What I learned at the meeting tonight

[Deleted]

OMFG.

I see dead people.

[smokinstella]

Wow, just wow. What a bunch of uninformed idiots.

[bearmom]

First, I have to admit that anyone who reads my posts, likely knows I often scan or misread. Like often, so after glancing the first part of your post, somewehre between doctor and NUT, I surmised that you guys got DONUTS at your meetings.

Yes, I need reading comprehension lessons, or to go to bed earlier.

Sorry about all that - now, your post. Sadly, many of us got a lot of that same info, which is why I was always glad for the OtHer site. I suspect there will be more info like this there now that many have jumped ship.

I was even given the special gummy bear vitamins, and Tums for calcium OK at my meetings. Thank goodness we have places like this to learn otherwise.

[hoosiermama]

Tums are still good for indigestion LOL You can have massive bone loss with a calm tummy...what more could you ask

[sherbearmama]

This sounds exactly like my Kaiser bariatrics surgery classes. Did they also mention that there are no revisions to any of the surgeries? That they are permanent--forever? Oh, and did they tell you that you can eat up to 250g of carbs a day (even if you're diabetic)? Seriously, no wonder people are dying to get thin.

[sherbearmama]

Jan 4, 2012 1:18:03 GMT -5 @switchedup said:

Jan 4, 2012 0:48:50 GMT -5 @dianacox said:

OMFG.

I see dead people.

Hahahaha....I forgot a couple.

9. The most calories that anyone should consumer post bariatric surgery is 1200 calories.
10. Flintstone chewables are the multi-vitamin if choice
11. NEVER, I repeat, NEVER, should you take any pill that is larger than a pencil eraser size. Doesn't matter how far out you are. Period.

Yes! That was part of our classes as well! We were told that anything bigger than a mini M'n'M would be too big. Also, we were told that we should avoid ALL FAT--indefinitely. They said that there is enough fat in simple things like Chicken that we should make the rest of our diet very low in fat.

[smokinstella]

Thats what the dietician at Dr. Buchwalds office told me regarding fat. Said if I don't keep things low fat I will have massive diarrhea. I take most of what she tells me with a grain of salt, I know where the real info comes from

[Heather]

What a bunch of BS. It is so sad when these are the "experts"

[clpeltz]

Jan 4, 2012 2:29:39 GMT -5 smokinstella said:

Thats what the dietician at Dr. Buchwalds office told me regarding fat. Said if I don't keep things low fat I will have massive diarrhea. I take most of what she tells me with a grain of salt, I know where the real info comes from

Yes, I have had to sit through her drivel too. I just smile and nod my head, then go home and keep doing what I am doing, hehe.

[sheanie]

And why isn't that malpractice? OMG OMG This SO reminds me of the early days of being a breastfeeding mother and being told my totally breastfed infant with puking & diahhrea needed a "milk-free diet", and that included my breastmilk.

Ignorance runs rampant in the medical field. That's why they call it the "practice" of medicine. Because they're still practicing......on us. Somebody poke me when they get it perfected. Until then, I'm my own best advocate.

I've been thinking lately of getting a tattoo. It will say something about "don't f&*$ with my Duodenal Switch: Google before cutting". In my neck of the woods, they're still killing people with every WLS except the DS.

[ynona74]

I am totally glad I read all these posts before I went to my Bariatric seminar on Saturday, otherwise I probably would have come back here crying.
Thank you all for being here to help. YOU are pioneers to me.

[stefaski]

I thank God every day that I found the vets on the DS site! If I spouted out misleading and incorrect bull shit like that at my job I'd be fired. Or promoted to a high level executive position, depending on the attractiveness of my outward appearance and fast talking skills.

Thank you DS vets!!

[teachmid]

This is priceless!!! Gave me a good chuckle this morning, but it's frightening all the same.

[newyorkbitch]

Oy, how did you sit there and not say something? I would have started tearing my hair out and screaming.

[momx4]

oh wow, thank god for the vets!!

[renegadeorange]

Yesterday, I drove an hour and a half to my "class". Though the information was only marginally better than what you got, in regards to vitamins, the info was 100% RNY based. I was the only DSer in the room. I had to take a 'quiz' at the end, and basically had to give answers for a different surgery type. I asked the NUT if there is ever going to be a class based on the the DS surgery, and she said that they do not have very many DS patients.

So, for the ones that they *do* have... it's ok to be eating lettuce already, we only need 40-60 grams of protein a day, no drinking with meals, no straws (which, I brought my cup in with a straw just to draw glares), and she told them that they should be weening off of protein drinks.

