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WOW.....Really.....Seriously??



The above is who my doctor acts like. I went in today for my appointment and was debating on a fill. I think I needed one, but at the same time really didn't want one. I will get to that in a minute. Dr. Woodman, has absolutely no bedside manner whatsoever. Not that I can't take anything this man can dish out, but he just trips me out really. Today my scale still read 237#. I was hoping to see Dory, his nurse but no cigar. I knew his scale would read differently. As in more than what mine says, differently. And boy did it ever. His scale read 241. That means I am 4 lbs down from the last visit in which I weighed 245 lbs. I told him what my scale says and not to disagree with his scale, but to say that I have some adjustments to make, he told me "it doesn't matter what your scale says, mine is the only one that matters." Wow, really? The doctor then tells me that none the scales out on the market are reliable for people over 200 lbs and I'm wasting my time and money. He then asks me what I have been doing in the last month and I told him truthfully that my exercising has been off because I had the flu and I have been eating more than a saucer full of food on occasion. You would think that he would say something like "well since you know what you are doing wrong then I'm sure you know how to fix it." Hey I could take that, but he tells me...."well I think you need to schedule a surgery to have the lap band removed because obviously you don't want to comply with the rules to lose the weight." He goes on to tell me that I still have 100 lbs to lose and whatnot and I just sit there and zone out. I tell him I don't think I want a fill and he tells me that if someone doesn't follow the rules that a fill won't help them. I again tell him I don't think I want one and he says well I think a little adjustment might help. Contradictory much....I hear him, but not really. I didn't fall into his negative trap though because all of a sudden he pays me a back end compliment and tells me, I have had some success in that I have lost 36 lbs (according to his scales - 41 lbs according to my own). He then gives me a fill and gives me a thumbs up after giving me a cup of water. On another note I knew he as an

when I signed up with him. So it's all relative. And for the record my goal weight is 160 lbs so I only have 77 lbs to lose or 81 by his scale.


I owned up to the fact that I have been off with my food intake. Fat grams (because he doesn't believe in counting calories) I believe I am good on, so I feel I need to kick up my exercise regimen and increase the water. Yesterday my nephew celebrated his 8th birthday and I went over to my sister's house with some of my other fam and had cake and a little Hawaiian Punch. I would normally not have had any, but my nephew really wanted me to have cake. He doesn't understand about dieting and losing weight so you know I couldn't explain the lap band to him. He kept saying "auntie are you gonna eat some cake with us?" How could I say no. This is the nephew that has Cerebral Palsy and uses a walker. My sister tells me all the time how he asks for me. So I couldn't let him down. Here are a couple of pics of him. He is such a sweetheart.



I'm a little bit afraid of Thanksgiving, but hey it is a holiday. That's the reason I didn't want a fill because truthfully I want to enjoy the meal. I know it's wrong, but shoot, it's Thanksgiving after all. Dr. Woodman gave me a fill and I think it was .5 ccs because he doesn't tell his patients how much he fills. I did ask Dory because I saw her afterward. I am doing a bladder study for her and getting paid $250 to do it, so she looked in the computer for me and said he hadn't put it in there yet. Doesn't matter right now because I will find out later. I did get paid $50 for the 1st study visit today and I have 4 more visits in which I will get paid $50 more each time.

I won't see the doctor again until Jan. 6th and I plan to be at least 10 lbs down. When I saw Dory I asked again about the 1-2 lbs a week and she said that's standard and good pace to lose weight. I won't go into the spill Dr. Woodman gave me about successful lap banders and how much they lose. Sometimes I wonder if this guy has all his screws tightened.

Anyway, Happy Monday!!!

18 comments:

Alison said...

Oh my goodness what an arse your Dr is!! I can't believe that he talked to you that way.
Your nephew is a cutie and you were right to have some cake with him to celebrate his birthday, its all about balance.
I think that you're doing great.

Amanda Kiska said...

OMG, Pamela! I am packing my suitcase RIGHT now and I'm flying out so we can go BEAT THAT MAN!!! WTF????!!!! I am fuming right now. I don't think I can even articulate a thoughtful comment.

Okay, deep breath.

Seriously? Does he really think that's helpful? First of all, you LOST weight! You are down a POUND A WEEK which pretty much everyone agrees is the gold star level of weight loss.

The lap-band works because it encourages us to EAT SLOWLY, TAKE SMALL BITES, CHEW THOUROUGHLY, BE MINDFUL WHILE WE EAT, and STOP WHEN WE'RE FULL. In my opinion all we really need to do is strive to eat when we're hungry. Making good food choices most of the time is important too, but fat grams and calories and all that BS isn't all that important. And for crying out loud, you should have cake at your (adorable) nephew's birthday party! You should also be able to enjoy a wonderful and delicious Thanksgiving dinner. I know I will. And I've lost 95+ lbs. since February.

