Well in 23 more days i will be a sleevey with the rest of you lovely bunch. Now my question is how did you tell your pcp? i want to tell him. i mean he knows i wanted it and we talk about it for a year and when i fnd out my insurence just covers the rny i left it alone for a while. when i find out about mexico i decide on a doctor and everything and i'm all set to go..........now how do i tell him this? people are sooooo negative and i really just don't know what to do. I would like to have my blood check from time to time but just worry about what he will say please help. oh and another thing did you tell friends....i haven't too scared. the few i did tell i told them it was out of state........i'm not really lieing am i? but it kinda hard. How will i tell my mom? my sisters? My boyfriend is 100 percent supportive so that a good thing but ugh it too much to think about.

It's your life, your body and if your PCP is worth anything, he will not judge you and will do everything he can to support you and be happy to handle your follow-up .. tell him this is what you are going to do and you hope he will be willing to continue to have you as a patient. IF not, find another PCP.

As for telling others, I chose not to - there are very very few that know the entire story. Others I told I had a hiatal hernia repaired - which is the truth. I just didn't mention the surgery. That is a personal choice as well.

Congratulations on finding a surgeon and scheduling your surgery. Who is your doctor?

I told everyone, but I waited until I was very close to surgery to do so. You have to do what makes you comfortable.

thanks guys! My doctor is dr. Almanza-Reyes. A girl at my college had him 7 months ago and she doing great. I just want to be able to have my blood check from time to time youi know and whatever comes with the after care.:thumbup: this whole thing has been rough on the emotional side as soon as you got one question answer or done another pops up lol running on empty:blush:

I told my PCP and she was very cool about it. She did seem just a little bit concerned, but she said she knew that it was becoming a lot more common for people to go to Mexico for these kind of surgeries. I just explained to her all the research I had done and she said she felt good about the fact that Dr. Aceves is an FACS. She also told me she would check out his website and would call me if she saw anything that gave her any concerns. (Since I haven't heard back from her, I assume she was satisfied with what she found.) And she seemed quite willing to order any tests I would need for aftercare. Overall, I would say she was very supportive. As for my family, they all know I'm having surgery, but right now only my mom knows it's happening in Mexico. (I was originally scheduled with a U.S. surgeon, but canceled when I realized I could get it done in Mexico by a surgeon with much, much more sleeve experience for less than half the price.) I'll tell the rest of my family before I leave, but only because my mother can't keep a secret and doesn't want the pressure of being the only one to know. I would rather have not told anyone I was going to Mexico until after I returned, but my mother lives with me and I'm not good at subterfuge.

Ryansgirl, welcome and congratulations on your decision to have the surgery. I would hope your PCP is supportive, but if not, I would take Vegas Angels advice. Only you know what is truly best for you and will work for you. Everyone on this forum knows diet alone does not work for us, we needed something more and we have done what we need to do for us.

As for telling people, like others said, that is your personal choice. When I had my band, I didn't tell many people. Now, I am such a proponent of sleeve surgery that if anyone asks what "diet" I am on, I have no problem telling them about my sleeve.

Ryansgirl - the only real follow-up that is required is 3 months after surgery - you need a complete blood panel and an upper GI - at least that is what Dr. Aceves recommends ... there are no fills, etc. I don't see why your PCP would be adverse to ordering those 2 tests for you - it's not like she has to pay for them afterall.

thanks so much. with all the advice i thinking i going to just tell hime it out of "state" and ask could he do the 3 month follow up blood thing and GI been with him for two years so hopeful he says yes:001_unsure:. MAybe i tell everyone later lol thanks again!

Ryansgirl,

I had some jitters about telling my PCP as well. Try your best to calm your fears. There is really nothing that he can do other than to tell you that he has some concerns about what you are doing. He can't stop you, he can't disown you, basically all he can and should do is discuss his concerns and remind you that it is your decision. (And that is just what my Dr. did.)

