You have to be your own best advocate...

[Shirl]

I had Gastric Sleeve surgery May 17th after almost six months of pre op requirements and waiting. In the middle of it I was ready to go to a different surgeon because my surgeon's staff were not responsive for some questions and concerns I had, after I told them I was going to transfer my case they shaped up, but in my heart of hearts I knew it was an illusion.

I liked my surgeon, he was very patient and responsive and answered all my questions. He did an amazing job, I had zero complications. I have no complaints about him. The follow up nurse was a gem, answered all my silly concerns and questions sometimes within minutes of me sending her a text. Eventually my texts were farther apart and her response slower.

Since I moved out of state they closed my case. My surgeon told his staff to provide me with medical records so I could take them to next surgeon or doctor for follow up care, which they did, but after my move I found a surgeon and they requested my complete records including aftercare which was one week post op visit, and my three months post visit.

The new patient advocate at the Bariatric center that I'm trying to get established with called me to apologize for the delay, and shared her experience trying to get my surgeon's staff to fax her the correct paperwork. She told me that my new surgeon would take me on as a patient because he felt badly that I have not proper after care. He personally sees all his post op patients on a weekly basis the first month, then once a month there after for the next year, and even longer on some. She told his post op care includes three key success components nutrition, exercise, and mental health.

I'm glad that I found this new support team, I finally get to see him next Wednesday.

For those of you that don't have the post op care that should be provided to all bari patients because of distance of surgery or you ended up with "sleeve 'em and leave 'em" facility keep searching for a post op support team. I truly believe that some of us really need that extra support for optimal success.

I started a structured exercise and nutrition program on my own, and they are very happy that I had already done that, and now they have connected me with a therapist that specializes in emotional eating related to trauma which has been my personal weight issue.

I'm excited that I am turning another page in the WLS journey.

It's a new dawn! a new day!

A new path I have carved for myself!

I'm deeply grateful.

[WANAGL]

You ARE your best advocate, Shirl! You kept looking for a solution until you found it. I'm so happy for you!

I'm blessed to have had this kind of support from my "team" from the start.

[Sandra3]

I do feel the same, having a good team is important and I'm lucky I found one.
But I'm surprised your surgeon "closed your case". My surgeon knew since day one that I would move one or two year after the surgery. He told me he wants me to email him all my blood test results and my weight once or twice a year....for life.
But look, may be your move is for the best and now you have a great team!
Moving back to France next Spring/Summer we will work in Paris but we mainly live in the countryside so there's no bariatric surgeon near by. I found a nice GP this Summer not far from our house so I'm planning to do all follow up with him (his wife had bariatric surgery as well so he is really interested in the question). We won't stay more than two years in France so I'm not sure it's worth it to look for an other team. I might change my mind if things don't go the way I want....because like you Shirl I do believe that follow up are very important.

[Pam G]

I saw my surgeon one week post op.....and only because my husband asked to see him. It was originally going to be his PA.

Haven't seen or talked to them since.

[Sandra3]

I saw my surgeon one week post op.....and only because my husband asked to see him. It was originally going to be his PA.

Haven't seen or talked to them since.

That's weird, they didn't even call you? But most important, did you have regular blood test since surgery? because if not and you have deficiencies that could explain the cravings....when my iron was really really low in May I did have very bad cravings...

[Pam G]

I had blood drawn at about 2 months post op by my reg doc....all was fine except for a b-12 in the lower end of the normal range, which I'm working on.

I imagine I'll get more blood work around 6 months out

[peasantme]

Interesting read. I only have one place that insurance covers. I find them distant and they are definately a sleeve em and leave em. They say they care but you meet the surgeon in a group setting once before surgery and once afterwards. Other then that you see a nurse twice and the one I have doesn't listen, is argumentative, misinformed, misreads reports and quite frankly I would never agree to having her be in charge of my care but I can't have surgery otherwise. You have to see her. I envy people who had great teams, felt supportive and in the hands of a family of cargivers. This is a mojor decision and you would assume they would care about this. I also makes me feel better to read that other people had to be their own advocate. It makes me feel stronger to be my own.

[ghost_ryder]

Absolutely, after my surgery I had a feeling in my stomach that something was wrong. No one took me seriously and thought I was just high from the narcs. I kept telling everyone it felt like I had to go number two constantly. A week later I was readmitted in the hospital from dehydration because I could literally get nothing down without retching. Turned out I had an Ileus from the anesthetia during surgery. I paralyzed my colon so nothing was passing except what was literally being pushed out from the pressure above that part of my colon.

I wish I had been more vocal about the off feeling I had in my intestines. Sometimes everyone gets blinders on when they have a regular outcome. Since then, my doctor introduces me to all her students and people on her staff as the ONLY person she ever did the procedure on that had an Ileus as an outcome. So I am fresh in her brain still too.