Did anyone have to convince their Doctor that you needed the Lap band procedure?

[ShellieBell 0]

I am curious if anyone had to convince or prove their need for the lap band to their Doctor?

My family Doc is great and I love the confort level I have with on most things. He has shown great care and has been as gentle and supportive as he can be with my weight. I am just a little nervous about talking to him about wanting to get a lap band. I guess my biggest fear is that I won't have his support on it. Did anyone else have this fear? Did anyone have to justify why "dieting" alone wasn't working for you and that you felt that this would benefit you more in the long run?

[Drasan 23]

ShellieBell

I had those same concerns before speaking with my doctor. I was sure that she was going to tell me to go on a diet. But she knows my roller coaster history of weight loss and weight gain. She talked with me about the risks, the life style changes and then she gave me the name and number of one of her patients who was having success with the procedure so that I could get first hand information.

I was more than surprised by not only my primary care physician's response, but also by the responses of my other doctors; cardiac, rheumatologist, and my pulmonary specialist.

Each of my doctors agreed that band surgery would be beneficial for me.

Their support and positive reaction has been like a foundation for me to go forward with the surgery.

Please talk with your doctor, you too may be pleasantly surprised.

I wish you all the best.

[RobinAnn 2]

While I had no need to convince my doctor of anything (I was self-pay so didn't need her authorization), my husband did ask that I speak with my doctor and get her blessing (so to speak).

I was pretty nervous as my PCP was also the medical advisor for a Protein supplement diet program I was on three years ago. On the program I lost 90 pounds ..... and gained back 60 in short order.

My doc was happy that I was doing something to improve my health. While she had a vested interest in the other program, she is more committed to me getting and keeping my weight off. Her big regrets for me were the costs involved in my surgery (the initial costs and the travel costs for me for fills). We even discussed what we might do wrt my fill in case I had an emergency (350 miles away from my surgeon... or any fill doc).

If your doc has been witness to your weight struggles, I'd hope they'd be supportive of this tool for regaining your health.

As an added extra, my husband also asked that I talk with the dietician in charge of the previous program I had been on. (While that was very restrictive during the weight loss phase, it did have a wonderful foundation in healthy eating for "afterwards".) I had a wonderful chat with my dietician there, and while she wasn't really well versed in LAP-BAND® issues, she had supported many bypass patients in the past, so WLS wasn't a foreign or repugnant concept for her. She issued an open welcome to me to her support groups.

I have been very lucky to have great support from my medical team (except for the darn dermatologist that I had to see prior to my first, aborted surgery attempt.... but that's another matter....).

[nurselroy 0]

I didn't have to convince my PCP. Actually, I did not tell her; the largest healthcare system in this area uses an electronic medical record that many of the physicians in the area have access to in their offices. So, she actually found out by looking through my chart while I was seeing her for another reason and we discussed it. This is also the way my rheumatologist (I have rheumatoid arthritis) found out. While neither of them said anything outright, I could tell that neither of them agreed with having weight loss surgery. I could tell that they believed more in good old-fashioned diet and excersise, despite the fact that I have been unable to lose and maintain a significant loss in this manner. Both of these doctors have suggested trying to change my eating and exercise more; basically give it another try before having surgery. I actually have changed my eating habits, but am really just now able to increase my activity since my RA is now better controlled (I was in horrible pain before and many days could barely walk after work). They have both cleared me medically for the surgery, though, but just don't agree with WLS in general.

[BetsyB 9]

My PCP is extremely nutrition-oriented. I didn't think he'd support weight loss surgery--but it was moot, because his approval was not necessary. There was NO convincing to be done when it came to the guy DOING the surgery---so the only people who had to clear me were the handful of specialists (cardiologist, pulmonologist, etc.) the surgeon and my insurer required.

That said, I was in my doctor's office for another reason during the wait-for-approval period, and told him my plans--and he was very, very supportive.

I haven't seen him since the surgery--but suspect that having a patient who does well (and, really, aligns with his nutritional beliefs) will open his mind even more. Maybe one day, he will recommend it for his patients who've had a long battle with their weight.

Don't be afraid to discuss it with your doctor---you really may be surprised at the support you receive.

[patsal 1]

I was afraid my PCP would not be supportive and I was way off base. He has been wonderful. He is fully aware of all my struggles, he has known me for over 12 years at my biggest and smallest. He has seen my struggles with program after program only to lose and gain back more. He put me in touch with two others who have had WLS but not the band, one successfully lost and maintained, one lost a bunch but did put some back on. When I stopped in for his release a few weeks ago, he was very reassuring and even said, I think we have found the thing that will work for you. Keep your commitment to losing the weight and this time it will work because you will have the real help you need! I was shocked and very pleasantly surprised.