Anyone changed doctors before surgery!

[mrsjo 69]

Hello all! I’m 4 months into my 6mo pre-op diet phase before bypass and thinking of changing doctors. Anyone else done this? If so do you start all over or can they use your records from the old doc? So sad and confused as to what to do. Would love to find a new doctor.

[Arabesque 6,446]

So sorry you don’t feel confident &/or comfortable with your surgeon. But this sounds like a conversation you will need to have with your insurance company. They seem to have lots of the decision making power in the States. Hope they support your desire for a new surgeon & it’s an easy transition.

[Soon2bFit21 109]

I would have in a second if it wouldn’t have added in multiple months to my surgery wait. I did call another bariatric program because I was completely dissatisfied with my surgeon, dietician, and the general office for too many reasons to count.

If you don’t feel comfortable, I’d highly suggest switching if it won’t compromise your plan. If you’re already going through the process, your medical records can be sent over and you generally won’t have to repeat certain components depending on your insurance.

[mrsjo 69]

@soon2bfit21 did you ultimately end up staying with the same doctor? I’m just so torn as do what to do I just want to cry. I’ve actually done well, lost weight, exercising regularly and doing good but I’ve never met my surgeon-4 months in. Not even on the day I had my scopes. And I had a nurse tell me some awful things about my doctor as a surgeon. I am a nurse and so I know how we sometimes get to see the bad side of doctors. This was more than just gossip talk it was how the doctor actually performed and such, he had worked 1on1 in the OR with the doctor. Anyway, I wonder if I call my insurance first?

[Queen ApisM 426]

Yes, I switched but I was self pay so it was less of an issue. Best thing I did, even though it did wind up extending surgery - I switched right as COVID hit, so I didn't get a consult until August of last year and the new doc had different requirements such as getting an endoscopy. However, I just used the same psych letter and that sort of thing, so I didn't have to do everything over. It was the best thing I did - I felt so much happier with the new practice and their care levels plus it wound up being $10k cheaper, which as a self pay was important!

Definitely contact the insurance company to get more info on how they will factor in. Honestly, as long as there is a record with them of your efforts to date (as I imagine there is) there should not be a problem. If not, then also definitely request all your records and provide them yourself to the insurance company and new practice.

It's important that you feel confident in your surgeon and their practice.

[lizonaplane 1,604]

I looked at switching surgeons because I was having a hard time getting the surgery center to respond to my calls and emails. But then they finally scheduled my surgery and I told the new surgery center I was going to go to the original one. The surgery was fine, but now I am having the same issues with the surgery center not responding to me, so I sort of wish I had switched.

I have seen other messages on here that people who have had to switch for various reasons have not had to start from scratch, but I don't know if that is true in all cases. I was told I would not need to restart my insurance classes, but I would have to meet with their psychologist and nurse practitioner.

I wouldn't call your insurance company as it's impossible to get a straight answer from them. I would have the new surgery center's insurance specialist deal with it, as that's what they do all day long.

Good luck!

[Dave In Houston 199]

I switched surgeons a month before I had surgery. When I mentioned to my cardiologist that the surgeon's staff was unresponsive, he suggested I call a colleague with whom he had a good working relationship. In fact, the heart doc pulled out his cell phone and called the surgeon to tell him about my situation and let him know that I'd be calling.

I was able to get an appointment with the new surgeon a few days later, and had surgery in a month. My insurance is plain jane Medicare, so the approval process was easy. I was able to get all the counseling and pretesting done, including an endoscopy done by my own GI doc. My consult with the nutritionist was the day before my surgery.

I had a good outcome, and subsequent to the surgery, I've found my surgeon's staff to be very responsive, so I'm glad I made the change.

[ShoppGirl 3,341]

Even if it does set you back a little I would change doctors if you don’t feel comfortable with yours. You have to trust your doctor in order to trust the process and that is critical In succeeding post surgery. That being said it really shouldn't set you back too much. They should be able to use medical records to satisfy the same requirements. They may have a few different requirements though that you will have to fulfill.

[mrsjo 69]

Thank you all so much for replying!!!! I feel so much better about my decision to switch. This is so hard to talk to anyone about because I don’t know many people or doctors and my family just wants me to do what is best. So thankful to have a place to ask and talk about these types of things. I’m not on Facebook where I think there are probably more support groups so this is very helpful! Thank you all again!

[Soon2bFit21 109]

On 10/04/2021 at 06:15, mrsjo said:

@soon2bfit21 did you ultimately end up staying with the same doctor? I’m just so torn as do what to do I just want to cry. I’ve actually done well, lost weight, exercising regularly and doing good but I’ve never met my surgeon-4 months in. Not even on the day I had my scopes. And I had a nurse tell me some awful things about my doctor as a surgeon. I am a nurse and so I know how we sometimes get to see the bad side of doctors. This was more than just gossip talk it was how the doctor actually performed and such, he had worked 1on1 in the OR with the doctor. Anyway, I wonder if I call my insurance first?

I ended up staying with my surgeon only because I received a surgery date, and switching would have added on another 3-4 months for me.

I felt he was very competent as a surgeon, just had a terrible bedside manner and the surgery center was hands down the worst experience I’ve ever had in with unprofessionalism, response time, and general screw ups.

If you have any doubt on your surgeon’s ability to perform the actual surgery, I would definitely switch.

[STLoser 1,085]

I did. I started the process in March 2020 and because of covid the hospital laid off a bunch of people, including that surgeon. I decided to go to a different hospital and surgeon. They did not make me start the whole process over. They just got my records and I didn't have to be retested for things I already had done.

Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

[STLoser 1,085]

Oh, and I was self pay so I didn't have to worry about insurance. It may be different with insurance.

Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

[♡MyCurves 2]

Well...if you're not happy, then, yes, I'd fond a new doctor. Not sure how that would effect your progress though (for weightloss surgery).

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app