Guest guest Posted February 11, 2000 Report Share Posted February 11, 2000 In a message dated 02/11/2000 4:13:24 PM Pacific Standard Time, aehays@... writes: > I had a profound awakening this morning during an insurance physical with > an internal medicine group; this is the first time since surgery I've seen > someone other than my surgeon, Dr. Rutledge. The internist performed a > competent and thorough exam and finally asked about the WSL. I was reciting > all the good things that have happened since surgery and stopped when I saw > the skeptical look on her face. She said I was the first of the practice's > 8 > WLS patients who was happy with the surgery. Of the 8, 1 had a reversal due > to > liver problems, and the other 7 had not lost a significant amount of the > excess weight or were regaining much of what they lost. Three reported that > they were absolutely miserable and wished they had never had the surgery. > She > asked if i would talk with one of her partners, since I was definitely an > office anomaly. > Her partner asked several questions about my surgeon, my pre-op > preparation and post-op instructions, and I recapped my experiences. He > shook > his head and elaborated on his loss of faith in WLS based on the patients he' > s > treated in the past 3 years. After working so hard with 3 different surgeons > to gain insurance approval for those 8 patients, he and his group no longer > recommend WLS based on the failures they are treating. > I explained to him that it saved my life and i would have this lap. > gastric bypass surgery again in a heartbeat; he admitted that I was > obviously > healthy and happy. I also went in knowing my eating patterns would be > altered > for the remainder of my life, for which I am eternally grateful. I also told > him about the OSSG lists, the ABS website, my surgeon's website and to > please > not abandon the concept of successful WLS. > Some wise person in this group wrote that doctors see a majority of WLS > failures because the success stories don't really need medical attention. I > only hope the WLS successes make as much of an impact on health care > providers > as the less-than-successes. > > Cheers, > Anita Hays > Lap GB-10 Apr 98 > -115 lbs. and thankful for Dr. Rutledge > Thank you! I worked in the medical industry for a few years (pharmaceutical rep, BS in Public and Community Health Education), as well as being born into it (Doctors daughter). My first footsteps were in the corridor of a hospital! Anyhow, physicians are required to have a certain amount of Continuing Medical Education Units (CME's) to maintain their medical license. Those units can be expensive or free! The free ones are usually sponsored by the drug companies to boost their business . . . So most of a physicians post grad education is from pharmaceutical companies. (They believe in drugs first, second and third!) Therefore, physicians never get an education about gastric bypass or any other WLS other than what they experience with their patients. And unless they get a WLS patient post op, they may never see one as they don't know enough to make the referral! The physicians doing WLS need to be encouraged to set up educational programs for their peers. They need to bring in healthy post ops to tell their stories. In reality the real results of WLS are not readily obtainable by the your average primary care physician. Heck, just think how many of us didn't hear about successful WLS until we were totally discouraged with our lives as obese people?! I know of very few WLS that were actually initiated by the patients physician . .. . There are many things that need to change . . . Anita, I am so glad that you could be the beginning of what could a successful referral for another patient. All of us that are successful and healthy WLS patients need to see our PCP's for annual checkups so that the " the word " about us gets spread around the medical community, and that physicians can put the failures and complications into proper prospective. Vicki in CA (Who is an example of health and vitality now!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2000 Report Share Posted February 11, 2000 Anita, That's long been our experience, too. I've actually had people look at our healthy selves and demeaned we get it reversed cuz we're gonna die for sure. But if your doc knows how to nourish and treat, then you needn't be miserable or a statistic. I'd have died by 1996 had I not had mine done when I did. I'm already living on bonus time. If I don't live to be 100, oh well, as it was, I wasn't going to live to be 50. I WON! I WON! *** Please reply to me at: vitalady@... *** Thanks, www.vitalady.com Reality Check - long > > > Hello Graduates, > I had a profound awakening this morning during an insurance physical with > an internal medicine group; this is the first time since surgery I've seen > someone other than my surgeon, Dr. Rutledge. The internist performed a > competent and thorough exam and finally asked about the WSL. I was reciting > all the good things that have happened since surgery and stopped when I saw > the skeptical look on her face. She said I was the first of the practice's 8 > WLS patients who was happy with the surgery. Of the 8, 1 had a