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Unsupportive Primary Care Doctor

Tomorrow is my Sleeve surgery. Today I met with my primary care doctor for final clearance. She has never been supportive of the surgery. I asked what does she know about the sleeve, she said that we have less complications then the bypass but most people just gain the weight back... Def not what I wanted to hear the day before surgery.

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  • You own your success with the sleeve: not the surgeon, not the PCP, and sure as heck not the statistics. You've got this!

  • Who cares what she thinks? You get your sleeve tomorrow! You can be the person that shows your PCP that all of her preconceptions are wrong and in doing so make it much easier for her other patients

  • Get a new PCP

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Tomorrow is my Sleeve surgery. Today I met with my primary care doctor for final clearance. She has never been supportive of the surgery. I asked what does she know about the sleeve, she said that we have less complications then the bypass but most people just gain the weight back... Def not what I wanted to hear the day before surgery.

Curious to know what study she is basing that conclusion on.

Who cares what she thinks? You get your sleeve tomorrow! You can be the person that shows your PCP that all of her preconceptions are wrong and in doing so make it much easier for her other patients who are just like you and are equally frustrated by her lack of education on the matter.

Get a new PCP

My PCM was unsupportive also, but I really didn't care. The worst part was how she didn't bother to tell me that the bariatric clinic was self referral. So I mentioned WLS surgery to my endocrinologist who was totally supportive and referred me to the clinic....uncecessary in the long run but I appreciated his help.

Funny how some docs are so opinionated about surgery, when they are clearly uninformed. They are probably basing their opinions on their experience with a few patients. My doc was a little like that, and would give me dumb, obvious, or useless advice about diet. I really like him, though, so I have just been "helping" him understand about gastric sleeve. I think he is slowly changing his opinion as he sees me continue to succeed. I know he had a couple of people with hypoglycemia, and a couple who gained their weight back.

Just ignore her for now, and know that she does not know everything - even if she thinks and acts like she does ;)

My PCP was all for it but she also stressed changing habbits prior to surgery. At my first appointment with the surgeon one of the first things he said was "none of these surgeries work, they're all crap...." and right before I freaked out he said "unless you put forth the effort" scared the $hit out of me lol! But the best decision I've ever made!

You own your success with the sleeve: not the surgeon, not the PCP, and sure as heck not the statistics.

You've got this!

Yes, who care what she thinks!!! In the long run it is up to every individual to follow the plan, eat right and workout. You can and you will do this!!

What's wrong with lap band ??? It's better than both in my belief - your not cutting you insides or re routing them up in any way

That sucks. It really does. You have to do what is best for you. My PC doctor was totally against it. She felt I could do it on my own because I did it before. It took 2 years plus a knee blow out/surgery and a few serious health issues with medications blowing me up for her to agree to the surgery and refer me. Today, she likes the way my numbers look and says I look healthy and happy.

Get a new PCP. You need to surround yourself with supportive people that won't derail your success.

My PCP was mildly negative-to-neutral prior to surgery. I went ahead anyway. Almost two years later and 100% of my excess weight gone and he's thrilled every time I go in as to how great I'm doing. I accomplished so much for myself by doing this. I think I presented him with a compelling reason to be more supportive to the next WLS candidate that comes to him. **Winning**

I love my PCP, I went into him a couple of months ago, because with Aetna you have to have two letters from your PCP one stating he is okay with the surgery and the other clearing you for surgery. Pretty dumb I know, but he is the first doctor that was on myside with my losing weight, and just didn't tell me to do it on my own or take HCG shots. Now it is just the waiting game with my surgeons office to call and set up the date, have been waiting for a week now. :rolleyes:

My doctor was so anti bypass, he said he had seen so many complications including 2 deaths. He was all about the Sleeve, saying they have been doing longer than the sleeve (for cancer patients)and no serious complications in patients that he has. He personally had the lap band and said he would never endorse that now over the sleeve!

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