Who Does Your Follow-Up??

Well, I just learned that my bariatric surgeon will be discontinuing his clinical medicine practice to pursue other avenues, and so I will be needing to find another doctor who will be able to do my follow-up appointments/bloodwork scrips and interpretation etc.  ugh.  I am up in the air as to whether I should find another bariatric surgeon to go to, or if a primary care physician is an okay choice.  My worry there is that I would have to educate a PCP (I don't even have one, yet!!) to our needs, and how receptive would they be to that??  I just dunno.  I'm 4.5 yrs post op and have no medical issues. My weightloss has held steady and my bloodwork has been fine.  At this point, follow ups for me are only annual.  Anyone in NJ have a recommendation?  Even if you're not in NJ, how would you feel about a PCP doing your follow ups? Thanks.

My company changed insurance carriers on me last January.  When I called to make my follow up appointment with my surgeon, I was told that she didn't take the new insurance and that I'd have to get approval from the new insurance to see another surgeon in the practice.  Seemed like way too much trouble to me. So I went to my PCP armed with my list of recommended labs.  I wanted to check to see if my pouch was OK, so had him order an Upper GI.  My labs were off a little so I adjusted my supplements. Bottom line, whether you see a surgeon or PCP, you have to take charge! Michele

Thanks, Michele. Did your surgeon give you a list of recommended labs? I'm sure I could find them online, but my worry is that the PCP wouldn't interpret them correctly.  You're absolutely right about taking charge! 

I see my surgeon annually and my internist semi-annually.  I would not have a problem seeing only my internist.  He has several RNY patients that he monitors.  I took him a list of  the labs that my surgeon orders and he does a great job checking on those and additional labs that he thinks need to be monitored.  I would try and find a doc that is experienced with us though, it at all possible. 

Like you, I am 4.5 years out.  I got a list of labs from my WLS doc and passed it on the my PCP.  In fact, I carry the list with me at all times.  My PCP does my follow-up and I have not had a problem at all.  I continue to get the b12 shots (I prefer that) and my protein and calcium level is excellent.  My PCP was excited to talk to me about my experience and she is great.  She is in full support of my decision to do the surgery.  So, having my PCP doing the follow-up was and still is a very positive one.  I still see my surgeon annually.  Hope this helps!

I am  2  1/2  years out and I  see  my  surgeon once  a  year  but  I  also  see a  Hemotolgist every   6 months  ...  Since  he  is  a blood   Dr  he will  be  on  top  of  things  if  I  have  any  long  term   patterns   forming  ...  He  has  been  real  good  about  tweaking  my  vitiamins  ... He  says  he  has  alot  of   RNy  patients he  does   follow  up  with ... So  that  might  be  helpful  for  you ... 

Ask your current surgeon for referrals...or ask who is taking over his practice.  If that fails, ask that your records be transferred to your PCP (you need to get one).  When my husband and I began our journey we started with our PCP and she has been great all through the pre-op and follow up.  It was she *****ferred us to the surgeon initially...and I would trust her judgement again.  Hope you find peace of mind by finding a PCP you like and trust.....

I get my PCP to run my tests, based on a list that I've built, which is based on what my WLS ordered. But *I* stay up on the latest studies and he stays up on the latest techniques. I ca send you my list if you write to me at my email [email protected] and you can add any of those to your list.

I also have a list of my preferred levels, which are based on the most current studies, vs what my doc has which are older. This is what I do, all day, every day. If he was as current as I am, he'd be doing THIS all day vs sugery and I'd rather he stuck with being current on THAT stuff, KWIM?

As for interpreting them or gathering opnions, we often discuss them on yahoo grads http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG
whi*****ludes some medical professionals, as well as pl who've suffered from every possible deficiency. With so many ppl remaining current on their particular area of expertise, there's quite a large vat of knowledge there.

My PCP runs my tests, and suprisingly was up on B12 levels, but how to FIX low A and D, for example, he'd be clueless.

I use my endocronologist