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Talking to your doctor about a surgery option.



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So, my doctor has never brought up the issue of weight loss surgery to me. Recently, i have seen my mom go through many struggles in a hospital; partly due to her weight; and the constant reminder of her weight from numerous nurses who thought they were being polite about it. It all has made me realize i need to do something now before i cant take care of myself at her age.

How do you just approach he topic with your general practitioner to get the referral one needs to be placed on the list to be taken on by the bariatric clinic? Was your doctor accepting of your decision to have the surgery; or did the doc want you to try other methods first; or was the doc happy you made the decision?

Any advice or stories you have relating to this topic is greatly appreciated.

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Honey, you sound like me. I watched my mom go so through so much due to her weight.

I simply brought it up to my PCP and she was so helpful finding me a great surgeon. She has had several patients go through WLS and knew all of what was needed on her end.

Good luck!

????Renea in AL

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Thanks Renea for your input. It is so hard watching my mom go through the things she is due to weight. I have taken care of her as best i can; but now require more. This all just plays on my mind and encourages me to get the surgery. Next time i go to my doc's i will be asking to get on the list.

Take care & thanks.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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I had a doctor that did not support WLS so I switched to a doctor that did. I found my surgeon on my own then told my PCP that I was doing it and she was fine with it. My surgeon's office coordinated with my PCP to get what they needed to submit to the insurance.

SW 280

CW 257

sleeve scheduled for 12/12/16

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I would just bring it up with your doctor. If they are not supportive, reach out to a bariatric center of excellence and ask for a recommendation for a general doctor that will support your decision.

I basically told mine I was doing it and thankfully after a quick conversation she was on board.

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      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.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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