Funny story

[Guest guest]

,

my first instinct would be to say " unbelievable " , but the sad part is that

it's pretty believable. It's hard to find a good dr. and even harder to

find good customer service anywhere. Keep pluggin' though - you'll find

one.

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

[Guest guest]

I called to make an appointment with my hopefully next endo. Without

having a consultation with him, I had planned to just switch to him

since he was referred as a good doc on the Top Docs page. Well, the

receptionist or office assistant answers as thus:

Me: Hi, I'd like to make an appointment.

Old Bat: Are you a patient?

Me: No, I'd be a new patient

Old Bat: Hold on a minute, ( you can here the stress in her voice).

[Comes back on] Okay, I had to switch phone to get to the reservation

book.( a book??? Who on EARTH uses books anymore?) What is your

er..problem?

Me: Well, I have Hashimoto's disease

Old Bat: ugh...........what? What is that?

Me: It's Hashimoto's diseaase

Old Bat: Can you spell that for me? ( You can tell she is totally

disturbed as she has no clue as what I'm saying)

Me: um....How long have you worked with Dr. Grant?

Old Bat: Oh, a long time.

Me: (Thinking, how can I make this easier for her?) Well, it's

commonly called hypothyroidism

Old Bat: (DING! a light just came on) Ohhhhhhh....hypothyroidism.

Okay, let me get some info from ya.

What is your name? I tell her. What is your insurance?

ME: It's Cigna HMO

Old Bat: Oh, an HMO....do you have a referral?

Me: Well, I was planning on switching to Dr. Grant entirely, so I

wouldn't need a referral.

Old Bat: Oh well, he accepts HMO's but only by referral. Now, if you

can get a referral.

Me: Even if I was planning to make him my PCP?

Old Bat: Only by referral.

END of conversation

Okay, I've learned in the past that if the office help isn't good,

the doctor can't be that good. This woman sounded like she was 80

years old and could barely here and VERY SLOW on the comprehension

side.

Okay, well, hope you enjoyed.

Needless to say, I'm back to square one with finding another doctor.

This might be a story to keep in mind about the Top Docs list. It's

gonna take awhile I think to find a good one.

I'm thinking I should really just find a REALLY good, one who'll

listen to me, Internest. I'm getting the feeling that endo's who

specialize in thyroid problems are far and few between, that they

mainly focus on diabetes.

Well, hope you enjoyed.

P.

If it wasn't so typically sad, it would be funny. Welcome to MY nightmare.

Hang in there, good doctors have to be out there somewhere. love

[Guest guest]

I got several tales about doc's and office the one that happened just

the other day. I went into the GYN to check if I was going into

menopause, to eliminate that as a possibility for my symptoms. I got

an exam which I was due for as well. She, the doc, kept talking about

STD's. So I said, ok fine do them too. I get a message a week later

that said everything is fine. I should have explored it further

there, but I didn't. So I went to the endo and my tests came out

relatively ok. Just to check I called my GYN to check for myself what

my levels were. (after dealing with so many screw ups I'm learning to

look into things myself) I was told no, we didn't check your hormone

levels. That was the reason I went in there in the first place. They

said, stop in and we'll take blood. " stop in " meant a 45 min wait and

the nurse somehow did something that had the blood dripping down my

arm. Results in a few days.

[Guest guest]

Okay, THAT's ridiculous. I would think that per your conversation

with the doc that she would assuredly check your hormone levels.

P.

> I got several tales about doc's and office the one that happened

just

> the other day. I went into the GYN to check if I was going into

> menopause, to eliminate that as a possibility for my symptoms. I

got

> an exam which I was due for as well. She, the doc, kept talking

about

> STD's. So I said, ok fine do them too. I get a message a week later

> that said everything is fine. I should have explored it further

> there, but I didn't. So I went to the endo and my tests came out

> relatively ok. Just to check I called my GYN to check for myself

what

> my levels were. (after dealing with so many screw ups I'm learning

to

> look into things myself) I was told no, we didn't check your

hormone

> levels. That was the reason I went in there in the first place.

They

> said, stop in and we'll take blood. " stop in " meant a 45 min wait

and

> the nurse somehow did something that had the blood dripping down my

> arm. Results in a few days.

