Doctors Notes-Opinions please

Hi Everyone, As some of you may remember, HAP denied me for surgery and I am gathering information for my grievance. I previously had a PCP who did not agree with WLS..and boy is that an understatement! Today I received her notes and one of the last visits before I switched PCP's was to talk about WLS. I would like to post her comments and get your reactions to this.. you can be honest wether you agree or disagree.. IT reads: "Kim is here to discuss bariatric surgery. The last time she was in WW she quite after 5 weeks. She continues to work out and be healthy in general but over the past year she has put on another 20 lbs. She is pretty discouraged about this. She also has a long list of how she feels her weight interferes with her life and she definitely is obsessive about it. She cannot get past being fat as being bad and we have had many talks about this. ...." it goes on to say " THe patient is definitely greater than 44 in BMI - Morbid obesity. At this point in time the patient has not even begun to qualify for bariatric surgery, in the sense that she has not done 1 year of supervised weight loss program. She has her choice between coming to me weekly, or going back to WW for a year. I advise her WW is far more successful than bariatric surgery, which is 60% with an extremely high morbidity as far as complications, malnutrition, malabsorption and generally poor health. We discussed the risks that she would take. We also discussed the fact that I am not willing to take them with her and while I would supervise her for her year to get her criteria met, I would no****ch her get the surgery because it is so devastating to thos who get it. .." She talks a little about counseling because she feels I need a better opinion of myself big or little...and how she also suggested some supportive website for big women. She explained that at this point in time there is only one disease that has weight in and of itself a risk and the rest or all related to the inactivity of the normal obese person. (normal obese..isn't that an oxymoron?)She said this is not a medical issue..but a psychological one. Not medical except that I have severe GERD, Sleep apnea, upper resptory ubstruction disorder, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety and joint and back pain. I feel I need to send this in with my appeal, however I'm afraid they will believe her instead of me and my therapist and new PCP. Any thoughts on this out there? Thanks!

I agree, she is definitly NOT informed! All the Drs I have told me thae this surgery would be the BEST for me, and that they are happy that Im doing it! I cant believe your PCP is so "small-minded" I think she needs to take another medical course on RNY surgery! XoXo Keep your head up hun! Kimberley 3/15/2006

I also agree with you. Just keep up the good fight. It seems like everyone that has hap has to go thru this but they do eventually get approved. I want to wish you the best in your quest for a new and healthy life. God Bless---Toni

PROVE her wrong. I think she needs to do some research. Five years ago my my pcp did not agree w/ wls. After he did research & saw sucess stories he was happy to help me get my surgery. I heard HAP was the worst as far as apporving wls. Good luck on your journey. I am blessed. Linda 309/197/140

Her notes say"Over the past year she has,,," This is an indication that you have worked with her for a year and should be considered in your year of supervised diets. Please ignore her comments/statistics about complications. There isn't anything in stone about this as of yet. All data is still pretty preliminary but the odds of problems with a thorough and experienced surgeon are very slim. You have complications from obesity that are pretty serious. Sleep apnea alone is enough to warrent surgery. Good luck with this and file your appeals to get through the process faster. Also see if your surgeon's office can help you. They know the "ins and outs" better than anybody. kp @ groin

Hi Kim, Looking back on my records, I first asked about surgery in 2000. Hap denied my first request and I did not appeal. They said I was too healthy although I had diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, spinal & cervical stenosis, and osteoporosis. They claimed everything was under control. My doctor was not too supportive either. You will have to prove you have tried several ways of loosing weight and have a doctor document it. My advice is to change doctors to one who is more supportive. In December 2004 I did just that. He put the paperwork in for me and I received approval. I had my surgery last week. Good luck, Carolyn

Sounds like you can not convince this doctor other wise. I'd highly suggest finding a new one. She sounds like nothing but a dead end. Stef