Well, I went to my Family doctor and she is dead set against weight loss surgery, for anyone. She doesn’t seem to be too educated about it because she said that the only surgery doctors do anymore is gastric bypass, and in her words, it causes terrible side effects that are hard to live with. I told her I was considering the sleeve and she said most doctors won’t do the sleeve. I know this is not true, and my bariatric patient coordinator confirmed that I was correct and my doc was not. Now though, my insurance requires a detailed letter from my primary care doc stating that she recommends the surgery, and I can’t get that from her. Do you think they will take a letter from a new doc? I feel like if I am serious about this, I need to find a new doctor that will support me anyhow.

I would get a second opinion from another doctor.

Yes. Switch PCs (or at least that’s what I would do). That’s BS.

I had to do that. I switched PCP, I like my new PCP much better It's nice when all your doctors work together!

Switch doctors. Your doctor is out of date...which doesn't speak well of her keeping up on her continuing education. My doctor's been asking me to consider WLS for over 10 years. So far, so good.

Is your doctor in a private practice or in a group at a clinic? If she is in a group, she answers to someone - you might be able to talk to the 'office manager' which is sometimes the senior physician, or whoever is in charge over the clinic physicians. Another physician in the group may have a completely different more educated opinion. (She needs to retire).

Edited December 16, 20178 yr by Sosewsue61

Switch PCP ASAP. She's not up on the current information it seems and might have a bias against anyone doing anything surgical about weight loss. She is going to be a barrier to your success.

My local family doctor is like that. I only take my youngest for her yearly checkups to her. My husband and I drive an hour to see ours PCP he Is totally on board with WLS even in Mexico as he knows how much it has helped patients in the long run.

she's crazy. 1) very few bypass patients have terrible side effects 2) almost all surgeons do the sleeve. It's currently the most popular form of WLS. I'd switch PCPs!

My primary is super enthusiastic about my choice to have surgery. At my preop appointment he even said he was excited! You need a new primary, for certain.

Thanks y’all! I am definitely looking to switch. I didn’t like how she tried to “scare” me to get her point across. It’s one thing to not agree, but another to exaggerate to the point she did. It really said a lot about her as a doctor.

I had wanted the duodenal switch. My pcp said no way. He was convinced that malabsorption was horrible. We talked for awhile and when I told him that I had been dieting without a good result (always gained it back no matter what) for 52 years and this is what I wanted. He then said he would only refer for a sleeve. I said great and 10 weeks later I was sleeved. If your doctor won't cave I agree a new md is the way to go. My doctor is in his 70s and close to retirement so if he hadn't caved I would have gone elsewhere.

My PCP encouraged me, and even coordinated my plan of action with my surgeon....

Get a new PCP....she sounds very uneducated, and that alone is reason to switch ASAP.....

Good Luck!!!

Isn’t Doctors job to look out for your health? I don’t see why your Doctor is against weight loss surgery. If you have been struggling with overweight and you can’t loss weight due food addiction or other reasons.. WLS should be the option.. Go to the bariatric group and they will get this thru.. I hope you get a Dr who knows about this type of surgery and can tell you pro/cons.. mostly is pros the cons are temporary..

Switch quickly. My doctor was completely on board. He said the reward far out weighs the risk. My liver specialist was also on board.

HW 330
SW 292
CW 189.2
GW below 200

Great article on why bariatric surgery is the most effective tool:

https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/science-and-health/2017/12/7/16587316/bariatric-surgery-weight-loss-lap-band