Wandering_Stars
New Member
Hi everyone, I am looking for some advice on a WLS matter. There is something I would really like to gain opinions on from others who are waiting or who have had WLS.
First off I am NHS Funded and planned for a Gastric Sleeve.
I had the pre-op, got my date, and followed the pre-op Liver Shrinking Diet for the 12 days before hand, having got the date 12 days before surgery. I was extremely excited and ploughed myself into preparing for the op before and after. From pre-op assessment to surgery date, I followed a low carb / low fat diet, there was no way I was going to screw up any chance of surgery being cancelled. I wanted to be as fit and healthy as I possibly could.
I was asked by the Weight Loss Surgery Team after my pre-op assessment bloods to start some additional medications, mainly Iron, Adcal D3 and recommence on Victoza, a diabetic med I have previously stopped five months earlier. I followed all instructions, and I also introduced an additional Multi Vitamin Tablet into my daily routine.
I even worked out I could have some pureed foods on Christmas Day!
All was going well, and when I weighed myself at home the day before surgery, I was pleased to find I had dropped 18lbs since my pre-op assessment weigh in some 5 weeks earlier. I knew all was going well weight loss wise, because my clothes were looser, and my blood sugars on the low side, I also felt better and certainly less bloated! I took my blood sugar at home at 6am before heading to the hospital for admission and it was 5.2, perfect. It had been spot on for several weeks since re-introducing Victoza and cutting out the carbs.
I get a lift to the hospital, and I am dropped off and get to where I need to be at 6.30, I have to be there for 7am. I went to a normal surgical lounge and was told on check in I was 3rd on the list and that would be afternoon. I found this rather strange as I was initially led to believe diabetics would be first on the list. Eventually the other bariatric patients arrive, and I presume they are 1 and 2 on the list for that day. Number 1 get’s called in.
I am called in about 20 minutes later and I am introduced to the anaesthesiologist, a very nice man who asks varying questions about my health, and relatives health – this is the first time for me to have a general anaesthetic. At the end of our chat, he tells me he has concerns about my HbA1C and that it was a little on the high side when it was checked. I tell him I am aware of this, but since that blood test in October, I have been taking Victoza as recommended by the surgeon. I even point out what my blood sugar was that morning. Despite this, he says my surgery might be cancelled and he needs to speak to the surgeon.
I sit and wait, reading my book... eventually a member of the surgical team arrives, not the top surgeon who I met in the clinic, but another Doctor. He informs me that having spoken with the team they were in fact cancelling my surgery, the only reason given was because of the high HbA1C – no actually date of the blood test was mentioned, but I was aware it was the middle of October.
I feel upset, to upset to really question it, and I call someone to come and pick me up. By half 9 I am back at home, confused and angry. I was not even asked by staff at the Surgical Lounge if I could get home ok or whether I needed hospital transport.
Now because this is rather long winded I will aim to keep this bit short. I will say I communicated via email with the surgeon’s secretary, but the information I got was sparse although she was extremely helpful. In all my communications (I have copies) I pointed out about my weight loss, blood sugar control, and there request to start certain medications, all of which I did. I was even more confused when I was copied into an email by a dietician the next day saying ‘does this lady know if she refuses to see me she won’t get back on the waiting list’ That was the point I learned I had been removed off the waiting list for surgery...
Eventually by the end of the week (the op date was a Monday) I had a copy of the letter the surgeon had written to my GP.
It clearly said I had been discharged, 'As there was some concern I had gained weight since my pre-op assessment thus indicating I had not stuck to the Liver Shrinking Diet.'
Now you can imagine my frustration and anger at reading that! The letter also referred to the HbA1C blood test result, but the date taken was out by six weeks... it was done the middle of October, and they had down it was done 3 days before the op date!
On the morning of the op, no observations were done, no blood pressure checks, no blood sugar checks, no blood tests, no check of my pulse, temperature and finally my weight was not checked!
Now you might understand why I am so frustrated, they claim I had gained weight, thus indicating I had not stuck to the Liver Shrinking Diet... How would they know this unless they got me on a pair of scales! I know my weight was 18lbs down!
I should also point out that number 1 on the list that day overheard the surgeon talking to me and later told me when I was leaving that they had cancelled on her a month earlier citing her blood pressure was too high.
Now officially I have a complaint in with the hospital, mainly over the lies in the letter, and inaccurate recording of information, such as the blood test date. I actually had an apology of the surgeon via a SMS, but unfortunately, I had already posted off my complaint hours before hand. Now I appreciate his apology and the kind thought to contact me and my issues are not with him, but his surgery team in general and the errors and inaccurate information which remains on my medical records.
To be honest a lot may think I am making a fuss over nothing, but to have surgery cancelled is one thing, to have it cancelled and be lied to is another.
Some weeks on now, I have gained the weight back I lost through comfort eating over Christmas... and I am beginning to realise how much this has affected me. I tried to convince people I was fine, but the reality is, it has knocked me into a depressive state, one I was gradually coming out of... I am now struggling to get up, I want comfort food all the time, I am unhappy and find myself crying at the slightest thing, – Weight Loss Ward last night on TV was the final straw! :cry:
I am still waiting to hear back from the hospital, had initial contact with the manager of the Weight Loss Surgery Team.
I feel guilty because I have not been strong enough to remain on track. I had so many ideas and plans of what I was going to do after the surgery, 2014 was going to be the year I finally lost weight and went back to work... instead I am left wondering if the WLS will ever happen. If I am truthful, I am doubting if having surgery at this hospital is a good idea... after all if they make simple mistakes and lie in letters, what else could go wrong.
