Hello! New to the forum and had my surgery done in 2004 in Spain. I'll be honest and say that I have not been good at all the past 5 years in getting my labs done. Outside of my regular physical's blood work that monitors Vit B and Iron levels, I have not dove any deeper I am currently receiving almost yearly iron infusions to stay on track. My question is, does anyone have any experience in getting your labs done outside of your bariatric surgeon? At my last physical, my PCP said he was not able to order this level of testing (despite him knowing I had the surgery?). Just looking for any recommendations, as being 13 years post-op I don't see myself seeking out a Bariatric surgeon here just for labs.

Thanks!

If you don't want to see a bariatric surgeon. You need a different PCP or an endocrinologist who will do the labs you need done.

Sent you a PM.

Edited November 3, 20178 yr by Postop

That is weird, because my PCP just ordered a total blood workup for me including testing for Vitamin levels and kidney and pancreas function. My guess is that your insurance may not cover it unless the tests are ordered from a specialist.

Either way, your insurance should cover the testing if they are going to foot the bill for annual iron injections as they aren't needed if your levels are fine. Then again, the iron injections might be more cost effective than the testing. Who knows?

Many bariatric surgeons won't want to deal with the maintenance of other surgeons' patients, but you should probably ask your PCP to refer you to someone that can get the necessary testing approved.

Good luck. I know it sucks. it appears that insurance isn't what it used to be. You are asked to make monthly payments equal to a luxury car payment, but have to fight to get covered with what you need to improve or maintain your health. Sad really.

That is so strange. I have never had any trouble having my PCP order tests. They even fax my results to my Bariatric Center. I know that people always say that DR.'s don't or won't take on another Dr's patients. I guess we live in an awesome area because I fired my Surgeon and went thru another Bariatric center. In fact, my hubby had a failed revision from Lap-Band to RNY and our PCP ask a fellow Dr to do the surgery to put in his Wound Vac. Great DR too. How much trouble can it be? Just check the darn box!! LOL

You may want to shop for another PCP. Mine does tons of bloodwork, no problem. As a DS patient, this is SUPER important! Keep on fighting for proper care.

Good luck!

Perhaps your PCP doesn't know what labs are appropriate, as DS labs will differ some from RNY or VSG labs? Or is he constrained by being in an insurance network (such as Kaiser or other ***) that needs to approve his work?

These are the labs that my wife gets done every year from our PCP (she is a 2005 DS) -

http://www.paclap.com/downloads/annualdslaborders.pdf

We have had no problem getting these done with our PCP, or getting insurance coverage for them.

While it is helpful to have a bariatric surgeon's insight as to what levels are appropriate with your DS, what variances from "normal" levels are acceptable or desirable, they aren't essential.

Good luck on working this out....

By chance, are you a Dr. Baltasar patient? He was high on our list before deciding to self pay semi-locally.

4 hours ago, RickM said:

Perhaps your PCP doesn't know what labs are appropriate, as DS labs will differ some from RNY or VSG labs? Or is he constrained by being in an insurance network (such as Kaiser or other ***) that needs to approve his work?

These are the labs that my wife gets done every year from our PCP (she is a 2005 DS) -

http://www.paclap.com/downloads/annualdslaborders.pdf

We have had no problem getting these done with our PCP, or getting insurance coverage for them.

While it is helpful to have a bariatric surgeon's insight as to what levels are appropriate with your DS, what variances from "normal" levels are acceptable or desirable, they aren't essential.

Good luck on working this out....

By chance, are you a Dr. Baltasar patient? He was high on our list before deciding to self pay semi-locally.

I suspect its more of an insurance thing, That list of labs is probably close to $1200-2000.

That said I am a busy and experienced PCP with a relatively large practice and yet only look after a handful of bariatric patients. Honestly I have yet to order any nutritional labs for them. Usually bariatric surgery follows them. I have no problem requesting bariatric labs but since I rarely do this I would likely seek guidance specific to the needs of duodenal switch or bypass patient. If there is a transfer of specialty care its usually helpful for some correspondence from that specialty to your PCP.

17 hours ago, RickM said:

Perhaps your PCP doesn't know what labs are appropriate, as DS labs will differ some from RNY or VSG labs? Or is he constrained by being in an insurance network (such as Kaiser or other ***) that needs to approve his work?

These are the labs that my wife gets done every year from our PCP (she is a 2005 DS) -

http://www.paclap.com/downloads/annualdslaborders.pdf

We have had no problem getting these done with our PCP, or getting insurance coverage for them.

While it is helpful to have a bariatric surgeon's insight as to what levels are appropriate with your DS, what variances from "normal" levels are acceptable or desirable, they aren't essential.

Good luck on working this out....

By chance, are you a Dr. Baltasar patient? He was high on our list before deciding to self pay semi-locally.

Thanks for the link to the lab order. Yes, I am a Dr. Baltasar patient

I agree get yourself another doctor!

You should be able to get a full blood panel, liver enzyme panel, kidney function test, thyroid levels, vitamin B and D levels. All of those things would show exactly what you may or may not be low in.

If your doctor does not know that - there is a problem with your doctor.

Good luck!

This actually reminds me of a conversation with my doc. I said that I'll need her to draw my labs. She asked if I had a list from my surgeon. I didn't, so I said "I could google it". She said that was ok, that she could find it.. left for about 10 minutes, and came back with the info.

Doctors hate Google!