Hi everyone,

As part of my pre-op assessments, I was provided with a Medicare form for my GP to fill out for an Enhanced Prmary Care Plan referral for the dietician and psychologist's consultations (total of 5 consultations only). I was told this was so that these consultations would be covered by Medicare, rather than have to pay for them via health insurance. Well he didn't. He had his secretary call and said he doesn't do this or believe that an EPCP is necessary as part of the LapBand process. Guess he figures I should wear the extra out of pocket costs myself. Maybe he just doesn't think that having a BMI of 51.5 is a chronic condition. Go figure.:phanvan

Has anyone else had their GP refuse to do provide an EPCP referral if asked? Are there any other ways around it? I thought maybe I'd go and see different GP and ask them. Any ideas?

I also went to went the specialist physician today (what a lovely doc!) - apparently I have a slight heart murmur, which now needs an echocardiogram to invesigate. :rolleyes Apparently I would have had this since I was a kid. Nobody ever picked it up before. Go figure again.

Looking forward to hearing responses about the EPCP. I'll be in touch with the surgeon's office tomorrow and see what they suggest.

Hi, Are you in Mulgrave, Victoria? Reason being, I am from that area also, wow what a small world. Cant help you with EPCP, never had it before my banding. Who is your doctor, I went with Prof. O'Brien at the Avenue

cheers

My surgeon is Mr Chris Hensman, at EndoSurgery Victoria - at The Valley Private in Mulgrave, and also at Knox Private.

My GP (who shall be nameless), is elsewhere... ...I decided today to find a new GP who is more band-friendly and more supportive.

Hi, I'm in Narre Warren, I had mine done through Gary Crosthwaite at The Avenue, I didnt have to do any of that either. I saw a dietician who was just a door or two down the street from the surgeon, but he referred me to her and I paid for the consultation as dieticians arent covered by medicare, nor by my particular private health insurance.

No psych consult at all - in fact somewhere on the internet I found a study by Prof. O'Brien through Monash uni stating that psych consults are believed to be pretty much a waste of time in the banding process. Not much help if your surgeon wants you to have one but interesting nonetheless.

I did see a respiratory physician too - all in the same place on the day of my final visit with the surgeon prior to surgery, and covered by Medicare.

So.. like elsewhere in the world, each doc is different in his/her requirements I guess.

I had Dr skinner from The Avenue.

They gave me 2 free consults with dietition just a couple of doors down. I have used one consult just after being banded and doubt if I will bother going back for another.I did not learn anything.

How come you had to pay Jachut, we went to the same place.

I see Dr Paul McCartney for my fills.

I went on a holiday and put on 3 kg in a month. Damn mad with myself. I have not done much for 6 months and have restriction.

I really believe so much is keeping motivated and having your brains in gear. I just have to work at getting that back again.

that wasn't around when i got my band but i'm pretty sure my gp would have done it for me another strange thing i also was told by pre op doc that i had a heart murmur i am 54 and find it strange with all my medicals and babies it was never picked up.

Anna just a side note did you get the e-mail i sent you a while ago i left it this long in case you had been busy( know what that's like)

...the variations even locally and within the one clinic, and your opinions of their benefits (or lack of) are interesting....

I wouldn't have thought to question the recommended consultations. However, given that your various clinics don't requrie as many visits, and I am paying myself, I may now not go ahead with more than the psych and dietician pre-op, and maybe a dietician visit post-op if I feel that I need it. At least I have a package bonus with our Medibank Private membership, which can be used to pay for these services.:clap2:

I'm not convinced that the psych or dietician will help me much - I've spent a lifetime analysing my responses to life (and food) - just like any other obese person has. I think I've got a pretty fair idea by now as to what, why and when of my eating, and also how to plan and prepare a healthy family diet.:hungry: I suppose that the doctors have clauses in their professional indemnity insurance to cover by making their patients do at least the pre-op consultations.

I had my echo for the heart murmur yesterday - I'll go back to the physician on Friday for the report. I've since found out that my nan and a cousin also have murmurs, and Dad has an irregularly missing heartbeat - so there is history there. They did't find my nan's until she was 90! Guess it's nothing than just a murmur, but the way I've been feeling lately has me just a little worried (I was born worried... ha ha ha).:phanvan I can't believe I've had several anaesthetics and a baby, yet no body ever picked it up before. Maybe a doctor / nurse might have said about it at some stage, but I don't remember... My ICU nurse friend says not to worry - if it was anything more that just a murmur, they'd have followed up about it immediately.

I am definitely going to sound out the other GPs at our clinic as to who is the most LapBand friendly - and if none of them are, then I'll go somewhere else. I used to see a great GP, but stopped going to him when he stopped bulk billing - maybe it's time that I got over my "thing" about only going to a bulk billing GP, and went back to him, at least for my own care. The family can still go the bulk billing clinic - as I have been very happy with them for the "everyday" kind of colds, flus etc:sick - I just wonder in those clinics if you get the attention you need for the more important things....

Jenny - sorry my email option wasn't set up. If you resend your email, I should recieve it now. Or try sending me a PM - I'll look out for your message. Given we live so close, I'd love to catch up with you.:scared:

I can't believe I've had several anaesthetics and a baby, yet no body ever picked it up before. Maybe a doctor / nurse might have said about it at some stage, but I don't remember... My ICU nurse friend says not to worry - if it was anything more that just a murmur, they'd have followed up about it immediately.

