Newbie with some questions
Hello everyone! I have decided to make a profile on here since surgery is my ultimate goal. I do have some questions but first let me tell you about my situation.
I decided back in 2008 to have weight loss surgery (after lots of research of course!) when I heard my cousin, who was a bit smaller then me, had gone through a gastric bypass. My pcp was against wls and said to try a 6 month diet anyways and if that didn't work she would refer me. Well a year passed and she was still saying no so I switched drs. That one said no, too and I switched again. And again. And again.
Finally, I had given up but got back into it when I saw a tv program on dr oz about wls. And the first pcp I got said she would refer me. Before I had met with her I had found out that out of all the surgeons in my city, only 1 accepts my insurance. Now my pcp is gone from my office and my old dr is there instead (one of the ones that said no). The office took 6 months to do the referral even though I had a year and a half of dr supervised diets, while I am taking time off with no job to do this surgery. And I met with the surgeon but he didn't think surgery was a good idea for me because of my back problems not letting me be mobile. I am not sure I even liked his bedside manner. The husband seems to like him, though.
But now I have lost 14lbs, since the office said for me to try to lose weight to 'shock him' to do the surgery or something. I have an appointment on the 29th of December to see him again and he wants me to be 'mobile.' Also, now the receptionist says that my insurance isn't currently contracted with the hospital as of November so if they still aren't by then I would have to change my insurance.
Whaaat?! I don't have anything to change my insurance to!
It is so frustrating going through this. I have insurance that will cover it but no dr wants to touch it or me.
I should also mention how bad this weight is for me. While I am not in the super morbidly obese category, my weight brings on pain that makes it impossible to stand or walk sometimes. I have severe sciatica from the weight on my back and hips. Also, I am a type 2 diabetic, have sleep apnea, high cholesterol/tryglycerides, among other things. And I am only in my 20s. For this dr I have tried to push through this pain to show him I am worthy, losing sleep in the process. And for what? A maybe? I get that he is concerned about blood clots but I feel like unless I am mobile they wont do it and they just say oh well next person. I am not sure I want that type of dr to work on me. But he is the only one in the city to take my insurance >
I decided back in 2008 to have weight loss surgery (after lots of research of course!) when I heard my cousin, who was a bit smaller then me, had gone through a gastric bypass. My pcp was against wls and said to try a 6 month diet anyways and if that didn't work she would refer me. Well a year passed and she was still saying no so I switched drs. That one said no, too and I switched again. And again. And again.
Finally, I had given up but got back into it when I saw a tv program on dr oz about wls. And the first pcp I got said she would refer me. Before I had met with her I had found out that out of all the surgeons in my city, only 1 accepts my insurance. Now my pcp is gone from my office and my old dr is there instead (one of the ones that said no). The office took 6 months to do the referral even though I had a year and a half of dr supervised diets, while I am taking time off with no job to do this surgery. And I met with the surgeon but he didn't think surgery was a good idea for me because of my back problems not letting me be mobile. I am not sure I even liked his bedside manner. The husband seems to like him, though.
But now I have lost 14lbs, since the office said for me to try to lose weight to 'shock him' to do the surgery or something. I have an appointment on the 29th of December to see him again and he wants me to be 'mobile.' Also, now the receptionist says that my insurance isn't currently contracted with the hospital as of November so if they still aren't by then I would have to change my insurance.
Whaaat?! I don't have anything to change my insurance to!
It is so frustrating going through this. I have insurance that will cover it but no dr wants to touch it or me.
I should also mention how bad this weight is for me. While I am not in the super morbidly obese category, my weight brings on pain that makes it impossible to stand or walk sometimes. I have severe sciatica from the weight on my back and hips. Also, I am a type 2 diabetic, have sleep apnea, high cholesterol/tryglycerides, among other things. And I am only in my 20s. For this dr I have tried to push through this pain to show him I am worthy, losing sleep in the process. And for what? A maybe? I get that he is concerned about blood clots but I feel like unless I am mobile they wont do it and they just say oh well next person. I am not sure I want that type of dr to work on me. But he is the only one in the city to take my insurance > 
(deactivated member)
on 12/9/11 9:27 am
on 12/9/11 9:27 am
you know.. I think sometimes when we get in front of our doctor, we lose our words.. (at least I do)... all the reasoning I have logically thought through in my head becomes a jumble and I never express myself very clearly.... (not saying that is your problem)... but one thing I have started doing is writing a detailed list... of bullet points that I want to make sure I bring up.....
what you wrote above here is great... maybe print it out and take it to the doctor and just hand it to him to read... when I was in my 20s, I let the doctor's push me around... Not sure what happened in my 30s, maybe I just have been through too much with my kids etc... but now... I write a list of what I want and why... and I rarely leave without being satisfied that we are doing what is right for me!!...
