conflicts of interest !

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

ok i understand that diff surgeons have diff rules 4 us all, can i reccomend that pll follow what they r told to do by there surgeon, as the differencial as ppl saying diff thing reagarding there rules can cause conflict, ppl on here is not qualified including me, this is patient advice on minis and certain rules will over lapp from different surgeons way of thinking from patients perspectives, what works for 1, dont always work for another and thats goes 4 both bandies and bypassers, advice on here regarding wls is advice from a patients personal experience and thats all, as we are all very different and unique, yes follow advice from fellow wls patients but ultamatly do what ur surgeon says is best 4 you as an individual as they know u best.

sorry 4 me rant !

liz x

 

[Sambucca]

totally agree liz. xx

 

[Karlos]

Great thread Liz

Internet forums are great sources of support, but they do not replace the professional advice given by the medicos who are handling your case.

Put thirty weight loss patients in a room and you will get thirty slightly different opinions based on their own individual experiences.

My old doll used to say on mans meat is another mans poison. What works well for one might not be the best way for you. If you follow the medical staff you will be OK.

 

[cazbandy]

I agree with you 100 percent Liz...

 

[Mixman]

I have to agree with what you say.

I'm relatively new here but already have seen things that I can't believe. I guess all people are different and we can't all enjoy/stomach/like what others do.

I will say this though, if someone asks questions, then I will answer them with what I personally am doing/eating. I'm not telling them what I think they should do, I'm telling them what I am doing. It's up to them then what they do with the information!

I know it's very easy to think that we are all following the same 'procedure' but you only have to look at the varied pre-op diets to learn how different surgeons/areas operate!

 

[elffie01]

well said Liz.
Sometimes I think people need a gentel reminder

I take on board what people are saying and I would ask my surgeon/dietician before doing it, to make sure its safe for me.
Its nice to get different ideas etc. but just be careful I guess

 

[Bonita]

I said something similair on a different thread where somebody in pain was asking advice. It worried me that they weren't straight onto their bariatric team and the advice they were given differed so much.

This forum is tremendous for support and back up, but it can't be used for anything more than that. We must all go straight to our respective bariatric teams should we have problems and must always listen to their advice.

Having said that (certainly with Bypass surgery), I know for a fact that there are some hospitals in the UK like Telford for instance that are offering this surgery but funding is never put into place for any follow up or dietry advice, so for these people this forum and others like it are the only place they can get this advice.

Whilst I also know that a huge number of doctors are also completely ignorant when it comes to the after effects of Bariatric surgery and post op dietry advice, I would urge anyone that doesn't get the funding for follow up care to take the advice on board here and then discuss it with your doctor before acting on it.

It is worth remembering that more often than not, the best advice does come from those that have been through it themselves, but few of us here are medically qualified.

People must also take on board that there are difference between the pre-op and post-op care between Bypassers and Banders.

Good thread Liz and well said.

 

[elffie01]

People must also take on board that there are difference between the pre-op and post-op care between Bypassers and Banders.

Good thread Liz and well said.

well said Bonita

They also have to realise the difference between people, although you may have had the same surgery everyone reacts differently.

 

[Roch]

Totally agree with you there 100% we are all different and have different wls journeys with different health probs, in so many cases situations are so different from person to person and although we may feel that another member might be having the same problem as us but the solution may be totally different from person to person, so while i agree that the internet and this site can offer so much support and tips i would def be in touch with my bariatric team first if i had any concerns or problems.

 

[leedsjeff]

go girl maybe somthing should be said at top of first page about advice only but contact your suport team or gp as well

 

[topsy]

I agree with Liz - but i think the main point here is being missed.

There are now a lot of WLS patients whether they be banders or bypassers up and down the country. There are not enough official support groups held in which potential or post-op'ers can attend and get up to date information concerning nutrition, op tecniques, fitness and selling those no longer needed clothes.

