PCP won't do my 3 month follow up!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Went to my PCP on 2/17 , which was six weeks after my VSG. She was not crazy about me going to Mexico for the VSG prior to surgery, but when I saw her last week, she agreed to order the blood work and Upper GI for me at 3 months post op. However, she qualified it with if anything was wrong, then she could not treat me and would have to refer me to someone familiar with bariatric surgery.

Well today she called. She said she spoke to her administrator because she did not feel comfortable ordering the tests for me. The administrator told her I need to be followed by someone who follows bariatric patients. She said she cannot give me a referral but would ask their referral coordinator to write me a letter with a list of Dr's that might follow me. I would have to self refer and maybe I could research on the internet for someone who would follow me. She said she would still follow me for my cholesterol, HBP, and sugar levels.

I contacted a local hospital pre op that has a bariatric program and does sleeves to see if they would follow me after surgery, but they refused because one of their surgeons has to perform the surgery in order for them to follow me.

I really want someone to follow me because I have severe GERD (on Pantoprazole & Gaviscon), as well as some other co-morbidities. My insurance would not pay for the surgery because my BMI was 36 and they require a 40.

Has anyone else run into this problem and what did you do?

I'm going to post this on the OH and VST boards too.

Thanks,

Priscilla

[Guest guest]

HI,

I have never had this problem. But, I am telling you that you are much better off without this doctor. You ONLY need a GP and not any bariatric doctor. You need someone to run a full blood and nothing more unless you were having a lot of problems. The new doctor can help you monitor your meds, because as you lose weight you will need less meds. Right now you only need your blood work. They can help you with your acid reflux too. I never had an Upper GI and I know a lot of people who didn't have one.

So get rid of her. She will NEVER be there to support you and that is what you need. Ask some of your friends who their GP is. Make some appointments to talk to more than one doctor and find out how they feel. You are trying to make yourself healthy and most doctors should support you in this. I wish you lots of luck, but get all your medical records from this doctor and move on to someone who will be there for you.

Take care,

Suzanne

In a message dated 2/25/2011 6:44:24 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, psinc96@... writes:

Hi,

Went to my PCP on 2/17 , which was six weeks after my VSG. She was not crazy about me going to Mexico for the VSG prior to surgery, but when I saw her last week, she agreed to order the blood work and Upper GI for me at 3 months post op. However, she qualified it with if anything was wrong, then she could not treat me and would have to refer me to someone familiar with bariatric surgery.

Well today she called. She said she spoke to her administrator because she did not feel comfortable ordering the tests for me. The administrator told her I need to be followed by someone who follows bariatric patients. She said she cannot give me a referral but would ask their referral coordinator to write me a letter with a list of Dr's that might follow me. I would have to self refer and maybe I could research on the internet for someone who would follow me. She said she would still follow me for my cholesterol, HBP, and sugar levels.

I contacted a local hospital pre op that has a bariatric program and does sleeves to see if they would follow me after surgery, but they refused because one of their surgeons has to perform the surgery in order for them to follow me.

I really want someone to follow me because I have severe GERD (on Pantoprazole & Gaviscon), as well as some other co-morbidities. My insurance would not pay for the surgery because my BMI was 36 and they require a 40.

Has anyone else run into this problem and what did you do?

I'm going to post this on the OH and VST boards too.

Thanks,

Priscilla

[Guest guest]

Oh for God's sake!! Sometimes I am embarrassed to be called a physician!!

Suzanne is right, you are better off without this loser of a doctor.

If you are having problems with your GERD and want the upper GI for that reason,

find a gastroenterologist, because they can do that test for you. Otherwise,

the blood work should be all you need. If all else fails, e-mail me privately

and I'll order labs for you at your local hospital.

Danae (closet M.D.)

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzanne,

I have decided to look for a Gastroenterologist who will follow me for now.

This will give me time to find a new PCP who will be willing to take over my

total care. You are so right, she is probably always going to be throwing my

" VSG out of country " in my face as a negative rather than be happy for me and my

health moving in a positive direction. I need to move on.

Thanks,

Priscilla

>

> HI,

>

> I have never had this problem. But, I am telling you that you are much

> better off without this doctor. You ONLY need a GP and not any bariatric

> doctor. You need someone to run a full blood and nothing more unless you

were

> having a lot of problems. The new doctor can help you monitor your meds,

> because as you lose weight you will need less meds. Right now you only need

> your blood work. They can help you with your acid reflux too. I never had

> an Upper GI and I know a lot of people who didn't have one.

>

> So get rid of her. She will NEVER be there to support you and that is

> what you need. Ask some of your friends who their GP is. Make some

> appointments to talk to more than one doctor and find out how they feel. You

are

> trying to make yourself healthy and most doctors should support you in this.

> I wish you lots of luck, but get all your medical records from this

> doctor and move on to someone who will be there for you.

>

> Take care,

> Suzanne

>

>

> In a message dated 2/25/2011 6:44:24 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

> psinc96@... writes:

>

>

>

>

> Hi,

> Went to my PCP on 2/17 , which was six weeks after my VSG. She was not

> crazy about me going to Mexico for the VSG prior to surgery, but when I saw

> her last week, she agreed to order the blood work and Upper GI for me at 3

> months post op. However, she qualified it with if anything was wrong, then

> she could not treat me and would have to refer me to someone familiar with

> bariatric surgery.

> Well today she called. She said she spoke to her administrator because

> she did not feel comfortable ordering the tests for me. The administrator

> told her I need to be followed by someone who follows bariatric patients.

> She said she cannot give me a referral but would ask their referral

> coordinator to write me a letter with a list of Dr's that might follow me. I

would

> have to self refer and maybe I could research on the internet for someone

> who would follow me. She said she would still follow me for my cholesterol,

> HBP, and sugar levels.

> I contacted a local hospital pre op that has a bariatric program and does

> sleeves to see if they would follow me after surgery, but they refused

> because one of their surgeons has to perform the surgery in order for them to

> follow me.

> I really want someone to follow me because I have severe GERD (on

> Pantoprazole & Gaviscon), as well as some other co-morbidities. My insurance

would

> not pay for the surgery because my BMI was 36 and they require a 40.

> Has anyone else run into this problem and what did you do?

> I'm going to post this on the OH and VST boards too.

> Thanks,

> Priscilla

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

48 lb loss...that is so awesome!! I have been at a stall for the last 9 days.

I've only lost 16.2 lbs since surgery plus 13 pre op for a total of 29.2 lbs.

Has your nausea subsided? I am having problems controlling my GERD and I'm

waiting to hear back from Gaby as I'm writing this.

Good news...I found a new PCP (Internist) today who has other bariatric patients

that he follows and does the routine testing. I have a 40 minute appt with him

on 3/11 for an " establish new patient " office visit, then a physical on 5/2. I

am so grateful that I found him!

Keep in touch and please say hello to Robin for me.

Priscilla

> > > >

> > > > Oh for God's sake!! Sometimes I am embarrassed to be called a

physician!! Suzanne is right, you are better off without this loser of a doctor.

> > > >

> > > > If you are having problems with your GERD and want the upper GI for that

reason, find a gastroenterologist, because they can do that test for you.

Otherwise, the blood work should be all you need. If all else fails, e-mail me

privately and I'll order labs for you at your local hospital.

> > > >

> > > > Danae (closet M.D.)

> > > >

> > >

> >

>