Hi
shelbell
When I started this a year ago I asked for the lapband.
I was accepted for surgey at the end of December last year - as a bypass patient. The meeting went something like this - "ok you've hit your weight loss target, we will accept you for surgery. But we think the lapband would be a watse of time. It would be for the bypass. Any questions ?
This is quite a lot to take in, and I mentioned stomach problems I was having in case it would cause any problems. He said he would give me a gastroscopy, then he got his things together and went to the next room to see someone else. I would get a letter with the date of when he was doing it.
In the meantime the stomach pain got worse. I had already been referred for an endoscopy anyway, so I went and got it done. If there was anything that needed treating, I didnt want it to cause any delays, so wanted it checked ASAP. This was in January. The symptoms I was having were symtoms that could be related to something fairly serious, so I was a bit worried. I couldnt really think about anything else.
Anyway in the January they found a growth in my oesphagus. These are apparenlty very rare, and tend to be cancerous. Another family member had recently died from this type of cancer. They removed it there and then, and sent it for biopsy. I was lucky, and it was benign.
Shortly after I got the gastroscopy appointment through. By now I'd had a bit of time to do some research and had some questions. I went to the appointment (in Feb / March ?). Can't remember the exact date right now. Anyway when I got there it wasn't the consultant I had my meeting with, it was another guy. I didnt know if he knew why I was having the procedure, or if I was just one of a number of patients referred to him. When he asked me to get weighed, then told me off for gaining some weight, I realised he must at least know why I was there. But I didnt recognise him as one of the bariatric consultants I had seen in pictures, or the one at the initial meeting. He then rushed through the procedure and while i was still trying to get the blood out of my mouth asked "any questions?". I asked if the growth they had found in January had returned. He said no. I didnt know if I could ask him about the procedure. I didnt know if he knew anything about it. I was still very uncomfortable from the procedure, and a bit annoyed at how rushed it had been compared to my last one (the nurses even commentated on him being in a hurry for dinner). I also didnt feel able to talk to him after his lecture on gaining weight. He seemed to be the sort of person who thought big people should just get of their lazy ar***.
After I left his room, I had to sign a form about the procedure. When I read it it said that I had a minor hiatial hernia (he didnt tell me this). There was a box for him to tick to say how it went. One of the boxes was "patient very comfortable. Talked happily during the procedure". The other boxes mentioned things like mild discomfort. He had ticked the first box. I was a bit annoyed about this. It was basically a lie, that showed he had taken his time and made me confortable. I dont think he did. And I certainly wasnt talking happily throughout the procedure.
ANYWAY ... when he weighed me, he said he didnt know what would happen because I had gained weight. I didnt know I was getting weighed on that day, and to be honest had been more concerned with making sure the growth wasnt back, than whether or not I'd gained a few pounds. I decided not to think too much about it, until I got my letter confirming it was ok to go ahead, and when the date would be. I didnt want to get my hopes up, or worry myself about it until i had an answer either way. Then at my next appointment (if I was ok to go ahead), I could try again to ask my questions.
In March the surgery got pushed to the back of my mind again with things that happened. (I wont go into this again, but its been mentioned before).
The next thing I got was a call saying can you come in in 10 days time. No letter. No 6 weeks notice. No meeting with the consultant. No one to answer my questions.
This is where I currently stand. Yes I dont feel fully prepared. The process didnt happen the way I thought it was going. There was little or no opportunity to speak to the consultants. In fact I've never met the man who will do it. I found out his name by calling the dietition. I expected a definate confirmation it was going ahead first (if nothing else). I thought there would be a chance to ask questions once this happened. I think these are important steps.
You asked "Do you understand the early post op diet?". From my own research, yes. But I have never been given a copy of one. Should I have ?
Yes I've done research, but you don't always find all the info you need. Or not all at once. Sometimes you dont want to read TOO much into the risks when you arent even sure you will get the surgery, or its not the surgery you had initially asked for. Or you know it's the only way forward, but don't like the idea or re-arranging your internal organs. Or if other people can lose weight normally and not have food issues, why can't we all ? It must always be a last resort. You should always exhaust every other option. You should have chances to speak to the people concerned. You should be able to ask questions right up until the day of your surgery. If you want to. If you need to. If it helps you.
When you say the onus is on you. Yes it is. But the medical profession also play a part. Some of the risks I've heard about lately were never mentioned. And they are BIG risks. When deciding if the option you didnt initially select is right for you, you should be made aware of ALL of the known risks. Not everyone is familiar with the internet. Not everyone has hours to spare trawling forums / google / youtube.
In fact recently someone on here said not to. Just look at the before and after pictures. I dont think it's good to avoid any mention of anything negative. I'm trying to do my research by the means I have available. Yes people who asked for this op will have had more time to prepare. As with those who got confirmation that it was definaltey going ahead, and even better if you got a few weeks or even months notice it was good to go. I didnt get that. I'm just doing the best i can with the time and resources I have.
I dont want to miss the only opportunity I might get, but I always don't want to go in feeling like I didnt ask everything I could before hand, and regret it afterwards.