I had so much trust in this hospital and surgeon, but I feel I have lost that now.
Sorry for the rant! :cry:
First off I am NHS Funded and planned for a Gastric Sleeve.
I had the pre-op, got my date, and followed the pre-op Liver Shrinking Diet for the 12 days before hand, having got the date 12 days before surgery. I was extremely excited and ploughed myself into preparing for the op before and after. From pre-op assessment to surgery date, I followed a low carb / low fat diet, there was no way I was going to screw up any chance of surgery being cancelled. I wanted to be as fit and healthy as I possibly could.
I was asked by the Weight Loss Surgery Team after my pre-op assessment bloods to start some additional medications, mainly Iron, Adcal D3 and recommence on Victoza, a diabetic med I have previously stopped five months earlier. I followed all instructions, and I also introduced an additional Multi Vitamin Tablet into my daily routine.
I even worked out I could have some pureed foods on Christmas Day!
All was going well, and when I weighed myself at home the day before surgery, I was pleased to find I had dropped 18lbs since my pre-op assessment weigh in some 5 weeks earlier. I knew all was going well weight loss wise, because my clothes were looser, and my blood sugars on the low side, I also felt better and certainly less bloated! I took my blood sugar at home at 6am before heading to the hospital for admission and it was 5.2, perfect. It had been spot on for several weeks since re-introducing Victoza and cutting out the carbs.
I get a lift to the hospital, and I am dropped off and get to where I need to be at 6.30, I have to be there for 7am. I went to a normal surgical lounge and was told on check in I was 3rd on the list and that would be afternoon. I found this rather strange as I was initially led to believe diabetics would be first on the list. Eventually the other bariatric patients arrive, and I presume they are 1 and 2 on the list for that day. Number 1 get’s called in.
I am called in about 20 minutes later and I am introduced to the anaesthesiologist, a very nice man who asks varying questions about my health, and relatives health – this is the first time for me to have a general anaesthetic. At the end of our chat, he tells me he has concerns about my HbA1C and that it was a little on the high side when it was checked. I tell him I am aware of this, but since that blood test in October, I have been taking Victoza as recommended by the surgeon. I even point out what my blood sugar was that morning. Despite this, he says my surgery might be cancelled and he needs to speak to the surgeon.
I sit and wait, reading my book... eventually a member of the surgical team arrives, not the top surgeon who I met in the clinic, but another Doctor. He informs me that having spoken with the team they were in fact cancelling my surgery, the only reason given was because of the high HbA1C – no actually date of the blood test was mentioned, but I was aware it was the middle of October.
I feel upset, to upset to really question it, and I call someone to come and pick me up. By half 9 I am back at home, confused and angry. I was not even asked by staff at the Surgical Lounge if I could get home ok or whether I needed hospital transport.
Now because this is rather long winded I will aim to keep this bit short. I will say I communicated via email with the surgeon’s secretary, but the information I got was sparse although she was extremely helpful. In all my communications (I have copies) I pointed out about my weight loss, blood sugar control, and there request to start certain medications, all of which I did. I was even more confused when I was copied into an email by a dietician the next day saying ‘does this lady know if she refuses to see me she won’t get back on the waiting list’ That was the point I learned I had been removed off the waiting list for surgery...
Eventually by the end of the week (the op date was a Monday) I had a copy of the letter the surgeon had written to my GP.
It clearly said I had been discharged, 'As there was some concern I had gained weight since my pre-op assessment thus indicating I had not stuck to the Liver Shrinking Diet.'
Now you can imagine my frustration and anger at reading that! The letter also referred to the HbA1C blood test result, but the date taken was out by six weeks... it was done the middle of October, and they had down it was done 3 days before the op date!
On the morning of the op, no observations were done, no blood pressure checks, no blood sugar checks, no blood tests, no check of my pulse, temperature and finally my weight was not checked!
Now you might understand why I am so frustrated, they claim I had gained weight, thus indicating I had not stuck to the Liver Shrinking Diet... How would they know this unless they got me on a pair of scales! I know my weight was 18lbs down!
I should also point out that number 1 on the list that day overheard the surgeon talking to me and later told me when I was leaving that they had cancelled on her a month earlier citing her blood pressure was too high.
Now officially I have a complaint in with the hospital, mainly over the lies in the letter, and inaccurate recording of information, such as the blood test date. I actually had an apology of the surgeon via a SMS, but unfortunately, I had already posted off my complaint hours before hand. Now I appreciate his apology and the kind thought to contact me and my issues are not with him, but his surgery team in general and the errors and inaccurate information which remains on my medical records.
To be honest a lot may think I am making a fuss over nothing, but to have surgery cancelled is one thing, to have it cancelled and be lied to is another.
Some weeks on now, I have gained the weight back I lost through comfort eating over Christmas... and I am beginning to realise how much this has affected me. I tried to convince people I was fine, but the reality is, it has knocked me into a depressive state, one I was gradually coming out of... I am now struggling to get up, I want comfort food all the time, I am unhappy and find myself crying at the slightest thing, – Weight Loss Ward last night on TV was the final straw! :cry:
I am still waiting to hear back from the hospital, had initial contact with the manager of the Weight Loss Surgery Team.
I feel guilty because I have not been strong enough to remain on track. I had so many ideas and plans of what I was going to do after the surgery, 2014 was going to be the year I finally lost weight and went back to work... instead I am left wondering if the WLS will ever happen. If I am truthful, I am doubting if having surgery at this hospital is a good idea... after all if they make simple mistakes and lie in letters, what else could go wrong.
I had so much trust in this hospital and surgeon, but I feel I have lost that now.
Sorry for the rant! :cry:
