Re: Perhaps I Need to Find a New PCP in Southern California - To DrR

[Guest guest]

Wow! Imagine logging onto a website and finding a personal reply

from my surgeon! On a SUNDAY, no less! Now that's what I

call " SERVICE. "

Dr. Rutledge, I appreciate your offer to talk to my PCP. Thank you

so much! I will have to coordinate the timing to fit both of your

schedules. Since you are in surgery most mornings, I will try to

schedule a conference call during the afternoon. Is there any

particular day of the week that would normally work best for you?

I did explain to my PCP that, contrary to his Lap Band patients who

have had NO intestinal bypass, and contrary to his RNY patients who

have had 1 or 2 feet bypassed, I have had 7 feet bypassed. That

didn't seem to impress him much.

Per your earlier suggestion (back in October), I have in fact already

switched over to the sublingual B-12, but of course at some point in

the not-too-distant future, I am going to need a follow-up lab test

to make sure this strategy is working. The one thing I am trying

like crazy to avoid is letting anything get out of hand. I want to

find any issues and tweak them before they get away from me.

Thank you tremendously for your help and guidance. I will be in

touch with you regarding the phone call.

JamiGoldWing

Two Years Out

271/158

Size 24/Size 10

>

> Hi Jami,

>

> Maybe I could talk to him on the phone?

>

> PS Try oral B12 and sublingual (under the tongue) B12

>

> Perhaps I Need to Find a New PCP in Southern

> California

>

> Hi, everyone. I am having a little problem with my PCP (the same

one who

> agreed to follow me post-operatively, " concurrently with Dr.

> Rutledge " ). He apparently does not understand the need to have

regular lab

> work done, and then to have follow-up as needed (e.g., iron

infusions, B-12

> infusions, etc. if indicated). When I went in for my two-year

checkup, he

> balked on ordering all of the tests that are included on CLOS's

list. He

> says he has several other gastric bypass (RNY) and Lap Band

patients, and he

> does not do all of these tests for them. He sharply questioned the

need for

> these tests. He just wanted to do a standard CBC and maybe a liver

panel,

> and forget all of the " specialty " tests that CLOS has recommended,

such as

> vitamin levels, DHEA-S, zinc, etc. But I finally prevailed on him,

and he

> did order the tests.

>

> Now it turns out that my ferritin (iron) is low and falling, and my

TIBC is

> high and rising. When I showed these lab results to DrR a couple

of weeks

> ago, he said he thinks I am going to need an iron infusion. My B-

12 is also

> low.

>

> However, my PCP does not seem inclined to order the iron or B-12

infusions.

> I don't want to " boss " him around, but geez, Louise, it's no skin

off his

> nose to order the treatment for me.

>

> I am at the point where I am ready to try to find a different PCP --

one who

> will not balk every time I need a test run or a treatment ordered.

>

> I am appealing to anyone who knows any good and supportive PCPs in

Southern

> California (preferably in Orange County, eastern Los Angeles

County, or

> Riverside County). Of course, I will need to make sure this new

doctor is

> on my health plan.

>

> I welcome all suggestions.

>

> Thanks!

> JamiGoldWing