Major Setback!!

From day one with my PCP, I asked her if she would be willing to support me on this and write the letters needed for the insurance company and for the surgeon, letters of reccomendation. Last Wed. I had my final PCP apt with her to compile all test results, and get the letter bit taken care of. And this is what I get "I could never reccomend weight loss surgery, 1 in 200 people die, it's too much risk" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She said she would write a letter with my test results, but not an offical letter of reccomendation, which is required by insurance and surgeon. Big help! I just sat there in her office, stunned, couldn't fight back, couldn't argue, cause I knew I would fall apart. I have spent the last 5 months getting tests, her knowing what they were for, visiting her at least once a month, sometimes more. And now I have to start over and find a new PCP!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was soo devestated, I sat in my car and cried, I cried for all the time lost, for myself, for my bad school term, for my weakness of getting myself to 300lbs to begin with, cried for all the stress and depression I have gone through, the heartaches and headaches. I can't believe this happened to me. So not only do I have to swich surgeons b/c Dr. Patterson is having babies, I have to hunt down a new PCP too!!! I decided on Dr. Hong for my surgery, but have no PCP to reccomend WLS, any ideas??? I can have the new dr. send for my test results, so I don't think I will have to re-do testing, but time is short now, I wanted to have surgery in April, I don't need PCP hoops to jump through. Loosing hope now, and I have been at this too long and devoted too much to this to loose hope. Sad Brandi

Brandi - I cannot believe the gaul of that doctor - how horrible that she would lead you on like that! The good news is that it won't be a problem - I'm sure of that. You still have plenty of time to find a new PCP that will write that letter and get the surgery in April as you hoped. Take a deep breath....it will happen!!! As for this doctor, well, I would make one final appointment with her to fire her. She needs to know how inappropriate it is for her to lead you on as she did. If she thought she could pull a fast one and screw it up for you, that is doubly nasty. When you go in, you should call ahead and ask for copies of your records to be ready for you. That way you can hand carry them out when you leave. I want to throttle the woman for you!!!! I don't know any docs up there, so I'll leave that to the others here, but I *know* you will find a good pcp without a problem! Dina

Thankx babe! I would love to have the balls to go fire her ass, but I know I would just start crying again, I can't get mad, I just cry! LOL! I am gonna have my new PCP just send for the records, I just have to change my PCP status with my insurance company, bleck! I just HATE HER FOR THIS!!!!!!!! Brandi

brandi first big squeeze ((((((((((((HUG)))))))))))))) 2nd I know how you feel about standing up to this dr with out falling apart.. for some reason I react the same way with people whom I see as "in power".. I become a 5 yr old child. I was this way with drs all my life (and keep in mind that with all my health probs I have seen hundreds of drs over a 6 state span) I am no longer this way with the drs anymore. I quit looking at them so high and mighty when I worked around them and seen how "human" they are!! oh it was an awesome thing for me to finnaly get.. ok 3th.. can't help with the dr thing "but" if no one on here see's this post soon enough to tell you who their dr is, how about calling dr hongs ofiice and asking them which drs are WLS friendly?? explain to them what happend and I am sure they can come up with a list for you.. also isn't this the same dr. that you referred another woman to here on the boards?? I'm with dina, I wanna smack this dr. for you!! how nice of her to take your money (ins. and co-pays) all this time knowing full well what all these tests were for and then come back and say this crap!! too bad you couldn't have stood up and said fine, I would like a refund as this is the only reason why you have been seeing me!! hang in there girl.. big smooches big hugs and luv's ya Theresa

Hang in there Kiddo, You have gone through way too much to let one person's opinion wash out your hard work! You can do this, find a new PC, hopefully our friends here can recommend one. I wish I could help ya, but my WLS Dr. is in Idaho. Keep your chin up, and don't let them sabbatoge ya! Catherine

Hi Brandi, this is Susan again. Hope this info helps. Dr. Patterson's program also has some pcps associated with her program just for cases like this. Did you send in your app yet? They are James Biemer-384-0316.Daniel Highkin-360-254-1240. Mark Harrington-397-0471. Susan

Thank you so much for the numbers, I will call first thing on Monday. Thanks to everybody else for the warm-fuzzies. I needed it, ya know? I haven't sent in my application yet b/c I still didn't have a letter of recommendation. I wanted so bad to be able to get mad, but I just didn't want to get my emotions rolling. I did recommend her to another person on this board, as she was recommended to me on this board. I hope whomever I sent to her, didn't go! Brandi

Brandi~ It's terrible...to hear all you're having to go through. I am sorry to hear your Dr. was not upfront with you. You could always check out my Dr. .... Karen Murphy, FNP at Pacific Medical Group in Tigard. She is WONDERFUL, I've had her for years and has been supportive of many patients pursuing WLS. 503-598-2000. If she's not on your approved PCP list because she's a FNP, try another Dr. at the clinic (Clack is a good one) and then make your appts. w/Karen. I'm sure you'll find a PCP to step in for you! Take care, Michele

I can only imagine your frustration with this. Like having surgery isn't enough to worry about! Sheesh! I am not sure where you are, but my PCP is a wonderful. sweet man. Very supportive of WLS. He is in Cottage Grove, Dr. Michael Thompson 541-942-6612. Best wishes to you and yours, Isha

Brandi: In your packet from Dr. Hong/Patterson, aren't there some doctors from the Oregon Clinic whom Dr. Hong/Patterson recommend? They will do your recommendations for you because they work a lot with Dr. H's and Dr. P's patients. Now, take a deep breath and remember, all this is character building. This likely isn't a hugh set back--you've just had other disappointments lately and this seems like the straw that's breaking the camel's back. When I got to your point, my secondary insurance all of a sudden decided they weren't going to pay -- after I had authorization. Well, here I am, four months later and 57 pounds lighter. It will work out--just breath! If those names aren't your packet, call the gals at Dr. H's office. They'll be happy to give you the names of those docs. Pam