So I went to my general practitioner doctor today for bloodwork and I told her that I was having weight loss surgery. And she said "you're having the bypass?" so I said no and she said "oh so the lap band" and I said no I'm having the sleeve. And she said "the what". So I explained to her what it was and she never heard of it. I realize she is just a general practitioner but I was surprised and I'm not sure how I feel now. Lol.

But I'm seeing her again in a few weeks for a physical so I think I will print out some information about it and bring it with me just so she can see what it is.

Is that weird or is this surgery so new that not everyone knows about it. It seems everyone I speak to knows the bypass and the lapband but i always have to explain this surgery.

i'm one week post and went to see my PCP because i was already schedule to see her before my VSG surgery and she wanted me to keep the appointment... since she was going to be providing my follow up care ... she has been my PCP for 3 yrs now and yesterday at my appointment she shared with me that she had WLS ... i never knew ... she always is so on me about taking better care of myself as far as my weight is concerned ... she had gastric bypass and she has never heard of the sleeve but was already very amazing at my results already ... she said my labs were looking good and i'm doing well ... and that she was proud of me ... she has seen first hand me lose 20 or 30 pounds just to gain it all back by my next 6 months check up .... anyway ... VSG still very new ... locally only one dr performs it and he charges 27, 000 self pay ...CRAZY RIGHT!!!!

What scares me the most is not that there are many PCP that do not know what the VSG is, it's that they have patients that are relying on those PCP for follow up care. I am so thankful that I have a dedicated circle of excellence center to work with me both pre and post op.

My PCP had never heard of it either. She is very opposed to WLS anyway. She told me if I wanted the bypass she would not refer me or any patient in her practice. At that point I sort of glossed over what is was and tried not to be too informative as I did not know which way she would jump. She said if I could not lose weight without it... why would I lose weight with it? Because of that and other reasons, I switched PCP's. My current PCP is supportive of my decision to do this. Actually I think he is looking at me as a kind of guinea pig to see if he should recommend it to some of his other patients.

Khy

In every profession there are those that are arrogant and ignorant. Too bad you found one that was both. Good decision getting the hell away from her.