Primary Care doctor in Clayton/Raleigh, NC who would support WLS?

Hi everyone. :)  As the title says, I'm in Clayton and was trying to find a primary care physician around this area who would support (and write a letter of support) for my getting the lapband.  I'm hoping my normal PCP will do it but he's rather conservative (he won't refer for a vascectomy, etc.) so I'm not holding out much hope.  (However, he is the first to speak up to say anything when you come in to his office and have put on a few pounds since the last visit - he's done this to me, my father, my mother and husband who are all his patients). I just got off the phone with my OB/GYN's office after inquiring if my ob/gyn would possibly do it and I was told by her nurse that the doctor said that she isn't familiar with the lapband and she suggests I see a dietician.  What the *#&#?  I felt like saying well if she's that flippin' ignorant about it to go do some research on the internet.  I've already done years of dieting and that is the whole reason I will be getting this surgery.  I kindly told the nurse to tell the doctor thank you for her NON-support and hung up.  Guess I'll be finding a new OB/GYN soon. So at any rate, does anyone know of PCP's in this area (Clayton, Garner, Raleigh) that I could transfer my records to who would support the lapband.  I've been meaning to switch my PCP anyway and figure now would be as good a time as any to do it. I found the name of Mazin Khusayem, M.S. in Clayton here on the OH website and was wondering if anyone had used him/her? Thank you in advance for any help and I apologize my first post on the NC board was so cantankerous :)   Heather :)  

No one?

Welcome to the boards, Heather! It's hard to imagine a doctor who out-and-out wouldn't support this!  All of my docs (pulmonologist, cardiologist, oncologist, primary care, medical case manager, gastroenterologist), were very supportive.  Both my cardiologist and medical case manager have sisters who've had WLS.  My gastroenterologist even spent a week researching various types of WLS to see which would suit me best, bless his heart!!   My primary care clinic is Blue Ridge Family Physicians.  I'm not sure which of them is taking new patients, and it does take a while to get a new-patient appointment.

Thank you for your response!

Hey Heather: I live in the Charlotte area so can't recommend you to my PCP but just wanted to welcome you here.  Everyone is wonderful and I am sure you will get more responses are the day wears on and people get home from work. Good luck on your journey to WLS.   If you have any other questions, we're all here for you! Take care,  Pam

Hey!  I also live in Clayton and am looking for a new PCP.  I will be trying out Horizon Family Medicine.  Don't know if they support it, but, when I go in 2 weeks, I'll ask.  I went throught the process of lap-band without a recommendation from my PCP or my OB/GYN.  I have a great OB/GYN in Raleigh, but I didn't need to involve her.  I'll be glad to share my contacts and any information if you need it.  Good luck! Laurie

Hi Heather!    My PCP is Steven Turner of Garner Internal Medicine.  They're on White Oak road behind Target.  He was a huge help in getting my WLS through.  He is a great guy and still taking patients.  You can call them at 773-1223 to see if they will take your insurance if you want.  Good Luck! Julie

Thanks Pam and everyone for your responses and the nice welcome!   Laurie, it's crazy that BCBS - my insurance doesn't require a referral letter but the surgeon requires a letter of support.  Let me know how your appointment goes. Julie, I'll definitely check him out as I'm roughly only 10 minutes away from there and we're always going up to White Oak for a movie, shopping, etc. Thanks again everyone!

I go to Cary Internal Medicine and The Diabetes Center.  Dr. Vijay Juneja is my primary and he suggested the surgery to me, although I had been considering it for a few years.  He is very supportive of the surgery.  He feels I will be able to come off my diabetes medicine, my blood pressure medicine, my cholosterol medicine and the CPAP!!! He and his staff are great!!! The phone number is 919-467-6125 and the office is located right off US1 and Cary Parkway.  Very easy place to locate! Good luck!

Great!  Thanks so much for the info :)