reversal due to > liver problems, and the other 7 had not lost a significant amount of the > excess weight or were regaining much of what they lost. Three reported that > they were absolutely miserable and wished they had never had the surgery. She > asked if i would talk with one of her partners, since I was definitely an > office anomaly. > Her partner asked several questions about my surgeon, my pre-op > preparation and post-op instructions, and I recapped my experiences. He shook > his head and elaborated on his loss of faith in WLS based on the patients he's > treated in the past 3 years. After working so hard with 3 different surgeons > to gain insurance approval for those 8 patients, he and his group no longer > recommend WLS based on the failures they are treating. > I explained to him that it saved my life and i would have this lap. > gastric bypass surgery again in a heartbeat; he admitted that I was obviously > healthy and happy. I also went in knowing my eating patterns would be altered > for the remainder of my life, for which I am eternally grateful. I also told > him about the OSSG lists, the ABS website, my surgeon's website and to please > not abandon the concept of successful WLS. > Some wise person in this group wrote that doctors see a majority of WLS > failures because the success stories don't really need medical attention. I > only hope the WLS successes make as much of an impact on health care providers > as the less-than-successes. > > Cheers, > Anita Hays > Lap GB-10 Apr 98 > -115 lbs. and thankful for Dr. Rutledge > > > > --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2000 Report Share Posted February 11, 2000 Hmmm, so maybe instead of US going to the ASBS conference, we should pack up the PCP's and send 'em as it IS a CME course! *** Please reply to me at: vitalady@... *** Thanks, www.vitalady.com Re: Reality Check - long > From: HaaseVP@... > > In a message dated 02/11/2000 4:13:24 PM Pacific Standard Time, > aehays@... writes: > > > I had a profound awakening this morning during an insurance physical with > > an internal medicine group; this is the first time since surgery I've seen > > someone other than my surgeon, Dr. Rutledge. The internist performed a > > competent and thorough exam and finally asked about the WSL. I was reciting > > all the good things that have happened since surgery and stopped when I saw > > the skeptical look on her face. She said I was the first of the > practice's > > 8 > > WLS patients who was happy with the surgery. Of the 8, 1 had a reversal > due > > to > > liver problems, and the other 7 had not lost a significant amount of the > > excess weight or were regaining much of what they lost. Three reported that > > they were absolutely miserable and wished they had never had the surgery. > > She > > asked if i would talk with one of her partners, since I was definitely an > > office anomaly. > > Her partner asked several questions about my surgeon, my pre-op > > preparation and post-op instructions, and I recapped my experiences. He > > shook > > his head and elaborated on his loss of faith in WLS based on the patients > he' > > s > > treated in the past 3 years. After working so hard with 3 different > surgeons > > to gain insurance approval for those 8 patients, he and his group no longer > > recommend WLS based on the failures they are treating. > > I explained to him that it saved my life and i would have this lap. > > gastric bypass surgery again in a heartbeat; he admitted that I was > > obviously > > healthy and happy. I also went in knowing my eating patterns would be > > altered > > for the remainder of my life, for which I am eternally grateful. I also > told > > him about the OSSG lists, the ABS website, my surgeon's website and to > > please > > not abandon the concept of successful WLS. > > Some wise person in this group wrote that doctors see a majority of WLS > > failures because the success stories don't really need medical attention. I > > only hope the WLS successes make as much of an impact on health care > > providers > > as the less-than-successes. > > > > Cheers, > > Anita Hays > > Lap GB-10 Apr 98 > > -115 lbs. and thankful for Dr. Rutledge > > > > Thank you! > I worked in the medical industry for a few years (pharmaceutical rep, BS in > Public and Community Health Education), as well as being born into it > (Doctors daughter). My first footsteps were in the corridor of a hospital! > Anyhow, physicians are required to have a certain amount of Continuing > Medical Education Units (CME's) to maintain their medical license. Those > units can be expensive or free! The free ones are usually sponsored by the > drug companies to boost their business . . . So most of a physicians post > grad education is from pharmaceutical companies. (They believe in drugs > first, second and third!) Therefore, physicians never get an education about > gastric bypass or any other WLS other than what they experience with their > patients. And unless they get a WLS patient post op, they may never see one > as they don't know enough to make the referral! The physicians doing WLS > need to be encouraged to set up educational programs for their peers. They > need to bring in healthy post ops to tell their stories. In