I hope you will consider looking for a new doctor to do your fills. This guy is not helping!

Pamela E. Williams said...

THANK YOU Alison and Amanda!! I feel better after getting that all off my chest and reading your oh so wonderfully kind comments. I'm laughing at Amanda wanting to beat up my doctor. With that bandage he had on his forehead looks like someone beat me to it, LOL.

I might just look into changing doctors. I will see. He doesn't think he is doing harm. He thinks his way of talking to his patients is helping them.

Theresa said...

What an Ass Clown!

Rachel said...

I agree...I think you should change MDs if you can. You need life affirming support...not the type he gives. Ugh..he's icky!

LDswims said...

WOW.....Really.....Seriously??

OMG! I'da not been able to hold my tongue. I say that...but then I don't tell my jackass surgeon what I think when he says stupid shite like that, either.

But I am most definitely finding myself a new surgeon. I've come to the realization that ALL of the people in that office are key to my success because I have to feel ok with going in to see them, to get fills, to give updates, and even to pay them. And I don't feel ok with any of it, I don't trust them because my surgeon says similar crap to yours and the front office has been over-charging me while smiling to my face. I got my money back. And I'm taking my shrinking butt to people that I will hopefully like (and who will hopefully like me, too). The rapport is needed. This is a lifetime we signed up for and if we aren't happy or feeling supported now, I don't foresee improvements in a year...or two...

On the one hand, it's a medical practice and they are trained. On the other hand, it's a business. And we have to be happy with the "service" we are receiving. It's too easy to take our business elsewhere - and I know that good medical practices exist. I have a few great dr.s (my ob/gyn and my Derm) a quasi-ok dr (my PCP) and a crappy dr (my surgeon). They run the gamut, just like the human race...

Hang in there, chica - I think you are doing wonderfully and I'm glad you had the cake! It's not supposed to be about deprivation, just finding the right balance. And birthdays are wonderful celebrations, especially when the birthday boy is such a cutie!

Anonymous said...

Wow, he really is a Jack Ass! I thank God for my doctor everyday! I went in today, 2 weeks early to get a small fill. I called this morning, and got right in. Dr Freidman is so nice and very complimentary, nit to mention, a cutie! Sorry for the bad experience, hope it is better next time.

Bianca said...

Your doctor is an arse of epic proportion. Good for you for remaining calm, I think I would have lost it. He provided you with no good suggestions and the thumbs up at the end? What the heck?

You're doing well and you should have medical professionals that are positive and supportive.

p.s. Your nephew is adorable!

Mary said...

We are twins.....I am down 41 lbs. this am!!!! We are right together! :)

Maria said...

Wow, I have no words for your doc! Can you get a new one? I know it's easier said than done, but that guy is something else!

Cindylew said...

I won't sugar coat it...what a dick head!
Don't let that ass-wipe bring you down...you're doing just fine.

Amaris said...

What a dick! I am continually thankful for my doctor and his staff; so sorry you don't have the great surgeon that I do. I would probably be looking for another doctor if I were you.

And congrats on your 41 pound weight loss. YOU ROCK!

Angela said...

Your picture said it perfectly. I can't believe that he would actually say that to you.

Keep up the good work. You are doing amazingly well.

Lady Lap Band said...

Hey Pamela!

I love Leslie as well!! I use to do her walk away the lbs all the time! I was just watching house last night so this story made me giggle a little bit. See it's so weird to me that you even see the surgeon for fills...they dont do that at my hospital. I always have a nurse.

Sounds to me like he was testing you because he was nicer by the end of the visit!!

Breanne
www.ladylapband.com

Pamela E. Williams said...

Thank you all for your encouragement.

@Lady Lap Band, I wish his nurse Dory would do it all the time, but I seem to think he gets a kick out of trying to put folk down. My family always tells me about the expressions on my face so I'm sure he was shocked. I have heard of folk breaking out in tears at the stuff he says. He couldn't move me. I think that's why he gave the thumbs up at the end. He was shocked that I didn't do like his other patients. He doesn't control my joy or sadness. I wouldn't dare give him that much power.

Nella said...

Have a fantastic and super duper THANKSGIVING!

MLM said...

what an ASS!!!! seriously...I don't know if I would have been able to take it...bedside manner is so important and I cannot understand how doctors don't have it.

please do not let that man get you down or stop you from what you are doing...this journey has so many ups and downs, and unfortunately, the downs tend to be more apparent to each of us and can sometimes smack us down. but, believe in yourself and realize this is a journey...tomorrow is a new day ..you are doing great and have made a decision to change your life for the better...

I hope that you are having a good Thanksgiving and stay strong!

Steph said...

What a total jackwagon! I know he is the doctor and knows what is best, but seriously dude, he could use a bit of education in his bedside manner!

I am very proud of you, by the way! The weight was slow to come off for me at first and you will catch up! :)