Dr. Glas**** and his Staff! What's up with them?

I take meds for depression and Dr. Glas**** in Cedar Falls refuses to do the rouxny which is the surgery I want. He'll only do the lapband despite a letter from my psych doctor stating I'd be fine!!!! I have already paid $100 of the $200 consult fee which is not refundable! I am livid at this!!!! What should I do!? The staff acts rude and short and wouldn't even let me talk to the Dr. again or people who had been successful there with the lapband. I am at wit's end with these people!!!! Any advice!??

I think you should talk with Dr. G's team or Dr. G. himself and see why he won't do the surgery you want.  There must be a good reason he won't do the RNY on you and I think you have the right to know why.  He is pretty knowledgeable from what I hear of him, so I'm thinking he is looking out for your health.  The next step you could take is checking at other facilities that do bariatric surgery.  If they all tell you the same thing that Dr. G. is telling you, then you may have to accept the fact that RNY isn't right for you at this time.  Personally, I checked out four places before I settled on UIHC for my surgery. 

Remain calm and take your time to check this out thoroughly because it's something you only want to do once in your life.

Good luck and let us know how things go for you.

Carol

Thanks Carol, unfortunately they are all telling me the same. I am not a fan of the lap band,  so if thats the only option I'll just have to get the moxie to try sincerely and lose w/o surgery which is something Ive never done...

Carol is spot on..Dr.G and staff are very strict about the program...this is just one of the reasons I will not go elsewhere, any rules or restrictions he has are all in his patients best interests. I'm sorry you are having this problem with them..this is the 1st bad review I've ever heard about his staff. Kim (insurance lady) is my fave! She's always so bright and happy, and It almost seems as if she's more excited about my surgery than I am...if that's even possible!  I hope you get the answer you want. I am assuming it is due to the type of medication you are on or possibly the severity of the depression.I s there a different type of med you could go on that he would accept?  Here's the best of wishes to you. let us know how things progress.

I've decided not even to bother, the lap band sounds annoying and I know 3 ppl who are still fat after 2 years. So screw surgery and i wish I cld get my $100 I wasted back!

What about the gastric sleeve?  I know someone who had that done in April and has lost 60 pounds already.  Is that something Dr. G would consider for you?  If not, find another surgeon who will at least talk with you about options.

Don't give up because you get knocked down by one surgeon.  Persevere and don't give up!!  You can do this and I believe that.  Please keep trying and let us know how you do.  You deserve to be healthy, so go for it!!

Carol

Don't give up- there are other options and other doctors out there- just remember this is a marathon- not a sprint- please don't give up

First a big hug! 

I am sorry you are dealing with this.  But I have to stand up for Dr. G myself.  I am a nurse myself and I also have been hired into a bariatric coordinator job at my own hospital at one point in time.  I can tell you he definently has your best interest at heart.  Dr. G is known for not allowing surgery to those he doesn't feel is fit to handle it emotionally or even physically.  That is his job to look out for you.  The band is a good surgery but it requires dligence just as RNY does but in a different way, esp with sweets.  There is no dumping syndrome with that so it might be a different challenge, however u can always have a fill and with RNY you cannot.  Just some things to think about.  

If it were me and my health I would get whatever I could if I wasn't satisfied with the band, I would keep getting other opinions.  I will tell you this journey is one hell of a mental roller coaster ride with its ups and downs.  Even those of us under the best cir****tances preop with our mental well being have looked to therapy and support b/c its just down right hard at times. Not only losing your best friend food as a coping mechanism but also the way the world reacts around you.  being a size 4 now ppl look at me and give me the time of day, they never did before and quite frankly it makes me very angry to some level... its a multilayered thing.  I love having my health and fitting into anything I want but there is also some hardships.. ppl treat you different.  Some are jealous and your friends and dynamics will change, it can be disheartening.  

He is looking for your best interest, I promise you this.  He has been doing this a long time, has done thousands of surgeries since his residency (if you include that).

Hang in there and i pray whatever happens for you is in your best interest.

HUGS

Sorry you are having a tough time.  Melissa is right it is a long and tough journey.  I am not sure if your insurance covers wls if so make sure you also check out the requirements most require a dr supervised diet with your pcp showing your efforts, sometimes WW will count.  I am a lapbander and thus far have no regrets and I am satisfied with my weight loss thus far.  If you go to the lapband forum you will see many success stories.  Due to HIPAA and privacy laws his office can not give out their patients names, if they did they would be in big trouble.  you may try going to a support group meeting and from there you could visit with people and maybe learn more from people that have had the lapband.
Dr G performed my surgery and my gallbladder surgery 4 weeks post op and him and his office have been great!! so not quite sure what happened with your interaction.  He is very strict and has high expectations of his patients and I think he has his patients interest at heart.  If it is your meds, maybe you could get your psych to try another.  Dr G is the bariatric specialist and I would go with his opinion over a psych. because he knows how the digestive system and procedures interacts with different illness/RX.
I wish you luck in your journey, you may want to check out the Uof I