I get better care from my primary doc than I am getting from the psych. For whatever reason, my surgeon wanted me to get one and continue seeing one after the surgery (RnY gastric bypass). I had to get cleared by one before getting the surgery, and I was cleared. The surgeon wanted me to continue seeing one after the surgery because it’s widely known that as the body changes the person goes through emotional turmoil. Okay.
As I didn’t like the one I saw originally (he wanted to talk about himself and his story idea and the perfect first paragraph that he wrote for it . . . ), I decided to look for another. Seems like where I live, the psychs either leave, move, or aren’t taking new patients. The ones that are taking new patients have waiting lists or will treat only drug addictions.
Okay.
Finally found one. I really liked the guy on the first appointment, he listened to me and noted what I wanted to talk about, and we talked. Then it quickly devolved into only talking about the gastric bypass and how was I doing with it, like at the second appointment. I would try to bring the focus onto what I needed to talk about, and it wasn’t about food or being scared of the dumping syndrome.
And even though he notes on his computer, at least that is what I’m guessing he’s doing, the meds that I’m taking and for what, he always seems genuinely surprised at what I’m taking and for what I am taking the meds for. So, each time, he asks me how I’m doing (fine, sometimes stressed about school) which then he always asks if I’m teaching (um no, still going for my degrees) which is followed by the usual, what are you getting your degree in (dual degrees, English and Technical Communication). Amazingly, he is always surprised that I’m not exercising even though I come in with my walker every time, and he’s always surprised that I have lower back problems and can’t walk without extreme pain.
So he asks if I am having problems with the dumping syndrome or fear it. Which I always say no.
I try to talk about some issues I have that I need help with, such as my mother, or how to deal with chronic pain and resulting depression. But always back to the dumping syndrome. Sheesh!
I’m tired of giving the guy money for 10 minutes of nothing. I’m not sure why I need to talk to the guy about something that doesn’t affect me. I know that the dumping syndrome can cause people to feel like they are dying, however, I suspect with the meds that I’m on for my lower back, and the resulting nerve damage from the back probs, I’m not experiencing the dreaded dumping syndrome that RnY patients experience when they consume sugar—apparently because the part of the colon that processes sugar is bypassed, and the rest of the colon freaks out when sugar hits it, causing the body to go into sweats, cramps, and heart palpitations and other icky stuff. The symptoms are so bad that people think they are dying if they haven’t experienced it. I wonder if it’s just a bogeyman story as I’ve consumed sugar (I know, shocking) and no symptoms. I’m not sure if I have met anybody directly that has had the dumping syndrome.
Oh, and when I was having a bout of severe depression, the psych dismissed it and didn’t even consider increasing or changing my meds. Guess what he changed the subject to.
I’m not the poster child for weight loss surgery, but I have lost weight (100+ pounds) and it is slowly coming off and staying off. I’ve lost enough weight that it is now possible me to have back surgery and hopefully help reduce the lower back symptoms.
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