reality the > real results of WLS are not readily obtainable by the your average primary > care physician. Heck, just think how many of us didn't hear about successful > WLS until we were totally discouraged with our lives as obese people?! I > know of very few WLS that were actually initiated by the patients physician . > . . There are many things that need to change . . . Anita, I am so glad that > you could be the beginning of what could a successful referral for another > patient. All of us that are successful and healthy WLS patients need to see > our PCP's for annual checkups so that the " the word " about us gets spread > around the medical community, and that physicians can put the failures and > complications into proper prospective. > Vicki in CA > (Who is an example of health and vitality now!) > > --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2000 Report Share Posted February 11, 2000 From: Marti at rhbmarti@... Maybe the PCP's just don't recognize their old patients after they've had gastric bypass surgery. hmmmm just a thought Vitalady wrote: > > > Hmmm, so maybe instead of US going to the ASBS conference, we should pack up > the PCP's and send 'em as it IS a CME course! > > *** Please reply to me at: vitalady@... *** > > Thanks, > > > www.vitalady.com > > Re: Reality Check - long > > > From: HaaseVP@... > > > > In a message dated 02/11/2000 4:13:24 PM Pacific Standard Time, > > aehays@... writes: > > > > > I had a profound awakening this morning during an insurance physical > with > > > an internal medicine group; this is the first time since surgery I've > seen > > > someone other than my surgeon, Dr. Rutledge. The internist performed a > > > competent and thorough exam and finally asked about the WSL. I was > reciting > > > all the good things that have happened since surgery and stopped when I > saw > > > the skeptical look on her face. She said I was the first of the > > practice's > > > 8 > > > WLS patients who was happy with the surgery. Of the 8, 1 had a reversal > > due > > > to > > > liver problems, and the other 7 had not lost a significant amount of > the > > > excess weight or were regaining much of what they lost. Three reported > that > > > they were absolutely miserable and wished they had never had the > surgery. > > > She > > > asked if i would talk with one of her partners, since I was definitely > an > > > office anomaly. > > > Her partner asked several questions about my surgeon, my pre-op > > > preparation and post-op instructions, and I recapped my experiences. He > > > shook > > > his head and elaborated on his loss of faith in WLS based on the > patients > > he' > > > s > > > treated in the past 3 years. After working so hard with 3 different > > surgeons > > > to gain insurance approval for those 8 patients, he and his group no > longer > > > recommend WLS based on the failures they are treating. > > > I explained to him that it saved my life and i would have this lap. > > > gastric bypass surgery again in a heartbeat; he admitted that I was > > > obviously > > > healthy and happy. I also went in knowing my eating patterns would be > > > altered > > > for the remainder of my life, for which I am eternally grateful. I also > > told > > > him about the OSSG lists, the ABS website, my surgeon's website and to > > > please > > > not abandon the concept of successful WLS. > > > Some wise person in this group wrote that doctors see a majority of > WLS > > > failures because the success stories don't really need medical > attention. I > > > only hope the WLS successes make as much of an impact on health care > > > providers > > > as the less-than-successes. > > > > > > Cheers, > > > Anita Hays > > > Lap GB-10 Apr 98 > > > -115 lbs. and thankful for Dr. Rutledge > > > > > > > Thank you! > > I worked in the medical industry for a few years (pharmaceutical rep, BS > in > > Public and Community Health Education), as well as being born into it > > (Doctors daughter). My first footsteps were in the corridor of a > hospital! > > Anyhow, physicians are required to have a certain amount of Continuing > > Medical Education Units (CME's) to maintain their medical license. Those > > units can be expensive or free! The free ones are usually sponsored by > the > > drug companies to boost their business . . . So most of a physicians post > > grad education is from pharmaceutical companies. (They believe in drugs > > first, second and third!) Therefore, physicians never get an education > about > > gastric bypass or any other WLS other than what they experience with their > > patients. And unless they get a WLS patient post op, they may never see > one > > as they don't know enough to make the referral! The physicians doing WLS > > need to be encouraged to set up educational programs for their peers. > They > > need to bring in healthy post ops to tell their stories. In reality the > > real results of WLS are not readily obtainable by the your average primary > > care physician. Heck, just think how many of us didn't hear about > successful > > WLS until we were totally discouraged with our lives as obese people?! I > > know of very few WLS that were actually initiated by the patients > physician . > > . . There are many things that need to change . . . Anita, I am so glad > that > > you could be the beginning of what could a successful referral for another > > patient. All of us that are successful and healthy WLS patients need to > see > > our PCP's for annual checkups so that the " the word " about us gets spread > > around the medical community, and that physicians can put the failures and > > complications into proper prospective. > > Vicki in CA > > (Who is an example of health and vitality now!) > > > > --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2000 Report Share Posted February 12, 2000 In a message dated 02/11/2000 7:52:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, vitalady@... writes: > Hmmm, so maybe instead of US going to the ASBS conference, we should pack up > the PCP's and send 'em as it IS a CME course! > Absolutely . . . I don't know how to get a course certified for CME's but that would be the best way to get primary care physicians to see the reality of WLS. Our surgeons are so busy, but peer education would be optimum. I wonder how many PCP types attend the conference? Anybody ever been that could elaborate? Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2000 Report Share Posted February 12, 2000 In a message dated 02/11/2000 11:21:46 PM Pacific Standard Time, hrbmarti@... writes: > From: Marti at rhbmarti@... > > Maybe the PCP's just don't recognize their old patients after they've had > gastric bypass surgery. hmmmm just a thought LOL, you have no idea how true that is! My PCP was referred to me by my surgeons office as I worked backwards to avoid setbacks in getting to the O.R. Anyhow she is very pro WLS and is the type to mention the surgery to a patient that qualifies that has never thought of WLS themselves. Anyhow, since I have worked in the medical field and have strong medical background, I usually become pretty close with my doctors, get more personal and discuss 'business' with them in a way that is different from their average patient . .. . One time after I had lost about 70 pounds I went in to see my PCP and get a prescription refilled (but not an office visit). She wasn't as warm and friendly with me as she normally had been, it was like she didn't know who I was. So I finally said, Do you know who I am and she said NO. When I told her who I was, she almost fell over! LOL and then she was her normal warm self with me . . . it was too funny. I am now used to people that have never known me slim to not recognize me. So I say Hi and if I see the blank 'I have no idea why you are being so friendly to me' stare, I introduce myself and say yes, losing a hundred pounds does change your appearance. So yes, don't assume that anyone including your PCP or surgeon for that matter recognizes you after you lose 60 or more pounds . . . Vicki in CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2000 Report Share Posted February 12, 2000 In a message dated 02/12/2000 1:35:52 PM Pacific Standard Time, dr4kids@... writes: > Instead, maybe a lecture or two about WLS > should be included in the general medicine/family practice/internal medicine > conferences so the PCPs can become more informed. As a PCP, this would > allow me to become more informed, while getting CME. Hmmmmmmmmm, I wonder who is responsible for content of conferences that would be an advocate for bariatric surgery? AND Is this a business or advocacy type of thing? I know when I used to set up noon time CME courses at the hospitals I was responsible for, we used a couple different prominent cardiologists to teach the course. I really would like to see WLS be brought to the attention of the physicians that are mostly likely to see patients that could greatly benefit from WLS. Lot's of food for thought. Vicki in CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2000 Report Share Posted February 12, 2000 THe problem isn't that the PCPs don't want to attend, more its a lack of knowledge that the conference is going on. THe mailing go out to the members of the organization (ASBS) and the conference advertising is published in surgical journals. Most PCPs don'r read these jousrnals or are not members of this organization. Instead, maybe a lecture or two about WLS should be included in the general medicine/family practice/internal medicine conferences so the PCPs can become more informed. As a PCP, this would allow me to become more informed, while getting CME. This conference is CME accredited, as are more courses that we have to pay to attend (and this one isn't cheap!). Carolyn Re: Reality Check - long >From: HaaseVP@... > >In a message dated 02/11/2000 7:52:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, >vitalady@... writes: > >> Hmmm, so maybe instead of US going to the ASBS conference, we should pack up >> the PCP's and send 'em as it IS a CME course! >> > > >Absolutely . . . I don't know how to get a course certified for CME's but >that would be the best way to get primary care physicians to see the reality >of WLS. Our surgeons are so busy, but peer education would be optimum. I >wonder how many PCP types attend the conference? Anybody ever been that >could elaborate? >Vicki > >--------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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