more...Re: Just to not lurk

May 14, 2001

At 8:23 PM +0000 5/14/01, spiritdivine@... wrote:

.... 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!).

My PCP pointed me at a WLS clinic in downtown Washington where

only open RnY is done. Seems that the surgeon there had some

local publicity, and that's about all that my PCP knew about WLS.

So, I had to do the research and educate both of us, and my

cardiologist as well. Happily, both are genuine folk who do not

purport to know it all, even though both are highly regarded within

their specialties, and both were grateful for the information. in

fact, my cardiologist's nurse is going to have a procedure (a VBG)

with Dr. Elariny in a day or so, largely as a result of my having made

them aware of Dr. E. My PCP at first asked me why I did not

choose to have surgery with the specialist to whom he had pointed me,

and that is when my information flow back to my PCP began.

Result: when my PCP wrote the Letter of Medical Necessity for my

insurance application, he specifically named the BPD/DS and Dr. Hazem

Elariny (which pleased Dr.E .no end, BTW!).

My point: it is up to us to do the research

and to assist our medical " team " learn what is out

there. Problem is that too many of them have a God

Complex and will not learn from lay people. The answer: get a

new PCP when and if possible.

--Steve

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