Re: PCP said No...Now What? :(

[Guest guest]

Jen... Call Dr. Aslam's office & ask them which pcp's they get

referals from. Change to one of those! Where there's a will,

there's a way! heidi

Home Page: http://www.mywls.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen ...

I have been going to my Endocrinologist (both in CA and here in MS) for years .. to help me learn to control my diabetes. We have done that very well for years ... none of which included being on a diet of any sort. They helped me learn good nutrition for diabetes contrl=ol -- they check my blood and my feet .. and I have recently been graduated to the picture wall -- for having maintained excellent control of my diabetes. They were also the first to agree that this weight loss surgery sounded like a great idea .. and are in full support of my efforts.

My best advice ... I would never stay with a PCP who did not want to care for the "real" me. One who believed what I told them .. who understood that I understand my body better than they do --after all .. I live in it 24/7 -- and one who wanted to help support my goals in a way that made sense to me. That is not to say that it might not be great to see the Endo .. you can always learn something new .. or new tools .. but I would also hotfoot out and find another PCP ... good luck!

Judi

Judi in MS

Denied - appealing

Dr. Booth

BMI 59

[Guest guest]

Jen,

Don't give up! My PCP was not enthusiastic about the surgery when I first

mentioned it to her but I went to see her a second time armed. I printed a

bunch of information on the DS procedure and printed information about the

surgeon (Dr. Gagner) I wanted to consult with. She still isn't 100% but

agreed to give me the referral. In addition she insisted I speak to a GB

doctor as well so I have both sides (she thinks DS is too extreme) so she

gave me a 2nd referral for Dr. Roslin.

I think information is your best weapon (because it is a war in many ways

with the PCP as gate-keeper). Get a lot of information, not just Dr. Hess'

report. And get information on Dr. Aslam as well. Give your doctor the link

to the DS website patient page so she can see that people are successful with

it. Most importantly, don't give up. My attitude was it is my right and you

(the PCP) cannot take it away from me...fight until she gives it!

Good luck,

<< Subject: PCP Said No...Now What?

Thank you to everyone who gave me advice on my earlier questions.

Well, I went to my PCP for a referral to Dr. Aslam, and she said no.

Unfortunatley, I didn't bring any literature with me, but I think I will

print out Dr. Hess's report and fax it to her. Maybe that'll help change

her

mind. She told me surgery was too extreme, and that it should only be used

as a " last resort. " I don't think she realizes that it *is* my last resort!

I told her every single thing I've done to try to lose weight since I was 7,

and then she said, " Have you ever seen an endocrinologist? " I was like

" D'oh! " I never thought about something like that. For some reason I

thought that for once in my life someone would say, " Gee, you're right. You

have tried everything and you're not fat because you're lazy or stupid or

have no willpower. It's actually something you can't fix on your own and

you

need medical intervention before it's too late. " But, you see, I've tried

every single thing in the world EXCEPT an endocrinologist, so that must mean

I haven't really been trying very hard at all, now have I?

So the gist is she wants me to go this guy for 6 months and then we'll

" discuss " surgery again. I'm all for the thyroid tests and stuff like that

because it's always good to rule things out, but he's got some kind of

hybrid

Atkin's-type diet he wants me to try. Been there...done that. Didn't work.

I just don't want to end up losing 5 pounds in 6 months and have my doctor

say " Aha! I knew it would work! " and then never give me my referral.

Is there any way around this? Should I go to a different PCP? Should

I

try to get my insurance to bypass my doctor's advice (yeah, right...like

they'd go for that!)? I guess I've never tried an endocrinologist, so maybe

it'll be worth a shot. I'd like to try it while I wait for a surgery date

though, you know? And then if it works, I can cancel the surgery, and if it

doesn't, I won't be making a consult appointment at 400 pounds instead of

300.

I'm sure lots of you out there have had to deal with PCPs who don't

understand/care/want to listen. Anyone have any suggestions?

Jen >>

[Guest guest]

Jen,

Get a new Doctor.. ! I would try to find one that is smypathic to

WSL. Perhaps if you posted your town someone could help in that

direction.

Hugs and good luck

Debi

> Thank you to everyone who gave me advice on my earlier

questions.

> Well, I went to my PCP for a referral to Dr. Aslam, and she

said no.

> Unfortunatley, I didn't bring any literature with me, but I think

I will

> print out Dr. Hess's report and fax it to her. Maybe that'll help

change her

> mind. She told me surgery was too extreme, and that it should only

be used

> as a " last resort. " I don't think she realizes that it *is* my

last resort!

> I told her every single thing I've done to try to lose weight since

I was 7,

> and then she said, " Have you ever seen an endocrinologist? " I was

like

> " D'oh! " I never thought about something like that. For some

reason I

> thought that for once in my life someone would say, " Gee, you're

right. You

> have tried everything and you're not fat because you're lazy or

stupid or

> have no willpower. It's actually something you can't fix on your

own and you

> need medical intervention before it's too late. " But, you see,

I've tried

> every single thing in the world EXCEPT an endocrinologist, so that

must mean

> I haven't really been trying very hard at all, now have I?

