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Can you switch doctors 5 years after surgery?



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It's been five years since my surgery & I've been pretty same successful. My doctor has been with me thru so much and has done wonders for me, but he's fallen off the grid. I think I know why - but I need a doctor who's still going to treat me five years out and he's not doing that. Case in point, I started running and I did something to my hip and the doctor I was referred to and my primary have been trying to get recommendations for medicines I can take and he won't respond. So yeah - I think it's time for a change. Thoughts?

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Hi there. I am nervous about the same thing. I just moved out of state and need to find someone in the Waukesha Wisconsin area. I loved my bariatric center of excellence in Minneapolis.

I just hope I can find a group that is as great as mine was.

Yes, you should absolutely look for a new one if yours is not responding.

Good luck!

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If the doctor died, you would switch doctors. Don't feel guilty like you are abandonning him. If he is not responding, he has abandonned you. My primary is an internist and well-versed in bariatric care. You are not obligated to anybody unless you have crapped out insurance that forces you to use a particular practice. It's your body. Why not look for someone who is patient-minded? I wish you good luck on your search.

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When you do switch, make sure your new doctor gets your complete medical records from your old doctor, including the surgical notes.

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Why not? Your health is of the utmost UTMOST importance. If the doctor is not responding appropriately (in your opinion, and who's is important here - yours or his?), you need to do what you need to do!

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You're the customer.

Period.

That's how healthcare works these days. Finally!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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