I think it is harder for women to get doctors to listen to us in general... I know that is a stereotype..but its really true...
good luck songbird...
what you wrote above here is great... maybe print it out and take it to the doctor and just hand it to him to read... when I was in my 20s, I let the doctor's push me around... Not sure what happened in my 30s, maybe I just have been through too much with my kids etc... but now... I write a list of what I want and why... and I rarely leave without being satisfied that we are doing what is right for me!!...
I think it is harder for women to get doctors to listen to us in general... I know that is a stereotype..but its really true...
good luck songbird...
Have you heard of the DS? It has the highest rate of putting your type 2 diabetes into remission. I would seriously look into the DS with all of your co-morbidities. I too have back issues...herniated disc, sciatica, left leg is permanently numb. But none of that factored in my PCP and surgeon's decisions.
Once my PCP read the info I gave him on the DS, he was totally on board due to the diabetes alone! Come over to the DS board and ask some questions. Go to DSFacts.com and read up on it. Having the DS is the best thing I've done for myself! My blood sugars were normal (with no meds and after eating) 2 days before I left the hospital.
Oh, and another thing to think about....the DS is the surgery used in Europe on non-obese people who have diabetes.
Good luck!
Once my PCP read the info I gave him on the DS, he was totally on board due to the diabetes alone! Come over to the DS board and ask some questions. Go to DSFacts.com and read up on it. Having the DS is the best thing I've done for myself! My blood sugars were normal (with no meds and after eating) 2 days before I left the hospital.
Oh, and another thing to think about....the DS is the surgery used in Europe on non-obese people who have diabetes.
Good luck!
When push comes to shove....shove hard!
Never regret anything, because at one time it was exactly what you wanted.
Never regret anything, because at one time it was exactly what you wanted.
It really amazes me how clueless some of these doctors are. I thought that all doctors acknowledged that weight loss would improve mobility issues.
Look at this another way. You are not tied to having surgery in the city where you live. I agree that it is preferable if it is an option. However, at this point you should consider having surgery in another city. Plus if you decide to pursue the DS as an option, you may be forced to travel since so few surgeons perform that procedure.
Just hang in there!
HW 240/ SW 229/ GW 146/CW 125; OH Support Group Leader
Starting size: 18W-20; Present size: 0 or 2; 5'5-1/2" tall.
Current BMI 20.4 as of 2/13/2013 (normal for the first time in my life).
Goal weight reached on 8/12/2010; As of 1/13/2013, 21 pounds below goal
Dr. Rabkin or Dr. Keshishian. You're fortunate that you live in CA, where it's possible 99+% of the time to FORCE your insurance company to cover the DS, even if they "say" they don't. In your case, you have lots of ammo---the DS resolves diabetes in better than 98% of cases, and it's the go-to surgery for high cholesterol.
I was barely mobile when I had my DS 8 years ago. (Tomorrow is my 8-year anniversary!) I could only walk a little bit, due to a combination of knee, hip, and feet issues compounded by being SSMO. In fact, I'd been told the only help available for my knee problems was two complete knee replacements---but that I was too heavy to have them done.(That turned out to be okay---I had my DS instead, and I'm still making do with the original knees. *grin*)
I know virtually nothing about the geography of CA, but in your situation I'd travel however far I had to in order to see either Dr. Rabkin or Keshishian.
I was barely mobile when I had my DS 8 years ago. (Tomorrow is my 8-year anniversary!) I could only walk a little bit, due to a combination of knee, hip, and feet issues compounded by being SSMO. In fact, I'd been told the only help available for my knee problems was two complete knee replacements---but that I was too heavy to have them done.(That turned out to be okay---I had my DS instead, and I'm still making do with the original knees. *grin*)
I know virtually nothing about the geography of CA, but in your situation I'd travel however far I had to in order to see either Dr. Rabkin or Keshishian.
I actually was looking into the DS as of a few days ago when I came upon a place in San Francisco, which happens to be Dr. Rabkin's site. My husband is not so sure and thinks we should just stick to the guy we've been seeing but it is my body and I have to live with this the rest of my life so I want to make sure it is the right choice. I must say that the DS really appeals to me, with just my mobility issues alone. Weight regain issues on the other surgeries worry me to death. I also have hypothyroidism and my body likes to hang on to any and every pound I have, unfortunately, so I am guessing I need something with malabsorption. I just hope they take my insurance. There is a seminar from Dr. Rabkin's office in my city next week I am really interested in going. I have questions for DS'ers so I will be heading there shortly. San Francisco is only 1.5-2hr drive from here so it's not that bad.
Thank you all for responding!
Thank you all for responding!
Sounds to me like "the guy we've been seeing" isn't being very helpful.
I suggest you also look into the Revision forum here www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/ It's VERY important to make the best possible choice the first time around!
I suggest you also look into the Revision forum here www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/ It's VERY important to make the best possible choice the first time around!
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