My doctor said NO to surgery!

[bhopeful 33]

So... I had an appointment with my primary care physician to get clearance for surgery. I was hoping to have sleeve surgery in November. He was very reluctant to give me clearance and said that he does not agree with the surgery. Instead he put me on an injectable medication - Victoza.

I love my doctor and I generally trust him and I was very surprised because he knows how hard I've tried over the years to lose weight. I've tried virtually everything although I have not tried medication to lose weight. He talked about how many patients he has that have had complications from weight loss surgery. And those who have gained the weight. Anyway, now I am conflicted and just wanted to get some opinions from all of you. Did any of you try weight loss medications or try the one that I mentioned? When I look online, it seems that people only lose about 5 to 10% of their excess body weight with the medication I have been put on.

Just wanting your thoughts, opinions, comments. I am so, so sick, tired and despondent with being overweight my whole life and I am now 50 years old. I need to lose 100 pounds. I really don't know if medication will do it. I had my heart set on having the surgery in November after spending a long time thinking about it and trying to make the decision and now that I have finally made the decision my doctor says it's not a good idea. Aaarrrggghhh....

Edited September 11, 2015 by BHopeful

[Miss Mac 6,261]

Usually we ask our primary to recommend a bariatric surgeon. Why not reverse the process and find a bariatric surgeon who will recommend a primary care physician whose sends patients their way? When your primary no longer meets your needs, it's time to look for a different doctor. I would give the medication a brief time time to show you what it can do, but I would not wait months and months. Either it is going to work or it isn't.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Not sure how you get the idea "people only lose 5-10% of their excess weight." You're not reading the same boards I am.

I lost all all my excess weight in less than 9 months. I've maintained at my goal for the last 4 months. I'm down 95 pounds now from where I started -- at 235 pounds.

I've had no complications. I had surgery when I was 68 years old. My life has changed 1000% for the better.

I'm sorry your doctor is so unhelpful.

[justme29 76]

I did lose 40 lbs on an appetite suppressant. I kept it off 2yrs. But the stress of life...as usual, I have it back now. They educate you of the risks prior to doing surgery. So, you are not just thrown in. I don't feel it's fair to make a blanket statement as such. There are so many reasons people could have complications, some not preventable. So, I really hope this gets resolved for you!

[Babbs 14,680]

I agree with the above. Find a bariatric surgeon who can recommend a WLS friendly doctor for the clearance. After you have the surgery, then you can continue to see your own primary....if anything just to prove him wrong and educate him about WLS.

Also, educate yourself. There is a lot of mis information and pre conceived notions about WLS. People have a tendency to parrot what they "hear" about it, not the actual facts. Yes, even physicians. The more you are educated, the better for you to make the best decision. And just for the record, the EXPECTED weight loss statistics is 60-65% of excess weight lost, not 5-10%. And I see most people go beyond that.

[Engteacher 158]

Look for a bariatric center of excellence in your area and find out when their informational sessions are. Also, check with your insurance and see if they cover the surgery and what all they require you do. My primary was reluctant, too, but I didn't let her hesitation slow me down more. Now she's willing to recommend this surgery to others having seen my success.

[Sophie74656 1,572]

Im sorry but your primary needs to educate themselves better on bariatric surgery

[Elode 8,093]

@@bhopeful You have to do what's best for you. I'm sure you like your DR and trust him but he's not living in your body, you are. I'm not big on medications for weigh loss either since there really has never been anything that works long term....ever. If there was we would all be skinny and have no need for surgery.

[bhopeful 33]

I meant people lost 5-10% of body weight with the medication he has me on.... But surgery is much more effective overall...

Not sure how you get the idea "people only lose 5-10% of their excess weight." You're not reading the same boards I am.

.

[gpmed 623]

Not sure how you get the idea "people only lose 5-10% of their excess weight." You're not reading the same boards I am.

I lost all all my excess weight in less than 9 months. I've maintained at my goal for the last 4 months. I'm down 95 pounds now from where I started -- at 235 pounds.

I've had no complications. I had surgery when I was 68 years old. My life has changed 1000% for the better.

I'm sorry your doctor is so unhelpful.

I believe the OP meant people lose 5-10 percent body weight with the medication her doctor prescribed, not WLS.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

If you need to lose 100 lbs, an appetite suppressant isn't going to cut it. When I was looking into programs I didn't ask my primary for a referral. I love my primary and have been with her for over 20 years, but I needed to do this on my own. I looked at 2 programs in the area, attended their seminars and only after I chose my program did I inform my primary. However, I would keep good documentation of this visit and how you fare on this medication. It will be helpful in justifying why you need the surgery. Especially if you primary is against it. I would even join a gym and have that documented as well.

[BigViffer 3,544]

Your doctor seems to have it backwards. He works for you, he cannot tell you how to live your life. You tell him you will be having the surgery and he needs to know that only for treatment in the future. He may not agree with your decision, but it is not his to make.

My doctor is pretty darn great in my opinion. But he likes using the latest meds. I like to be more conservative and only trust meds that have been on the market for about 10 years. That way I can research side effects better than what the drug companies marketing department does. My doctor will say, "I'm going to put you on X drug..." I would interupt him and say, "How long has it been on the market? I won't take it unless it has a record I can research." Then he goes with a more tried and true med.

Actually, he used to do that. I am pretty much off all the medications I was one 7 months ago because of the surgery. And in regards to the surgery, he was totally supportive. I hope you can either convince your Dr to do his job or find another Dr that you will like.

[Babbs 14,680]

I meant people lost 5-10% of body weight with the medication he has me on.... But surgery is much more effective overall...

Not sure how you get the idea "people only lose 5-10% of their excess weight." You're not reading the same boards I am.

.

Ah. Gotcha.

[bhopeful 33]

Sorry... Didn't make it very clear...

I meant people lost 5-10% of body weight with the medication he has me on.... But surgery is much more effective overall...

Not sure how you get the idea "people only lose 5-10% of their excess weight." You're not reading the same boards I am.

.

Ah. Gotcha.

[gpmed 623]

@@bhopeful I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this. Your frustration is definitely understandable. I second the idea of asking the bariatric center you're interested in if they have any PCPs they work closely with. Also, is your bariatric center associated with a particular hospital or management group? I wonder if it might help to see a PCP with the same affiliation. Maybe they'd be more familiar with the center's work and willing to send a patient there.