It's amazing what doctors dont pick up along the way. I had my first band replaced last Sept. bc it slipped, my surgeon is Prof. O'Brien and follow up doc is John Dixon. From day one, as soon as I woke up I kept telling them this band doesnt feel right, straight away it was as if I had a tight rope right under my rib cage and could only take short breaths, then I go home and had these excruciating pains in my left side, again under my ribs, something like a stitch but would last for half an hour at a time. So they tell me its gas trapped after the op. That went on for months, in the meantime I developed what I would call colic, I tell you I know why poor little babies scream when they have colic. I had and still have to this day so much gas that its incredible, it feels like twins kicking around in my tummy. Seen my gp, who is as useless as tits on a bull (looking for another one), gone to prof number of times, then of course to John Dixon, and they all just guessed this and that. Three weeks ago I was in so much pain and misery that I insisted on a barium, then a colonoscopy and endoscopy. WELL the endoscopy showed that my band is in the wrong position, right on top of the esophagus (sp), in other words I have no pouch:omg: , so the air that I swollow gets trapped below my band and cannot come back. I am having my band repositioned/replaced on the 4th Oct. My third operation in less than three years. I am furious. Sometimes I think I should have the band out, and grow up.:cry

Sorry guys, this was a long rant, but there is really no one who completely understands what I am going through, including my family, think you have to be fat, banded to really relate to another person in a similar position.

Thanks for listening

edited: Anyone interested in a get-together, we all seem to live in the same area

Oh, Wheeler - how awful for you! :Banane27: ...and now to have to wait til 4th Oct for some relief from your pain! I hope that for you - the third one's a charm - and you have no more troubles. Have you spoken to any other surgeons for advice or your revision? I know that Prof O'Brien is the pioneer for obesity and band research in these parts, but in terms of the operation itself, maybe there's better surgeons around... Your experience proves that "the noisy wheel gets the grease" (or whatever that saying is) and is a lesson to all of us to keep complaining (loudly!) if things don't feel right. So sorry for what you are going through. Hope you are able to find relief somehow.

A get-together sounds great.:clap2: It might cheer Wheeler up?? I'd love to meet the local bandits (Although I have enjoyed the anonymity of LBT forums, having some face-to-face contact at this stage of my journey would be good too). Happy to travel wherever. Where is everyone? How exactly do we go about organising this (not sure of the LBT etiquette for these things...).

By the way, do any of you go to the support group at The Valley Private??

Cheers to all, and special hugs for Wheeler...

I would be happy to organize it:) Perhaps everyone interested could send me a private message, just click on my user name and a box will come up then choose prive message. I propose in about 3-4 weeks time on a saturday afternoon, somewhere for coffee, venue will discuss it in the messages. I am really looking forward to meeting you all :Banane27:

hello all, well as those who have been here for a while will know we have tried a few times to arrange a catch up ok lets try again what about a shopping centre that way if no-one shows the person that does can go and spend some money in the shops lol for the mulgrave people would it suit in chadstone,fountain gate, southland,forest hill chase or dandy plaza these are only suggestions i can go with the flow, BUT it would be really to catch up

Hi girls,

Wheeler - I'll PM you some contact details etc. Thanks for helping organise the catch up - it sounds silly, but I'm not sure where to start...

At this stage, Sept is looking good for me except for the 9th & 10th. I am hoping to have surgery in the first week of Sept, but???

I'd probably have my 5yo in tow, as hubby plays weekend sport, and grandparents are all interstate at the moment. Therefore, I'd prefer a pub/bistro (with a playroom!) if that's ok. Something like the Village Green or Chelsea Heights hotel???

If a shopping centre is the go, could we choose somewhere with a kid's play area? eg. the Villa&Hut coffee bar, near Myers on Level 3 at Southland (next to the play area) or somewhere similar? Sorry to be a drag.

I'm happy to book a table somewhere central - or leave that up to Wheeler - whatever, just let me know what is needed / wanted.

If neither of the above are appealing to the group, I'll call in a babysitting favour from a friend or something - whatever happens, count me in!!!

Count me in too, I was banded 2 days ago so wont be eating anything or only mushies but looking forward to meeting you all. yes i went to the valley support group last month with a neighbour who was banded there and plan to continue going.

Oh yes, a pub with a playroom! Yes yes yes, I'll be in that. The last meetup we organised fell through, but I must admit, I'm lazy these days and dont want to travel to the other side of the city and just plain dont have the time most days.

I must say though, food at the Village Green is shite although its a great central location, but I guess we'd be more concerned with coffees anyway. Costellos in Berwick is great too.

Lets do it for sure - although I'm away 12th to 23rd September (school holidays). So if its during that time I'll catch you on the next one.

Wheeler - third time lucky! Good luck!

Congratulations tarajane! I'll be going to the next support group at the Valley - so if we haven't met before then, I'll see you there!

Jachut - thanks for the venue suggestions, I'm sure Wheeler will make use of them! I've not been to Costellos (it sounds nice), nor eaten at the VGreen for ages (yep - it was shite then too! LOL). Wherever we go, I hope the coffee is good - sounds like I'll be giving it up for a while pre-and post-band... ...so might as well enjoy a quality cuppa while I can!! he he he

Cheers!

you wont have to give up coffee. I was given tea/coffee the following day and am about to go and make myself one right now.