I think now that the industry is so large that all the different bariatric centres in this country should get together for a large conference in which banders/bypassers (of different op durations) should also attend. Then they should look at the advice pre/post op that is given to their patients (again for both op's) and they should then listen to the invitied guests and then write UNIVERSAL guidelines that then future/present/past banders and bypassers can follow.

Not only should universal guidelines be put in place for all - but there should also be Cookbook/Nutritional tips written again for both groups for THIS COUNTRY (i know you can get these items for the US) and just like the US a WLS website (not just the minis forum) should be set up were you could have video's of chef's coming up with easy to follow and nutritional meals for both these group of people.

A lot of you are having your op's at young ages (in your 20's and 30's) for a variety of reasons. If you live another 50 - 60 yrs (if we are all lucky) then that is a hell of a long time to go through life in that weight loss situations. So again - ideally there could be some form of newsletter being sent out quarterly again giving usefull tips, addresses/phone numbers of bariatric centres, dietian nutritional tips pre and post op. And i think the there should be an annual wls conference for all bariatric teams and for people who are thinking of having the op, who have had the op's and then hopefully we would not have issues of malabsorption, or other issues linked to these life changing operations.

The reason we ask for advice on this forum is we have become a family and we trust tried and tested information that other wls people have tried for themselves.

But the way forward for greater success in the WLS area is to get the bariatric centres together (both privately and NHS run) and get something set but that is universal, easy, safe and beneficial to all wls patients xx

 

[fairyringuk]

Great post Topsy.
May I say liz I totally agree with you I am a trained nurse and have qualifications in various nursing areas, but although you can advise on what may be a problem e.g. maybe not drinking ,enough needing vits. etc. These are only suggestions and I am often amazed that people are not taking their questions and worries to their bariatric teams. (I know many do but there have been posts where people are not)
I always say in a post to consult their team when there are vague or acute symptoms.
Look at the thread on the article about the woman who had acute abdo pain and probably put it down to the surgery before she was rushed to hospital where she died of internal bleeding, now that is extreme but it is happening now and again as are other complications, and the quicker they are treated the better.
I dont think it can be stressed strongly enough that bypass is MAJOR surgery and there are some serious secondary problems which could occur and so it is imperative to discuss issues with teams, GP's etc depending on preference, or availibility.
Maybe if teams are contacted enough they would realise the need for extended care, not just for the next few weeks but for the next few years, even if it is only six month or yearly checks, and that by putting in a support group that functions properly as a support group, will help patients in many ways both pre and post op.
I also agree with Liz that banders and bypassers are very different and cannot expect to be the same symptom or problem wise for the same reason, even diet wise they will be able to eat or not, different things.
I am still pre op and find this group amazing at sharing experiences and for voicing fears etc. I always hope I am as successful as many of the posters have been, and that by following their advice for things like whey protein vits and attitudes to food that I too will have a successful weight loss journey, for these and many other hints and tips you cannot be in a better place. Also for sharing fears and realities of the ops themselves. Those who have been through it can give us their slant and experience on the ops, but they cannot guarantee that ours will be the same.
I think this has been a useful thread and Liz I dont think you were 'ranting' I think you were being incredibly sensible and caring.

Jay xx

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

thankyou all for your support in your replies it means alot and i appreciate it, i wrote this thread as i could see more and more differences in peoples opinions about certain things and people should always do what there team tells them first, yes we can all learn alot from each other and supporting one another is a major key to success and i strongly do believe that, i wish everyone here great success on there individual journeys.

thanks

liz xxx

 

[fairyringuk]

Thanks Liz

Jay xx

 

[Mummyof2]

I dunno if I can completely agree I've been told not to take vitimins etc till 6 weeks post op I'm running around after two kids I was only 12 weeks post csection when I had op, I bled for nearly 7 weeks after badily so my iron levels must be **** and I'm feeling like complete cr*p so I'm not 100% agreeing. My dietician sucks too pfft lol.

Clare x

 

[quetiapina]

Hiya, I think everyone here is pretty clear that they are giving their opinion or sharing what their medical/surgical team have said. And as you rightly point out Liz, it is important to follow what they do say.

