How to ask the doctor for Lap Band

Ariel · July 6, 2006

Hi everybody! i am so happy that i found this site I am considering the lap band and all the post here are very informative. I have an app. to see my doctor in a week for a physical so i will bring it up then. i was just curious to see how everybody discussed it with their doctor, i am nervous about brining it up. Also once you told your primary how long did it take for you to find a specialist and get the surgery. Thanks everybody you are all so inspirational.

Poodles · July 6, 2006

I told my OBGYN first and asked his opinion since he has been my doctor for the longest time. He had several patients that have it and totally recommended it for me since I have been large for so long.

Then I went to my PCP and asked him his opinion on it. Told him I had been doing some research on the subject, and brought him the name/number/resume of the doctor I chose. Turned out that he went to the same school as Dr. B. He said that it really depends on how you work the band, and if you are prone to cheat that it would not work... however, he said it was worth a try since I have so many co-morbidities.

You should feel comfortable with your doctors. You ask them about everything else, so why not the band? Just approach it like this:

"Hey, I have been doing some research on the lap-band. Do you have any opinions on it? Do you recommend it? Would you recommend it for me?"

And then go from there.

It took me 8 months from first appointment to surgery.

Good luck!

TexasTerry · July 6, 2006

Ariel,

I was self pay, so I didn't ask my PCP. I just researched the band and the doctors, went to some seminars and made my choice. Absolutely no regrets here!!!

Terry

Jachut · July 6, 2006

We just have bulk billing GP clinics here, big clinics where lots and lots of doctors work various shifts, so you dont develop much of a relationship with them. We generally only need the doctor for scripts for asthma medication, the occasional antibiotics etc and I have a family doctor I've gone too since I was a child that I'd go to for more personal things, but he's quite a long way away.

So basically I just went to the doctor and said "I want a referral to a lap band surgeon". That was it basically. He just nodded, and they had to look someone up, it wasnt information they had to hand, and he said he wanted to see me a year down the track - partly out of interest and also just to do bloods - cholesterol, liver function etc.

He offered me referrals to the community dietician and physio (for my ankle) and to put together a "management plan" that he could supervise if I wanted but I said that a) I was happy with the physio I was seeing and that I'd follow up all the other stuff with the lap band surgeon.