Irregular Thyroid & PCP Medical Clearance (Need Suggestions)

slynbrown · June 22, 2007

I am new to the site and I need some advise. I have gotten approval to have surgury however my Primary Care Physician (Whom I hardly vist) will not provide medial clearance because my thyroids are not balanced. To make the scenario more intersteing is that I currently have been under the care of an Endocrinologyist and because my levels are continuosly abnormal I recently switch to a new Endorinologist. I had my first appt with the New Endocrinologist on June 22nd and my follow-up appointment is not until July 3rd however my surgury date is July 9th.

I am unclear as to how thyroids have a correlation to not being able to undergo WLS. I am also unlcear as to if I am currently seeking a specialist for treatment that the PCP would not sign a clearance as to me being healthy enough for surgury which is the main focus. I am also not sure if my New Endocrinologist will provide a clearance considering the first time they will be able to make a clear assesment is not until July 3rd which is after my test results are reviewed.

Does anyone has any suggestions

Thanks

valzie · June 22, 2007

The only advice I can give you is to have a talk with your primary physician about how important is to you to get banded. I would also explain that you are seeing a new dr. on the third to get the issue with your thyroid straitened out and you are not going to avoid these issures because of the surgery.

I am so sorry that this is happening when you are soooo close. But maybe if you explain it to the dr. he will give his approval.

The only reason I can think of that he wants you to wait is that he might believe that your weight loss problems are do to the thyroid condition and banding might not help that.

slynbrown · June 22, 2007

I have already done what you suggested. I also know the need to get my thyroid levels under control which is why a sought out a second specialist. I would think that by continous treatment I can get a handle of my thyroid as well as getting the benefits of the lapband. I have researched this issue on the site and everyone with a thyroid condition had not had any problems with surgury. I would think that this matter would not be an issue since I am taking a proactive approach but apparently not.

Thanks

Alexandra · June 22, 2007

I am not sure why it is this way, but the medical qualifications for banding have always included having controlled symptoms of things like high blood pressure, hypothyroid, diabetes. That is to say, if one presents with uncontrolled issues in this vein, the doctors will want to make sure that the correct medications are on board before they approve the patient for surgery. I know of lots of people who have been diagnosed with one condition or the other during their pre-surgical testing who then have to wait a bit longer while that condition is managed.

Don't worry--a hypoactive thyroid in no way means you're not eligible for surgery. Your doctors are just trying to get it managed before they will approve--and if your levels aren't responding the way the docs expect them to, they have to investigate and find out what the problem is. For example, if it turns out that your levels are wacky due to some other issue then it may not actually be safe to undergo surgery at this time.

I had to see an endocrinologist prior to surgery, too. Once I got the right medications to manage my hypothyroidism, it was no longer an issue. Really, this is the best thing for your health, so try to be patient.

CaliGirlB · June 23, 2007

Do you have to have the PCP clearance for you DR. My referral and letter were done by my OBGYN. With PCOS I see him and my endrocrinologist more than my PCP. Maybe you could get the Endo do give you clearance. My doctor said that insurance basically wants to know that someone other than the person making their living doing this surgery agrees that you need it.