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I have to share this funny story with you. I'm almost 3 months post op and my

wonderful husband and two sons have been immensely supportive. They have

agreed to keep my " little secret " unless I chose to tell someone.

Consequently, my ex-husband has no idea I had the surgery. My ex-husband has

gained about 100 lbs since our divorce 6 years ago, and I had gained about

40.

Last month was my 50th birthday, and for some reason, my ex decided to send

me a gift. It was a 2 pound box of assorted Fanny Mae chocolates. I laughed

so hard when I saw it. He knew I had developed high blood pressure and type

2 diabetes, so I'm sure this was his idea of making me miserable. Well, I

haven't had the desire to eat even ONE piece. My guys have been picking at it

and my kids buddies can't believe I'm willing to share it with them, but not

one piece has passed my lips. I know I can eat one if I want to, but its not

worth it.

I am so happy with the 40 lb weight loss I have had. I have a note on my

mirror reminding me the MGB is a TOOL not a CURE. I try to concentrate on

protein, veggies and fruits and never get hungry. No muchies either. I do

chew gum on occasion if I'm struggling like at a party or something.

Thank you Dr R and crew for all you've taught me and allowed me to become

free from - the bondage of slavery to food food food. I'm wearing wonderful

new clothes and pantyhose that don't roll down, and even heels. I need to

shop for a new bathing suit for our vacation next month. Wow - who would've

thought!

We can all make it work exactly how we want it to. We cannot go back to our

old eating habits or we are doomed. A friend of mine had an open RNY 6 years

or so ago. He lost 250 lbs. He has regained 300 lbs. He eats 3 meals a day

at fast food restaurants and snacks on junk all the time. And right after

work he's at the bar for a few drinks. We have a tool that will carry us

thru our whole lives but we do have to follow directions. Good luck to all

of us...and happy shopping!

Joyce

[Guest guest]

THAT is TOO funny! My guess would be in the past 6 years he hasn't had the

desire to give you a " gift? " <lol> You should send him a thank you card and

tell him you HUSBAND and son's have REALLY enjoyed the chocolates! <lol> I

figure one good turn deserves another. I'd have to be a smart a** about it

and send him the note.

Congratulations on your weight loss!

in OK

MGB 3/29/2001

303/143

In a message dated 01/12/2003 8:54:50 AM Central Standard Time,

JCamp9000@... writes:

<< Last month was my 50th birthday, and for some reason, my ex decided to

send

me a gift. It was a 2 pound box of assorted Fanny Mae chocolates. I

laughed

so hard when I saw it. He knew I had developed high blood pressure and type

2 diabetes, so I'm sure this was his idea of making me miserable. Well, I

haven't had the desire to eat even ONE piece. My guys have been picking at

it

and my kids buddies can't believe I'm willing to share it with them, but not

one piece has passed my lips. I know I can eat one if I want to, but its

not

worth it.

>>

[Guest guest]

EX-HUSBAND RULE #1

living well really IS the best revenge.... mine is now bald where he

was once so vain he had to have special shampoo and conditioners or

he pitched a FIT! he is also one of those guys who ...although he

could lose 20 pounds isnt fat really but has rolls around his

neck....he didnt age well.......

ahhhhahahahaha

> THAT is TOO funny! My guess would be in the past 6 years he hasn't

had the

> desire to give you a " gift? " <lol> You should send him a thank

you card and

> tell him you HUSBAND and son's have REALLY enjoyed the chocolates!

<lol> I

> figure one good turn deserves another. I'd have to be a smart a**

about it

> and send him the note.

>

> Congratulations on your weight loss!

>

> in OK

> MGB 3/29/2001

> 303/143

>

> In a message dated 01/12/2003 8:54:50 AM Central Standard Time,

> JCamp9000@a... writes:

>

> << Last month was my 50th birthday, and for some reason, my ex

decided to

> send

> me a gift. It was a 2 pound box of assorted Fanny Mae

chocolates. I

> laughed

> so hard when I saw it. He knew I had developed high blood

pressure and type

> 2 diabetes, so I'm sure this was his idea of making me miserable.

Well, I

> haven't had the desire to eat even ONE piece. My guys have been

picking at

> it

> and my kids buddies can't believe I'm willing to share it with

them, but not

> one piece has passed my lips. I know I can eat one if I want to,

but its

> not

> worth it.

