicest thing I can think to say about that nurse is that she is a
dingbat. Comments like that can cause some
people alot of emotional harm. Please do not take it to heart. We all lose
at different rates. Sometimes I'm disappointed when I hear people who lose
faster than I, however I have to "talk to myself" and remind
"me" that I'm not in competition with anyone! Nor is my weight
loss or lack of it anyone else's concern. You are someone who should be
treated with respect and kindness. Morbid Obesity is physically and
emotionally painful. The later is the most painful for me.
You should be congraduated for having the courage to go through WLS. It is
NOT the "easy fix" that "normal weight" people think
it is. No, you are doing just FINE! My highest weight was 319 and I lost
round 12 pounds of it the month before surgery. My surgery weight was 305
pounds (I'm 5'2) and I lost 32 pounds the first month, 13 in the second,
and 11.5 in the third for a total of 56.5 pounds. Since then it seems it
has trickled, but I'm still a "loser". ;)
So just eat healthy, get your fluids, exercise, and keep your chin up! You
are doing just fine. :)
— Danmark
October 21, 2001
The nurse is cracked!!!Everyone loses at their own rate. I think we have
all felt that we are not losing fast enough. I had my surgery 16 months
ago, and for the first 5-6 months after having had surgery, and after
having read every single profile here, I found that the average weight lost
within the first half of the year is around 20 pounds per month. Then the
weight begins to taper more slowly. Please do not let someone, especially
an unknowledgable nurse, tell you how much you should or should not have
lost. Your body will lose as it is ready to. You are doing great! As far as
I have seen from all others, you are exactly on schedule with your weight
loss!!!
— twenc
October 21, 2001
Put 60 lbs of marbles in a bag. Hit her with them. Then ask her if 60 lbs
feels like a lot now.
— Goldilauxx B.
October 21, 2001
What an idiot! You should ABSOLUTELY talk to your surgeon about this
nurse. For all the people who will come after you, this person needs to be
stopped from doing this to anyone else. It is appalling.
— Gina E.
October 21, 2001
I like the answer Cyndie gave: Smack her with a 60 lb. bag of marbles. What
an idiot that nurse is! The doctor should definitely be told. This is the
last thing you need. I think 60 lbs. in three months is TERRIFIC. I think
that's about what I'd lost in three months (I'm down about 100 lbs. at
about 5.5 months). You are doing great, and please know that. Everyone on
this site I'm sure knows that our new smaller stomachs are a great help,
but truly a tool...we have to work at this every day. And you sure are!
Congratulations, pat yourself on the bag and smack that nurse upside the
head with the aforementioned marbles!
— Mary Ellen W.
October 21, 2001
I LOVED Cyndie's answer!! Everyone looses at a different rate!! I am 21
weeks post op and am down 70#s. You can NOT go by what others have lost
here on this site. There are some at 21 weeks that are down 100#'s!! I am
JUST so very thankful that the scale is going down vs up like it use to!!
20 more pounds and I am 1/2 there!! As far as the nurse telling you that!!
I would discuss her insensitivity with your Doctor!! She needs to learn
to NOT give opinions and do her job of giving shots!! You are doing
GREAT!!!!! Keep up the good work!!
— chance2lv
October 21, 2001
When I visited my doctor, he said not to get discouraged by the #'s. I
started out at 324, and he said I should expect to see a weight loss of
approx average of 20lbs per month for the first 6 months....then 1-2 lbs a
week after that. Of course he explained that everyone is different. It
could be more or less. In addition, he said that the it is typical that
the bigger you are the faster your weight will come off first. He then
added, that at 324, he didn't consider that to be that big....(where has he
been all my life?) so to just follow the plan and the wieght will come
off!!
— Kim M.
October 22, 2001
HI there - at my 3 months I had lost 57lbs - my doctor said that was
average - not too quick and not too slow but just right so to speak - I am
5'9" and started at 334 - you are doing great - dont let the nurse
discourage you - anything that comes off is great........take care.
— Sharon Jones
October 22, 2001
No one can tell what we "should" lose. 60lbs. in three months
is terrif...congratulations. I think she's referring to an
average weight loss for a person of your starting weight. Some
lose faster....some slower. All that truly matters is that you
are losing and that you are healthy. Don't let her get to you...she's
insensitive and misinformed.
— [Anonymous]
October 22, 2001
Well I have to say I agree with the lady who had the marble idea, that was
a good one ((HAHA)). Everyone else is right alos, we all lose at our own
pace and you should not compare yourself to others. I think 60 pounds in 3
months is great and you should be very proud of yourself. I know when I
went for my 4 week post op, the nurse, who by the way is a good 300 pounds,
looked at me and said you have such a cute face, when you lose weight you
are going to be so cute. As Iam sure you know I think that is the one thing
that fat people hate to hear, I could not believe she said that to me, I
was 4 weeks post op and happy to be losing, I could not hold back and i
said to her, your face is cute too and Iam sure you will be pretty when you
lose weight... I have no idea if she is planning on losing weight, but that
was my point and I hope that becasue she slammed the door and left the room
that she got my point. She was overweight herself and I cannot believe she
as a nurse, for a gastric bypass doctor, had the nerve to say that to me. I
guess my point is just because people are in the profession that they are,
does not mean they have any more since than the rest of us. Keep your chin
up and keep up the good work. Good luck....
— Malynda S.
October 22, 2001
My PCP and I agreed on a surgeon because he was the only one in our city
doing a specific procedure that we felt was best for me. My PCP has delt
with this surgeon before and knew about his nurse and their post-op dieting
rules. My dear PCP told me upfront that it would be difficult for the
first few months, that no one loses as much as these two want, or as fast,
and that after a few months he will take back control of my care &
weight loss. He was so right, I went to visit them last week and got a
lecture about all the things they assumed I was doing wrong. I simply sat
there, didn't worry, told them I'd do better, and then send my PCP an
e-mail when I got home. After the next post-op visit, my insurance will
not pay for anymore visits with the surgeon unless authorized by my PCP,
and my PCP has assured me that he will deal with the surgeon at that time.
I also talked with my insurance company to see how long it was approved for
me to see this surgeon, they told me that only 1 more visit was approved.
Check with your insurance company, they are ultimately paying for your
services and may be able to change you to someone else, or will go to bat
for you. I've talked with several of the doctors in my city, and believe
me they fear the customer service quality control men in suits from one
insurance company more than God himself! Having someone tell you that your
efforts just arent' good enough, isn't fair. As long as you know in your
heart that you've done your best, just forget what was said and move on.
Somethings in life aren't worth expending our emotions on!
— [Anonymous]
October 23, 2001
Well, I've had my chuckle for the day. Heavens, if every person
who had been treated rudely or insensitely by his/her doctor
"reported"
them to the insurer, we wouldn't have time to do anything else all day!
Certainly, we should all report financial fraud or poor/dangerous medial
practices to our insurers. But, as adults, we should handle these non-
medical issues ourselves. And in the example give...this was the nurse...
not the doctor. I would told that nurse off, in no uncertain terms. And
then
I'd have told the doctor that his employee needed additional training about
wls.
— [Anonymous]
Click Here to Return