Here are some words of advice... Remember that it is not an argument, don't gear up a "defense" in your mind. You will be wasting your emotional energy for nothing. Also, you mentioned that your insurance would not cover this procedure. I am in the same situation. This gives you an advantage in the sense that you don't need a referral or permission from him. So don't worry so much about getting his seal of approval.

At this point I wouldn't even worry about requesting the 3 month post op tests. Deal with that later.

You are going to be okay. Chin up and relax.

Are you concerned about telling him that you are going to Mexico for it? Or just doing the procedure in general? My husbands internist has been very gung ho for him to do it for quite some time. He changed physicians a couple of years ago and his previous physician was also very much in favor of him doing weight loss surgery. However, his BMI is very high. So that could influence them too.

Ryansgirl,

I had some jitters about telling my PCP as well. Try your best to calm your fears. There is really nothing that he can do other than to tell you that he has some concerns about what you are doing. He can't stop you, he can't disown you, basically all he can and should do is discuss his concerns and remind you that it is your decision. (And that is just what my Dr. did.)

Here are some words of advice... Remember that it is not an argument, don't gear up a "defense" in your mind. You will be wasting your emotional energy for nothing. Also, you mentioned that your insurance would not cover this procedure. I am in the same situation. This gives you an advantage in the sense that you don't need a referral or permission from him. So don't worry so much about getting his seal of approval.

At this point I wouldn't even worry about requesting the 3 month post op tests. Deal with that later.

You are going to be okay. Chin up and relax.

Welcome Ryansgirl,

I have gone through the same fears with telling people. After awhile, my lightbulb went off and something just said, "Its my body, its my life, I know whats best for me, no one else does." People think that im nuts for having this surgery because they feel that Im not "big" enough, etc. LOL

I know me and I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I am just going to take GOD with me in the OR and take it from there. People will judge us regardless, so I say just do you and worry about telling people when you feel comfortable. As long as your significant other is supportive, that is all you need.

Good Luck

I just left it as I had surgery (this was for my band) and that was that. I never told them where, just who was doing my follow up care......until I had an problem.....4 1/2 yrs later and they needed to speak to placing surgeon for a question.

I currently need a new PCP......will likely tell them the same....... it was done and the date and etc. I will tell my OB....but that is because he asks and I have information on different tests that he needs to do it I ever get pregnant again (for any bariatric patient.........)

I'm feeling better and you are right i don't need his seal of approval. It my body. i have to keep saying that as a chant lol but it working and thanks so much!

I'm feeling better and you are right i don't need his seal of approval. It my body. i have to keep saying that as a chant lol but it working and thanks so much!

Say it enough and you'll begin to believe it!

lol thanks!

My pcp tried to act all offended that I was going to Mexico for surgery when I got my lapband. I reminded him very quickly that he was the one that made it necessary! You see, he had told me he would write a letter for my insurance company (back when I had insurance) if I could maintain a diet for 9 months. I went on South Beach diet...with pretty good success...weighed in monthly with him. In my 9th month I went on a vacation and had Thanksgiving..and I gained 3 pounds back. He told me at the next weigh in that I had exhibited a "loss of focus" and he didn't feel he could recommend me for lapband surgery to the insurance company. (Assho*e)

So...I reminded him that because of his lack of understanding and the eventual loss of my insurance...he had forced my hand to get help out of the country because that was the only way it was affordable for me.

He was very supportive at my next visit. lol

I phoned his office today and left a message with his nurse that I was having revision surgery on the 14th and for him to reach me Monday or Tuesday if he wanted to discuss anything with me about it.

My lapband aftercare doctor is dead set against the VSG...but I'm pretty sure he'll still let me attend support group meetings and will run my labs for me if the PCP refuses. I absolutely refuse to allow a PCP to exclusively make decisions on what's good for me etc. I will listen to what they have to say...but I will make the decision myself.