Re: Finding the Right Doctor for Surgical Follow-up

[Guest guest]

Hi..

It is important to maintain a relationship with the physcian

that did your surgery for the rest of you life. I like you

left the area after 3 years of my surgery, and he referred

me to a surgeon that he had taught the procedure to and that

knows knows our special needs...

This is NOT usually the case of most patients, they do not

continue with follow-ups and therefore, end up gaining back

their weight and more within 5 years.

You " WILL " have to take the time to educate your primary

care physician..if this is who you must use. It is your life

that you want to take care of, you will be the only one that

suffers from not doing so. Your only alternative is to find

a " bariatric " surgeon to take you on as a patient.

I currently have a bariatric surgeon to take care of my

special needs and have a primary care physician for any

thing else that might need attention....and I have stressed

a realtionship between both, so each knows what the other is

doing in treating me.

You might want to check for a " bariatric " member on the web

using the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons web site

(ASBS) for the members in your area. There are many

bariatric surgeons throughout the country, that have NOT

joined the ASBS, you can check with your local hospital(s)

for a list of surgeons that do weight loss surgery. A

bariatric surgeon (surgeons that do weight loss surgery) is

a surgeon that has taken a 3 1/2 day training, to learn the

procedure and is then certified by their state to perform

such procedures.

Hope this helps you,

///Bob

Finding the Right Doctor for

Surgical Follow-up

> Hello, people:

>

> I had the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch

(BPD/DS) in

> March 2001, in a city quite distant from my home. I've

since

> switched insurers, to Kaiser. I'm having some trouble

educating my

> new primary-care physician about the surgery, and about

what blood

> tests I need done. He is only vaguely aware of what's

involved with

> the RNY, and completely clueless about my surgery. Plus,

I don't

> much care for the idea of having to educate my physician.

>

> I have some questions:

>

> 1) Do most people continue to go to the surgeon for

follow-up care

> after the first year?

>

> 2) If not, do you rely on your primary-care physician? If

so, does

> he consult regularly with your surgeon?

>

> 3) Have any of you received a referral to an

endocrinologist? Is

> there some other kind of specialist we should see if

deficiencies

> show up in our bloodwork?

>

> I'd especially like to hear from other people with Kaiser

in the D.C.

> area. If you like, please e-mail me at kaybeekaybeebee @

yahoo.com

> (no spaces).

>

> Thanks.

>

> Kay B.

> BPD/DS - Dr. Ren

> March 2001

>

>

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe:

mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/4/2002 7:59:01 AM Pacific Standard Time,

kaybeekaybeebee@... writes:

> 1) Do most people continue to go to the surgeon for follow-up care

> after the first year?

>

> 2) If not, do you rely on your primary-care physician? If so, does

> he consult regularly with your surgeon?

>

> 3) Have any of you received a referral to an endocrinologist? Is

> there some other kind of specialist we should see if deficiencies

> show up in our bloodwork?

>

1. I do not see my surgeon (I am 2 years post-op, DS). He still gets

copies of my blood work, and sends me a little review sheet. I don't really

need that, since I get a copy of the full report and track it myself.

2. My PCP was a new one to me after surgery, and I never really saw him

for anything. He is familiar with the DS surgery, is friends with the

surgeon, but does not take a real active interest in care. For example, he

never bothered to tell me the results of my bone scan, which showed

osteopenia. I have not had any real problems, so maybe he would be more

proactive if I did. I am changing PCP's.

3. The PCP I am changing to is someone with a great deal of experience

evaluating bloodwork. She actually runs a fast program often required by my

insurance company prior to approving DS surgery, so is actually fairly well

educated about weight loss, maintenance, nutrition, etc. Obviously, we don't

see eye to eye about the best way to lose weight , but she is very

familiar with my surgery, my surgeon, etc.

Kate

[Guest guest]

Dear Kay,

I also had Lap DS with Dr. Ren (4/26/01) and since I live in Northern

New Jersey, it is easy for me to follow-up with her. I keep in touch

with her and go to my PCP for follow-ups. Dr. Ren (Gio, NP) will

send you the list of needed labs that should be done post DS, keep a

copy and give a copy to your PCP. Your PCP can then order those labs

at the recommended intervals (I have been getting labs done every 3

months but will be going every 6 months, not more). I sign a consent

and have the lab send a copy of the results directly to Dr. Ren or

you get a copy (you should have copies of all your labs for your own

records) and fax them to her office. Barrie, her nutritionist will

review them with Dr. Ren and call you with any recommendations. Of

course, if there is any problem, Dr. Ren can make a recommendation to

your PCP. The only " education " your PCP (or any other doctor you

see) really needs (and should have) is a copy of your operative

report. You should also have a copy. If I have to see a new doctor

(my GYN for example) I give them a copy of my operative report and a

copy of my last lab results. Your surgeon and her staff are only a

phone call and fax away. You can get the care you need with any PCP

as the proxy. If you run into any problems with your labs, you can

consult with an endocrinoligist or hematolagist (especially good for

any iron issues). My PCP has spoken with Dr. Ren and she is very

available to render assistance if ever needed. Good Luck.

Jodi ~ Age 38

230/112 ~ 5' 3.5 "

Lap BPD/DS ~ 4/26/01

Dr. Ren, NYU