Primary care doc doesn’t like WLS

[GirlShrinking 110]

Soooo, I have to vent about this because this doctor has seen ends amounts of records of my health history.. and after my initial visit with him says ‘ I don’t think you should have surgery’
His theory is if I use metformin (which I’ve never taken in my life until meeting him today for the first time) along with the diet and exercise that I should lose just fine and be able to maintain no problem..
What have some of you dealt with as far as getting not one ( a referral) but two (having a new doctor agreeing with this surgery?)
I’m 3 months in with the process and I’m hearing this now? Kind of makes me want to give up and just pop another pill (metformin) to lose weight? My goal here is to not only be a healthy weight but NOT take anymore prescription medications


[emoji991] Instagram: milaalmodovar
[emoji317] SC: almodovarmila

[aNYCdb 310]

What? That sounds crazy. Metformin is a diabetes treatment that while may help some diabetics lose weight isn't a even a weight loss treatment.

The thing that is suspect here is that there are actual weight loss drugs that he could recommend if he thought they would help you lose weight. Glucophage just isn't one of them.

I would tell him that you are not interested and if he pushes back find a new doctor.

[Over and Out 29]

So this is your Primary Care doctor but this is the first time you've seen him? Are you diabetic?

I don't understand when you say not one, but two. Is there another doctor who has refused a referral?

[Apple203 1,314]

Just get a new PCP.

[GirlShrinking 110]

So this is your Primary Care doctor but this is the first time you've seen him? Are you diabetic?
I don't understand when you say not one, but two. Is there another doctor who has refused a referral?

This is a brand new primary care doctor he’s never seen me before (skimmed through my records in front of me) and says (you’re not diabetic) ...but here’s metformin it’ll help you lose some of the weight?

When I mentioned (not one but two) is that he’s not only disagreeing with me on getting the surgery, he’s just giving me another prescription pill to push down my throat.

Even though I told him that my goal here was to lose weight and keeping it off and NOT having to take the medications I’m currently on (aside from the new one he’s prescribed)

..does that make sense ? That he’s doing this?


[emoji991] Instagram: milaalmodovar
[emoji317] SC: almodovarmila

[GirlShrinking 110]

What? That sounds crazy. Metformin is a diabetes treatment that while may help some diabetics lose weight isn't a even a weight loss treatment.
The thing that is suspect here is that there are actual weight loss drugs that he could recommend if he thought they would help you lose weight. Glucophage just isn't one of them.
I would tell him that you are not interested and if he pushes back find a new doctor.

Mind you he says he’s going to prescribe it after he tells me I’m NOT diabetic... umm

Lol, yea, I agree with you this is not meant for weight loss and I’m not going to be his guinea pig. He definitely pushed back when I said that I don’t want another pill.. he said well, you’ve lost 9 lbs since your visit with Bariatric. Left the office knowing I wasn’t going back to them, smh.

I’m a little annoyed [emoji19]

I didn’t even bother with scheduling another appointment.




[emoji991] Instagram: milaalmodovar
[emoji317] SC: almodovarmila

[Over and Out 29]

8 minutes ago, 1Mila said:

..does that make sense ? That he’s doing this?

Well, if it's the first time he's ever seen you he might be reluctant to refer you for major surgery and want to try more conservative measures first, like appetite suppressants. You don't have to take the prescription if you don't want to, especially if you are not diabetic.

I guess if you just want the referral, you need to find another doctor.

[aNYCdb 310]

2 minutes ago, Conflicted said:

Well, if it's the first time he's ever seen you he might be reluctant to refer you for major surgery and want to try more conservative measures first, like appetite suppressants. You don't have to take the prescription if you don't want to, especially if you are not diabetic.

I guess if you just want the referral, you need to find another doctor.

I think she already has the referal for the surgeon from her last doctor. We don't know the reason for the PCP change, but eventually her PCP for most insurance companies will need to do a letter of support.

What makes this so crazy is trying to push an off label script on you during your first appointment.

[MommaMausteller 7]

I have been diabetic and on metformin for 13 years and it has never helped me lose an ounce. In fact, I had to combine it with Actos to even get it to do the job it's made for! I'd get a new pcp. This one doesn't know what he's doing.