The vitamin part, they did kind of ok. She had too low of a dose of Vit D, but higher than Buchwald's group. She made sure to say that DSers need fat soluble vites, and pointed out ADEK, multis, etc. None of the others on Vitalady's list. I don't know what post-ops do that haven't done their research. So far, I've been the only DSer in any of the groups I've been involved with. There is an external DSers group that meets up, and all of them are following the plans laid out here already. It's tough to educate medical staff that is not willing to learn. I love Sudan, but he says Vitalady's stuff is overkill, including the labs. I will have to get my labs through my PCP.

[pktwatch]

I have had experience or two somewhat like that, one of them was with a Doctor in the hospital while recovering from the DS surgery. He was a Hospital Doctor but had no idea what he was talking about.......

[baileymouse]

Every day I am thankful for Vitalady and the advice she gives & the vitamins she stocks.

[MontanaGirl]

Sounds similar to my NUT consultation before surgery. lol
I really wonder where they get their info....

[msbatt]

Back in July I had a bowel obstruction, and of course had to keep showing medical people a picture of my designer guts. I lost count of how many of them said "What did they do THAT for???"

[renegadeorange]

Ahhh, ok. I thought it was at your surgeon's office. I am going to attend one more of my "classes", and I'm done. Totally zero help to me.

Sounds like that practice has some BA pimps wandering around there. I know that they give you a BA discount card at Sudan's practice, but they don't push it hard as the brand of choice.

[smscott7]

OMFG. I've never used those letters before, but there is nothing else to say. OMFG!!!

[Michelle J]

Wow. This makes me embarassed to be a part of the medical community.

[Gail R]

Your post was very funny but also totally frightening. If your surgeon was associated with any part of that meeting, he should receive a copy of what you posted. I certainly hope these meetings are not some sort of requirement! I am so privileged to have had Dr. Rabkin. His support and information meetings are stellar. Anyone and everyone is welcome. There is a separate information session for those considering surgery. An informal question and answer session. We introduce ourselves and tally total weight loss of the group. (Often in the Tons!) There is a guest speaker and we always have a big potluck spread.
The PacLap group meetings are great, but the best are these online groups because they are always available to keep us on course.

[callmeEJ]

That's... amazingly bad advice, even for RNY patients. Wow. WOW.

[larra]

What angers me the most about this is that they give patients totally inadequate info, then criticize the operation when the patient develops some vitamin or protein deficiency, and therefore no one should ever have the DS, it's too dangerous.
No, YOU (the ignorant docs and their minions) are dangerous, the operation is safe and effective when the right nutrients are taken in the right amounts.

[smokinstella]

I hate to say it but I have friends who have lived in ND and they have all said the hospitals there are messed up big time. Don't mater what your there for. One friends mom ended up paralyzed due too them not doing the right testing on her after she had a fall, and cracked some vertebra in her back. They told her she was fine and never did xray, ct or anything. He ended up loading his mom into his car and driving her to the cities were they found all the damage. Travesty that places can give such shoddy care.

[sandyv63]

I feel so fortunate that I went to an out of state doctor and therefore I don't have to do any kind of follow up classes. Before I met with Dr. K, I did a 6 month diet thing through my job with a NUT. Man, she was NUTS! She was so totally against any kind of WLS that she refused to provide me with any paperwork regarding my 6 month diet with her. I called her the Nazi (not to her face.) She was convinced that diet and excercise were all I needed... I was convinced a lobotomy was all she needed.

Then I went to a bariatric surgeon in NYC and met with his NUT. He did the DS but was really an RNY guy and his NUT kept giving me RNY information. I kept correcting her and she kept agreeing with me. Why didn't I get paid for that appointment?

Then I ended up with the wonderful Dr. Keshishian. I had a phone consultation with his NUT and she was awesome. I mean she totally got it. I didn't have to argue with her or disagree with her because she was right on. Now if I could go to meetings that were held by NUTs like her, I'd go. But since no such thing exists where I am, I'm glad I don't have to. Like NYB, I'd be pulling my hair out.

[sweetnessandgrace]

My nut at least has the decency to admit she doesn't know much about DS folks. I saw her last June and she had a fit when I told her what supplements I was taking. She actually had me bring in the bottles so she could line them up against what "they" recommend. I asked her to please look into the Vitalady regimen, and she said she would and get back to me. I haven't heard from her, and she hasn't heard from me.

My surgeon's PA saw me for my last check up and went on about limiting fat in my diet. I told her I do what my peeps tell me on "that other board that shall remain nameless" because those people walk the walk. She had to agree that was probably a good idea.

[ModestoK]

Jan 4, 2012 12:55:52 GMT -5 Gail R said:

The PacLap group meetings are great, but the best are these online groups because they are always available to keep us on course.

Hiya Gail.
I'll actually be at the January meeting because I have my 1 year check up that day with Maria.
So I'll see you there.

Kim