The scale said what???!!!!!

[turtlewoman]

So I excitedly went for a sleeve team visit yesterday. First thing is, of course, to get weighed. I emptied my pockets, took off my shoes and stepped on the scale expecting to see a little weight loss since I've been on a super strict pre-op diet to shrink my liver. I looked at the numbers once. I looked at the numbers twice. It said 258 point something. WHAT!!!!! Yep, that's what it had said. I had gained 14 pounds since my first doctors visit and 3 pounds since I went in for my failed sleeve surgery a week ago. I was devastated. I couldn't believe it. Next I saw the doctor. Dr. Wetherill was his usual very charming self, warm and caring but he said. With this kind of weight gain we'll have to cancel your surgery date for the 14th and figure out why your gaining because if you're gaining then your liver isn't shrinking. He wanted me to meet with the dietician. That sounded pretty darn appropriate to me. But to tell you the truth I was literally in shock. I was having trouble processing what people were saying to me. Luckily I had taken my partner with me to the appointment so there was a back up set of ears. The dietician was pleasant and nice but not in the warm , open way she has been at other appointments. She said that they wanted me to give up all dairy---lowfat cottage cheese and nonfat yogurt and stick to 3 protein shakes a day, two with almond milk and one with water. She also said that I could have the 98% fat free cream soups---1/2 cup three times a day along with a couple of 1/2 cup servings of plain cream of wheat or plain oatmeal. That and crystal light and water were pretty much all that were on my diet. She sounded supportive, "everybody's body is different, we just have to figure out what yours needs". I tried to tell her that I had been super strict on my diet---there was no way I could possibly have gained 14 lbs. She didn't seem to really be listening to me. Then I started crying because I was so upset and frustrated. So, she wanted me to see the social worker, Beth. Beth came in but seemed a little off towards me, too. She mouthed all the right words but didn't seem to hear me. I made a followup appointment for one week and left the office feeling absolutely like the lowest person in the world. The program coordinator, Cindy, wasn't there. She's who I really go to in the office for support if I need it, so I felt abandoned by my best advocate. It was a horrible day. I had to work last night so I slept for the rest of the day and then went to work for the night still feeling terrible. I thought about the weight gain and what could have possibly happened. I work in a hospital so I got on the scale that I have used before and sure enough it showed a weight loss. Now that was really weird. I thought and thought and discussed the situation with my coworkers who were very supportive. The scale at the doctors office is an electronic one that I've used in hospitals before. You have to zero or recalibrate the scale before each use to ensure that you get a reliable reading. The only thing I could figure out was that nurse who weighed me hadn't zeroed the scale before me and I had gotten an erroneous reading. So, I formulated my plan. The next morning I would go to the office first thing and ask to use the scale again. Having a plan settled me down. I worked through my 12 hour shift anxiously, barely able to wait for the office to open at 8:30am. I went home after work and changed back into the exact clothes I had been wearing at my appointment the day before and excitedly drove to the office. A different nurse than the one I had seen the day before was just coming into work and said sure I could weigh. We went back to the scale where I repeated my routine of getting as light as possible. I zeroed the scale and saw the zeroes on the readout. I stepped on the scale. 243.2lbs!!!!! I had explained to the nurse, Janice, what had happened the day before. She looked at me, I looked at her. She hurriedly started walking back to the nurses charting area where she conferred with Frances the nurse from the day before. They were talking excitedly and searching my chart for the documentation of my weight from the day before. Sure enough there it was, 258point something. Frances agreed that she might have forgotten to zero out the scale and apologized profusely. She added a note to my chart with the now accurate weight and promised that she would tell Dr. Wetherill and the rest of the sleeve team. I can't even describe how elated and vindicated I felt. I waited about an hour and then called Cindy, the nurse program coordinator. She was astounded. "Wow, we really screwed up," she said. She said she would talk to the other members of the team and they would get back to me since I was kind of in limbo with my surgery now cancelled. I talked to her later this afternoon and I am rescheduled but still supposed to go in for a follow up appointment next Tuesday.
I'm sorry for the huge long post but I just want everybody to know that you have to, have to, have to be your own best advocate. Just because you're told something don't make it so!! Just because a piece of machinery says one thing doesn't mean that it's accurate. Humans make mistakes all the time. Lord knows I've made some whoppers myself. I went through some misery for a few hours but now everything is fine again. It looks like it will be smooth sailing for my surgery the 14th.
Thanks for listening. I just had to vent and share with my online family.

[katente]

I am so glad you got to the bottom of things. A 15 pound mistake wow. I hope this gets your surgery back on track. We are waiting on you on the losers bench.

[girliegirl777]

Such personal resolve! This is a great story to share and I'm glad for you it was one with a happy ending. Best wishes on your upcoming surgery.

[*Amy*]

So happy all worked out... I could only imagine if I was in your shoes.... so glad all is back to where it is suppose to be and you will be getting surgery as expected!!! Keep fighting the fight as the WINNER you are!!!

[Lalaangeleyes]

Glad you got it right. Definitely have to fight for yourself.
Bravo!

[Breen]

So happy you got it resolved! You're a self super hero! Lol. Great job!

[Kylie78]

Wow! What a rollercoaster ride for you! So glad you got it all sorted. You're a champ

[Adele]

Just goes to show you that numbers on a machine can, at times, have more validity than a persons rightful knowing. Good on you for keeping with you own belief in yourself and in your body! Sorry the social worker wasn't more of an advocate for you. Really not good enough from a social worker. ( I feel I can comment here, me being a social worker and all!)

[Luann]

Good going Turtlewoman! You figured it out. I'm so glad you kept questioning it. Thanks for sharing this, you are right we have to be our own best advocate. I am hoping the clinic staff learned from it too.

[niamh]

Good on you for standing up for yourself. Glad they responded well to get things back on track and took responsibility for the error. Good luck!!

[east928]

I'm so happy for you! This was extremely frustrating and I can't imagine the grief you took on. I'm thrilled it all got straightened out so quickly!!!!!!

[sraebaer]

So sorry you had to go through that, I would have cried too! Best of luck to you!

[NellieFL]

I can only imagine how devestating all of that felt. I'm so glad you didn't give up and figured out what happened! With an attitude like yours, you are sure to be successful with your sleeve! Congrats again!!!

[pack89]

Yikes!! I sure hope they make it up to you! Not only screwing up on the weight, but for their attitude towards you. That's uncalled for no matter what the reason may be. I'm sure it feels GREAT to be vindicated in knowing that you were right and IN FACT were doing everything you were told. Sorry you had to go through that emotional roller coaster, but we'll see you on the losers' bench very soon!!

[db4lyfe]

I pagers mistakes can happen from technical and human perspective. Thanks for sharing your great story. I wushu you the best