Question:
Surgeon has declined to perform my surgery, I am beyond devastated...
Got the phone call this AM from the surgeon's office and got a big, "NO" from this clinic staff member whom I'd never even met or talked to before. Due to my issues with binge-eating, the surgeon says I am not a candidate for this surgery. They will not even submit it to my insurance b/c my surgeon will not clear me to even get to that step. I am shocked, stunned, angry, pissed, and in some ways completely numb. So, what next?? Well, if I can get the binge eating disorder under control for about a year, I can try again for the surgery... thing is, if I get the binge eating under control, I should lose weight, and once I lose 100lbs which will probably take me a couple of years, my BMI will be too low to qualify for surgery! Ain't THAT a bitch?! Will try to write more later, too upset right now. Anyone out there in a similar situation? Is OH just for WLS people? — Clumsybarbie (posted on July 15, 2009)
July 15, 2009
Have you thought about going to another surgeon?
— spittman
July 15, 2009
I'm really sorry that you have to go through this and that they told you
about it in such a crappy way. At least the surgeon should have called and
discussed it with you. With that said, it will not seem like it now but
its actually a good thing. No WLS will be successful if you have binge
eating problem. Regardless of whether you have gastric banding or gastric
bypass, binge eating will prevent you from losing weight and after surgery
(especially during the first few months of recovery from surgery) you risk
damaging your pouch if you binge eat. This all would make the surgery
useless, and you would have put your body through surgery and be very
frustrated with yourself because you won't be meeting the goals that you
want to meet. After surgery, the things that make you want to binge are
still there, so you have to be able to conquer the mental/emotional part of
binge eating first, then the surgery can help you with hunger. I speak
from experience. I had a bad binge eating issue and even though I was in
"recovery" for a little while before I started the weight loss
surgery process, three months after surgery I still struggle with head
hunger and wanting to binge, especially when things are emotionally
stressful. I can't imagine where I would be if I hadn't
"tackled" my binge eating behavior before I had surgery. So, the
moral of the story is that while it does suck to get your hopes up about
having surgery and then be denied, taking time to tackle the binge eating
behavior will make you healthier and your surgery more effective in the
long run. Also, I wouldn't worry about losing too much weight. Once you
get a year into your recovery, you can start the WLS process over again.
Good luck!!!
— ads2e
July 15, 2009
This would be a good time to get a second opinion !!
— matigian
July 15, 2009
I would find some body else to do the surgery...And I think just about
everyone who had the surgery, binge eating is what most of us did...thats
why we need the surgery..
— okbuffy
July 15, 2009
The other poster is right. Most of us are probably binge eaters. That's how
we got there. If you are binging and purging to, then it might be a good
idea to seek help for that first. Go see another surgeon. I was a binge
eater, but I didn't mention that to them at any time. I had my RNY almost 5
years ago. Still kept my weight off. Good Luck to you.
— smparker2
July 15, 2009
I think it's a shame that you were rejected so rudely, as if obese people
don't have enough rejection issues already. That said, I reccomend you
start working with a therapist to address the reasons for your binge eating
and then as other have said find another surgeon!
— browngathers
July 15, 2009
The surgeon sounds pretty crappy to me. You need another opinion and
someone to help you get through this is a more helpful way. Hang in there.
It will all work out.
— katiecakes
July 15, 2009
The surgeon who did my sister's RNY turned me down because of scar
tissue...I guess he was afraid of it...don't really know. Anyway, I was
devastated. I felt like he had thrown my life into the waste basket. I
cried for days. Then I found another surgeon, in Monterrey, Mexico, had
the surgery and am losing weight. I have lost 110 pounds from my highest
point, and still have another 100 pounds to lose. Don't give up, just look
for another surgeon. It seems to me that ALL fat people just binge from
time to time...isn't that what overeating is? I tend to throw up now if I
eat 1 tablespoon more than I should. This is a good incentive not to
overeat. All of my siblings are overweight by 100 pounds or more. My
sister who had the RNY last year has lost 160 pounds and is doing
fantastic. My younger sister is waiting for her insurange to respond. I
believe that we just have a lot of fat genes in our family, plus we all
love to eat. I also think that there is a poing of "no return"
in our weight gain...beyond this point we must have surgery or some other
drastic measure to help us to lose the extra weight. Again, please don't
give up...keep trying. I have been there, and things will get better.
Look for another surgeon...there is someone who can help you.
— Brenda Ashcraft
July 15, 2009
Terri:
I know how upset you are and rightfully so because of the way the denial
was handled. More importantly you need to get your bing eating
undercontrol by finding a therapist that will help you understand why you
do it and help you develop a plan of control. Even tho it may not seem
like it being turned down was a blessing in disquise. If you have the
surgery and do not deal the issues that cause you to bing eat those issues
will still be there and you could do more than damage your pouch. You
cause a rupture to you system and possibly die. I am not being
melodramatic, but looking at things from a common sense point of view.
What ever your issues are dealing with before they put you under the
anesthesia will be there when they bring you out of it.
Take the first step in dealing with your bing eating, and then if you still
need the surgery begin by looking for a new surgeon.
Please understand I am not being mean by any means just do not want to see
someone make a mistake that could do more harm than good.
Never settle for less than you deserve and you deserve only the best.
Hugs from baltimore
Lori
— abuddingrose
July 16, 2009
Have you thought that if you get the binge eating under control you may not
ned surgery. If you don't need the surgery that would be a blessing.
Dealing with binging with this surfery could be deadly.
Once you have things a little more under control make a decision wether you
still need the surgery and if you do see a differant surgeon.
— trible
July 16, 2009
Seek therapy for your food issues and seek a new surgeon... You will need a
puch eval anyway... if you are in therapy you are half-way there. Most of
us are binge eaters... but you need to work a healthy eating program
starting right away to help you with this issue. Try Weight Watchers... and
seek a new surgeon. WW helped me prior to surgery because I learned to
track my points, after surgery I track protien, fat and calcium... you can
do this. Don't be discouraged.
— RMM1108
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