> So the gist is she wants me to go this guy for 6 months and

then we'll

> " discuss " surgery again. I'm all for the thyroid tests and stuff

like that

> because it's always good to rule things out, but he's got some kind

of hybrid

> Atkin's-type diet he wants me to try. Been there...done that.

Didn't work.

> I just don't want to end up losing 5 pounds in 6 months and have my

doctor

> say " Aha! I knew it would work! " and then never give me my

referral.

> Is there any way around this? Should I go to a different

PCP? Should I

> try to get my insurance to bypass my doctor's advice (yeah,

right...like

> they'd go for that!)? I guess I've never tried an endocrinologist,

so maybe

> it'll be worth a shot. I'd like to try it while I wait for a

surgery date

> though, you know? And then if it works, I can cancel the surgery,

and if it

> doesn't, I won't be making a consult appointment at 400 pounds

instead of 300.

> I'm sure lots of you out there have had to deal with PCPs who

don't

> understand/care/want to listen. Anyone have any suggestions?

>

> Jen

[Guest guest]

Jen,

Get a new Doctor.. ! I would try to find one that is smypathic to

WSL. Perhaps if you posted your town someone could help in that

direction.

Hugs and good luck

Debi

> Thank you to everyone who gave me advice on my earlier

questions.

> Well, I went to my PCP for a referral to Dr. Aslam, and she

said no.

> Unfortunatley, I didn't bring any literature with me, but I think

I will

> print out Dr. Hess's report and fax it to her. Maybe that'll help

change her

> mind. She told me surgery was too extreme, and that it should only

be used

> as a " last resort. " I don't think she realizes that it *is* my

last resort!

> I told her every single thing I've done to try to lose weight since

I was 7,

> and then she said, " Have you ever seen an endocrinologist? " I was

like

> " D'oh! " I never thought about something like that. For some

reason I

> thought that for once in my life someone would say, " Gee, you're

right. You

> have tried everything and you're not fat because you're lazy or

stupid or

> have no willpower. It's actually something you can't fix on your

own and you

> need medical intervention before it's too late. " But, you see,

I've tried

> every single thing in the world EXCEPT an endocrinologist, so that

must mean

> I haven't really been trying very hard at all, now have I?

> So the gist is she wants me to go this guy for 6 months and

then we'll

> " discuss " surgery again. I'm all for the thyroid tests and stuff

like that

> because it's always good to rule things out, but he's got some kind

of hybrid

> Atkin's-type diet he wants me to try. Been there...done that.

Didn't work.

> I just don't want to end up losing 5 pounds in 6 months and have my

doctor

> say " Aha! I knew it would work! " and then never give me my

referral.

> Is there any way around this? Should I go to a different

PCP? Should I

> try to get my insurance to bypass my doctor's advice (yeah,

right...like

> they'd go for that!)? I guess I've never tried an endocrinologist,

so maybe

> it'll be worth a shot. I'd like to try it while I wait for a

surgery date

> though, you know? And then if it works, I can cancel the surgery,

and if it

> doesn't, I won't be making a consult appointment at 400 pounds

instead of 300.

> I'm sure lots of you out there have had to deal with PCPs who

don't

> understand/care/want to listen. Anyone have any suggestions?

>

> Jen

[Guest guest]

> Jen... Call Dr. Aslam's office & ask them which pcp's they get

> referals from. Change to one of those! Where there's a will,

> there's a way! heidi

The most important thing is.....to never give up. Try something else. If

that doesn't work, think of more stuff to try. Then do that. There IS a way

and whatever you must do to have this surgery, it will be worth it a million

times over.

Michele B., Cols, Ohio

Failed VBG 1986

Revision - Open BPD/DS 7/14/00

320/238 Adieu, pour de bon, 82 pounds in 21 weeks

Dr. P. Maguire, Kettering OH

Self-pay

[Guest guest]

> Jen... Call Dr. Aslam's office & ask them which pcp's they get

> referals from. Change to one of those! Where there's a will,

> there's a way! heidi

The most important thing is.....to never give up. Try something else. If

that doesn't work, think of more stuff to try. Then do that. There IS a way

and whatever you must do to have this surgery, it will be worth it a million

times over.

Michele B., Cols, Ohio

Failed VBG 1986

Revision - Open BPD/DS 7/14/00

320/238 Adieu, pour de bon, 82 pounds in 21 weeks

Dr. P. Maguire, Kettering OH

Self-pay

[Guest guest]

> Jen... Call Dr. Aslam's office & ask them which pcp's they get

> referals from. Change to one of those! Where there's a will,

> there's a way! heidi

The most important thing is.....to never give up. Try something else. If

that doesn't work, think of more stuff to try. Then do that. There IS a way

and whatever you must do to have this surgery, it will be worth it a million

times over.

Michele B., Cols, Ohio

Failed VBG 1986

Revision - Open BPD/DS 7/14/00

320/238 Adieu, pour de bon, 82 pounds in 21 weeks

Dr. P. Maguire, Kettering OH

Self-pay