I really like what Topsy said about a big conference and information/experience sharing exercise to rationalise advice a bit more - particularly, as she says, there are now so many people having it done. x

 

[Snowcrystal]

The old adage of 'safety in numbers' should apply here...that's what I will use this forum for if I ever become a post operative patient...

I have read posts here that would warrant an immediate trip to the hospital for me...but as we all know some of our symptoms can be vague, and this is where Mini's is invaluable...(not forgetting NHS Direct)...not to mention the amount of psychological support here...I consider myself to be a very mentally aware and together person but it certainly helps when I know I'm not alone in that instant when I feel down, especially regarding a WLS issue.

Mini's for me as a pre-operative patient and for all pre-op patients, is a fountain of knowledge from those who have gone through it...I'm sure my surgeon could not tell me what the pain is going to be like for me, as he has never had a bypass...he's experienced it visually but not physically...not quite the same as those here in Mini's who have had the experience physically and mentally.

Your medical teams advise should always supersede that of anyone else's???...Yes, but don't forget your own instincts...You know what's ultimately right for you...My father would still be alive today if it were not for a doctors mistake...I wish I had listened to my instincts back then and not have been swayed by others.


(((hugs)))

 

[Bonita]

I really like what Topsy said about a big conference and information/experience sharing exercise to rationalise advice a bit more - particularly, as she says, there are now so many people having it done. x

So do I but I can almost hear my bariatric team now...'who's going to foot the bill'... Some PCT's don't even fund a dietician or any sort of follow up care.

 

[topsy]

Funding can come from all quarters but mainly private funds, donations and investments.

Worldwide there must be a hell of a lot of people who have had bariatric surgery in one form or another. It has been going on for years (before wls people had their stomachs removed or reduced due to cancer etc) and these people lived normal but limited lives due to not having enough information.

We are now in the 21st century and to be honest (certainly in this country) we are not given good post-op information in any of the areas that will help our lives. Also this is my own personal opinion - that even pre-op not enough information is given to the individual e.g. if you have existing conditions you are not always adviced on the best way to prepare for your up and coming operation. More advice on diet/nutrition and fitness should be given prior to op in order to make an informed decision on how it will suit you and any other conditions you may have. Prior to my own op i thought i would do the milk and yog diet for ease really and i did not think of how it would affect me on all areas of my body. I turned out to be the wrong decision for me mainly due to having fibromyalgia for 9yrs and hypertension (and taking lots of medication on a daily basis). I lost approx 5 - 6 pints of blood (post-op) was given only 3pts to top me up - then being on fluids for 4wks post-op i was basically sh*t. I had no energy, my GP was extremely concerned for me and my health and my HB levels were not very good (actually nothing was very good). Had i been given better information concerning pre-op diets with existing conditions i would have gone down the route of eating a more balanced diet and tried to do some form of low impact exercise in order to help me post-op.

When things go seriously wrong (and we have had some of us that this has happened too i.e. Bonita, Brett) then we need to return to our bariatric centres - however if you do not live locally to your centre or it is a bank holiday then getting in touch with anyone or in some instances treatment being thin on the ground then it can have slow recovery consequences for that person.

More needs to be done by all the bariatric centres of banders and bypassers. Yes it would cost money and we are very shy at spending money on worthwhile areas in the NHS etc - but even some of the experts don't have all the answers and it is about time we had more information all along the WLS process and ensure that all information is universal and more opportunities for food geared towards the wls patient.

I know i have rambled but that's what you get when you have had lots of time to think as you have lain about feeling absolutely bl**dy sh*te.

Maybe we should start our own list of all bariatric centres with their surgeons/main nurses/dietians and then write to them and see if we can get them to sort something out long-term for all of the people in this country who will have/had have wls whether private or NHS. We need to start somewhere and there are a lot of us out there.......

 

[thinkbethin]

Well said Liz!! I agree that we all support each other but we all have different views which like you say can "cause conflict". Anyone wanting help and support from us are welcome to it but must always follow the advice of their surgical team.xx