Just to not lurk

[Guest guest]

I have been reading these posts for awhile and have in general been

" lurking " but now feel the need to share a little about my own

struggle.

I am an RN at a hospital that does a lot of RNY surgeries and which

does not do any DS. I work in the recovery room so I also get to see

a lot of " re-do " s of RNY, which is the primary reason I am interested

in having a DS. My BMI is 49...

Went to my PCP and asked for a referral to Dr Rabkin; with a lot of

reluctance, he gave it to me. The medical group (UC Med Group)

refused the request, saying that the services are available within

the network (they aren't...only a RNY is available)> In the

meantime,after a lot of soul searching, I decided that I would be

more comfortable at USC with Dr. Anthone, even though it is 500 miles

away, and so I asked my PCP to refer me instead to USC, and I would

appeal what I am sure will be their denial. My PCP acted as if I was

being obstinate and unreasonable and said, " Why don't you just go get

a gastric bypass---you wouldn't have to appeal, you could get one in

two months, it would take care of the problem. " When I pointed out

all the re-dos I see---he said, " Well, they are getting better all

the time at these and I am sure there won't be so many re-dos in five

years. " ...as if he has some special knowledge or has done the

research (which he hasn't!). He finally agreed to refer me to USC,

reluctantly, and that is where I stand---I am waiting for UCDMG to

deny that referral and then I will appeal it.

So. I wanted to tell people whose stories I have been reading about

my own story, and introduce myself...I am not normally shy but for

some reason am a little with this online thing....but....hi....I wish

all of you success...and know that I am rooting for you...it is

interesting for me to have the inside view of the medical community

that I do have and to also experience the condecension and

misunderstanding that so many of us get to experience from doctors

and nurses as patients. I know it has made me a better nurse to read

some of the stories online here...Jane