Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Primary Md is against lap band surgery



Recommended Posts

My primary MD is against me having the lap band procedure done. He suggests I "try running around the park and eat less". Then come back to him in 3 months and see what happens.:angry: I wish it was that easy. I already explained to him the terrible pain I feel when I walk, forget about climbing stairs. I am morbidly obese, but luckily do not suffer any major health problems. I guess that the reason he does not want me to do the surgery. Anyway I am in search of a new doctor!!!! Can anyone help me find a doctor within the NY area that is willing to refer me for surgery. I have already completed my psyche eval, and my nutritionist consult, I even did my lab work but no refferal letter (the only thing I need to get a date for the procedure). Someone please help. I am feeling so discouraged :( .

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I guess he is a skinny person who never had a fat problem in his life. Boo to him! My PCP was all for it,and suggested to my husband that he have it done too. Shame when people let their prejudices determine their opinions. Good luck to you on running around the park! :lol: Karen

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I can relate - 4 years ago when I decided to get information about lapband on my own and get all the way through the qualifications process, the last thing I did was get the records from my Primary care doctor sent to the surgeon's office as part of the 5 years of documenting my weight history and related medical supporting issues like high cholesterol. She was a doubter right up to the day I had the surgery but interestingly enough, she is pretty darn happy I have lost 140 pounds!

Hang in there and do what is right for you.

My primary MD is against me having the lap band procedure done. He suggests I "try running around the park and eat less". Then come back to him in 3 months and see what happens.:angry: I wish it was that easy. I already explained to him the terrible pain I feel when I walk, forget about climbing stairs. I am morbidly obese, but luckily do not suffer any major health problems. I guess that the reason he does not want me to do the surgery. Anyway I am in search of a new doctor!!!! Can anyone help me find a doctor within the NY area that is willing to refer me for surgery. I have already completed my psyche eval, and my nutritionist consult, I even did my lab work but no refferal letter (the only thing I need to get a date for the procedure). Someone please help. I am feeling so discouraged :( .

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What is your doctor going to do when you develop diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure

or heart problems? Find a PCP who is a little more proactive. I really hope it works out for you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I hope you soon find a PCP that will refer you. I had been working with mine to lose some weight but nothing was really working and when I mentioned lapband he was estatic that I was considering and made my referral that day. You definitely need a primary care that is supportive of you and your Quest to become healthier. Good luck.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Where in NY? Mine is on Long Island...I went to the Bariatric surgeon first. I never discussed with my regular doctor. All I needed was records with my weights from the last 3 years and I got it from my OB-GYN just because I was there in September. Then I made my own chart with my attempts at weight loss for the last 6 months. That has to be stamp by a doctor. I still have to discuss that on my next appointment. I was hoping they could help me with that but if not I will go to my doctor, I am sure it won't be too much of a doctor.

BTW you need to express to your doctor that you have unsuccessful and you already are in the process. For him to not allow you to move forward you may have to move forward with a different doctor. You maybe able to change his mind.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My primary physician is the EXACT same. I brought up surgery to him a few times in the last couple years and was shot down each time. SO I found my own lap band doctor and went through them. I was lucky because I had already been on Phentermine through a weight center so I had the 6 months supervised weight loss.. I didn't need my primary for anything except a couple weeks ago when I got my pre-op tests (EKG, physical and chest x-ray). He asked me what surgery I was having and I told him..he didn't have too much to say except my surgeon was a good one.

I guess it's different if you need a referral? I'm not sure how those things work since I have an open access health insurance plan.

When I needed xanax or paxil he told me to "relax and try yoga". Yeahhhh thanks. <_<

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow, that would really piss me off! I had the exact opposite experience. My doctor tried to encourage me for years to consider weight loss surgery and I kept trying to lose weight through every other method known to man. When I finally scheduled a visit to discuss it with her, she was thrilled! The funny part is, I haven't seen my doctor since my surgery because I've been so healthy I've had no need to go! (I'm the type of person that likes to avoid the doctor unless it's absolutely necessary). Definitely find yourself a new doctor. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just an idea, maybe your doctor doesn't want you to cure you weight/food disease because he will longer need to over medicate you. My surgeon mentioned this at his seminar, many doctors see patients will high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, obese with my medical conditions and decide to treat with medication. He says that the medical world needs to start treating certain patients with surgery, because it works and with weight loss from the surgeries most problems become resolved. NOW if your conditions become resolved, there is no need to see you pcp on a regular basis. You are not just a customer you are a person that deserves a great and healthy life. Find a surgeon from a center of excellence nea you and if you don't need a pcp referral make the appointment and move forward. They will tell you what you need in order to get the surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Bastard! mad2.gif Being morbidly obese IS a major health problem. I thought I was a pretty healthy obese person, then I had 3 blood clots in my lungs that almost took me away from my family. Not a single doctor, except the bariatric doctor I saw nearly a year later, had the nerve to tell me that the major contributing factor to the blood clots was my obesity. Beyond that, just the strain to an obese person's heart and joints is enough reason to consider surgery.

I wish you the best in your search.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×