> >>

[Guest guest]

JOYCE, et al

You have the right viewpoint here. ( " I have a note on my mirror reminding me

the MGB is a

TOOL not a CURE. " ) I too view this as a tool that I can easily sabotage - and

that is what I

tell EVERY pre-op that contacts me. Its not magic. It takes a life change that

we need to be

willing to make.

You say " We can all make it work exactly how we want it to. We cannot go back

to our old

eating habits or we are doomed. A friend of mine had an open RNY 6 years or so

ago. He lost

250 lbs. He has regained 300 lbs. He eats 3 meals a day at fast food

restaurants and snacks

on junk all the time. And right after work he's at the bar for a few drinks.

We have a tool

that will carry us thru our whole lives but we do have to follow directions. "

That is exactly the right attitude to maintain long term. I just passed my 2

year anniversary

(MGB 1/05/01) and as many will remember had to use OptiFast to lose about 200#

before Dr. R

would take me on as a patient. THIS TOOL was the one I chose, the one I wanted,

and I was

willing to invest the time and effort to obtain that tool. Now, almost 3 years

since starting

on my journey and a total of about 400# lost I realize that I can choose to go

back to the old

ways of dealing with food and find myself going back up - rather than continuing

to lose slowly

even two years out. I bounce around now at 182-187 or so and have had a few

other plateaus

where I bounced around up and down. But even over the holidays I managed to

continue to lose

and NEVER feel that I have sacrificed or had to do without something I really

wanted. I even

had a little egg nog (emphasis on the little here - and non-alcoholic) this year

- which I

forced myself to do without for many years because I could probably have had a

quart or half

gallon and never feel like it was enough. Today, I can have a simple taste and

feel good,

satisfied. If I want a PIECE of chocolate I find I can be very satisfied with a

mini size bar -

or even just a couple of M & M's - not a 2 lb bag! And I don;t find the need to do

that often -

and never feel like I am on a " diet " .

My relationship with food has changed dramatically. I even find myself needing

to REMEMBER to

eat. Days are different and I have learned to listen and accept what my body

says. If I'm

hungry I eat. If I'm not I don't. No Pavlov's dog syndrome anymore and no need

to binge because

I feel I have " earned " it.

You give good advice. We all need to take it to heart. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! This

TOOL can be

fantastic - for me it was exactly what I needed to maintain control of my life.

It is a life

change and not a cure. Like an " addict " or someone with a chronic disease I

learn how to live

with my disease - and I do consider it that. But it does not control my life. I

give the same

advice to men that I counsel with prostate cancer. The chance of recurrence is

always there and

you need to be careful but not let it control your life. The same here. We have

been given a

fantastic tool but can certainly sabotage it if we fail to maintain control. I

hope I don't

fall into that trap and try to stay healthy and maintain a " eat to live " rather

than " live to

eat " mentality. I enjoy my new life - and the ability to shop in a normal store

- although I

now find myself chosing clothes that are still too big. I don't have the right

" picture " of my

new self in my mind. I can't see myself easily wearing a Medium (or sometimes

even a small)

when I started at the very largest size that I could buy - maybe an 8x or 9x or

more. I'm sure

the mind will catch up to the body some day and I'm willing to wait until that

happens.

Keep up the good work. I don't post often but communicate with many one-on-one.

Unfortunately,

some pre-ops I have written to seem to be setting themself up for failure - they

are looking at

this as a quick fix. This list has been very supportive and I thank each of you

for being will

to share. It helps.

JP

Starting weight - early 2000 about 600#

Started OptiFast May 2000 to qualify for MGB

MGB: Dr. R in Durham - 01/05/2001 - at under 400#

Current weight - about 182 lbs

http://www.mgbfriends.com/indiv/j/jp.html

[Guest guest]

My girls (11 and 9) were sitting in the ENT office with their brother (age 6

with autism) and I. We were waiting for an audiological examine and watching one

of those doctor channel tvs in the waiting room.

A Nutregena commercial came on the screen and my 9 year old turns to me and her

brother and says, " Look Mom...thats the stuff that is making Danny talk better.

It can clean up your skin too! "

I guess I am not the only one noticing changes in Danny!

Nutregena - Nutriveda who cares, as long as Danny is doing beter.