[kimberlymi 113]

Soooo, I have to vent about this because this doctor has seen ends amounts of records of my health history.. and after my initial visit with him says ‘ I don’t think you should have surgery’
His theory is if I use metformin (which I’ve never taken in my life until meeting him today for the first time) along with the diet and exercise that I should lose just fine and be able to maintain no problem..
What have some of you dealt with as far as getting not one ( a referral) but two (having a new doctor agreeing with this surgery?)
I’m 3 months in with the process and I’m hearing this now? Kind of makes me want to give up and just pop another pill (metformin) to lose weight? My goal here is to not only be a healthy weight but NOT take anymore prescription medications


[emoji991] Instagram: milaalmodovar
[emoji317] SC: almodovarmila

WOW , I know he is your new PHP but giving you metformin is CRAZY. You said you are not diabetic so do not take that medication. It’s bad enough when you are a diabetic and take it. The side effects can be a nightmare for anyone on it. My husband is a type 2 and when he started metformin it came out both ends. He had only taken it about 5 days and told his doctor no way.

What is your WLC saying about this new doctors response? It sounds like you are already half way through the required 6 months. Don’t stop now. You make this doctor see it your way. I’ve worked in both doctors offices and hospitals, you have to be your own advocate . Stand up for yourself. Or move on to a new PHP. (Primary health provider). Have your NUT call or better yet your weight loss doctor.

Good luck

[GirlShrinking 110]

I think she already has the referal for the surgeon from her last doctor. We don't know the reason for the PCP change, but eventually her PCP for most insurance companies will need to do a letter of support.

What makes this so crazy is trying to push an off label script on you during your first appointment.

I switched because my original PCP had retired and my patient records was taken over by a new provider (male doctor) I’m not comfortable with. I asked for the other provider (a female doc) and they said she wasn’t taking on any new patients.. so I went elsewhere.

[emoji30]


[emoji991] Instagram: milaalmodovar
[emoji317] SC: almodovarmila

[GirlShrinking 110]

WOW , I know he is your new PHP but giving you metformin is CRAZY. You said you are not diabetic so do not take that medication. It’s bad enough when you are a diabetic and take it. The side effects can be a nightmare for anyone on it. My husband is a type 2 and when he started metformin it came out both ends. He had only taken it about 5 days and told his doctor no way.

What is your WLC saying about this new doctors response? It sounds like you are already half way through the required 6 months. Don’t stop now. You make this doctor see it your way. I’ve worked in both doctors offices and hospitals, you have to be your own advocate . Stand up for yourself. Or move on to a new PHP. (Primary health provider). Have your NUT call or better yet your weight loss doctor.

Good luck

I am half way through.. all my appointments have been one right after another and I’ve got maybe three appointments left(sleep study, sleep study follow up,and Echocardiogram) and the 6 nutritionist visits left (which I have only four visits left)

Everything else has been cleared ..

My original PCP (the one that retired) made the original referral and said it was medically necessary (that’s why she made the referral) but nowww the surgeon for Bariatric said that because it’s been over a year I need a NEW referral and a new letter of necessity for the surgery.




[emoji991] Instagram: milaalmodovar
[emoji317] SC: almodovarmila

[Mattymatt 491]

As others have said, it's time to fire your PCP and find one that isn't closed-minded about health.

[GirlShrinking 110]

I have been diabetic and on metformin for 13 years and it has never helped me lose an ounce. In fact, I had to combine it with Actos to even get it to do the job it's made for! I'd get a new pcp. This one doesn't know what he's doing.

That’s another reason why I posted about this to see if anyone with diabetes would respond (thank you) my mom is diabetic type 2 and she’s on metformin and she hasn’t lost weight either (she’s 268) she laughed when I told her what the doctor had told me and said ‘he’s an idiot, he’s just trying to make you Sh!t’ 🤷‍♀️

I mean he did chuckle as he told me that ‘it will make you run to the bathroom for the first week’.. and told me to start off with half a pill for a week and then increase to one half in the morning and one half at night.. in the pit of my stomach something just didn’t feel right about this doctor.

I did schedule with my precious doctor’s office with a female doctor. The only problem is I have to travel 45 mins out to see her (I’m ok with that)


[emoji991] Instagram: milaalmodovar
[emoji317] SC: almodovarmila

[MommaMausteller 7]

It will make you run to the bathroom periodically forever.

I wouldn't mind going 45 minutes away either. When I was a kid, my grandma was 45 minutes away and we went to see her twice a week.