Genell/PCP Visit

[Guest guest]

Hi Genell,

For your first discussion of wls with your PCP, definitely bring

along documentation. I brought a 3 page summary of the

advantages/disadvantages of the 3 main types of WLS (VBG, RNY and

BPD/DS) which included before/after diagrams. I can forward you a

Powerpoint file that has these summaries if you're interested; email

me please.

I also brought the Hess report (you can get a copy of that in the

files section of this list), a summary report of a Gagner paper

published in Dec 2000 on the success of the DS and a handwritten list

of as many diets I could remember trying (dates, amounts lost and

amounts gained back). I made a separate copy of all of these things

to leave with my doctor so he could read it in greater detail at a

later time.

I told my PCP I was considering wls. I explained the 3 kinds; the

VBG being somewhat outdated, the RNY being the " most common " and the

BPD/DS being the type I wanted. I used the diagrams to show the

difference.

Of course, I may not be the best example. My PCP was NOT very

supportive during my first visit. You can read about it in my AMOS

profile; link below, if you're interested. But in the end, I managed

to turn him around and now he is giving me his open support. While

he may not be entirely convinced, when he sees my weight loss I think

I will have a true supporter! Some of the gals/receptionists in his

office already told me they were thoroughly impressed with the

research I had done and one woman even wanted to pass some info on to

her daughter who was considering RNY before she made her final

decision!

Just explain there are only 32 surgeons in the world who are

performing the BPD/DS. Bring the entire list from

www.duodenalswitch.com. Say you have chosen Dr Elariny and want a

referral for him.

I wish you all the best. Please keep in touch and let us know how

you make out!

Terri Hassiak

BMI 60

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=H980366398

Appealed " Out-of-Network " Ins. Denial - AND WON!!!

BPD/DS with Dr Pomp on 6/25/01

email(no spaces): bunsofluff @ hotmail.com

> I will be meeting with my PCP really soon. I have to convince him

to refer

> me first of all for the BPD/DS instead of the Roux-en-Y. He

probably is

> going to give me a hard time with my age only being 32. But then

again, I

> have always been overweight. He really hasn't seen much of me as I

don't

> typically go to the doctor. Matter of fact, he probably doesn't

even really

> remember me. I don't have lots of medical history other than my

> infertility. I do go to my gynecologist/infertility specialist

though. He

> has been through the whole infertility game with me. I have PCOS

which is

> very much related to my obesity issue. So, maybe he will be more

with me

> for this. Anyway, I have BCBS/State Employee's of NC for

insurance. It is

> not an HMO. My biggest concern is going to be getting the PCP to

refer me

> to Dr. Elariny who is in VA. If he even agrees with me that I

should get

> the BPD/DS, there is Dr. in Winston-Salem, NC that does

the surgery

> only open though. At my age, I really want the lap if I can get

it. Are

> there any articles or info that I should arm myself with when I go

to the

> PCP referencing long-term results of the BPD/DS surgery versus Roux-

en-Y,

> etc? What would y'all do if you were me? I can tell now that I am

on a

> downhill slow slide with my body. I am starting to retain fluid in

my feet,

> my upper back hurts everyday from the weight, I can't lose the

weight and my

> BP is 165/90. So, it is borderline high. And sometimes at night

in bed, I

> will have a little acid reflux. So, that is about it. But I want

to lose

> this weight and nip it in the bud before I get really bad off. How

am I

> going to convince the PCP to refer me for this surgery and

particularly to

> someone out of state?

>

> Any suggestions?

>

> Regards,

>

> Genell Pridgen