Question:
Should I send a letter to PCP before first appointment to prepare him?

I was wondering if it would be helpful for me to send a packet of information to my PCP before I go for my appointment next week so he will be prepared? Or would that give him time to think about reasons he SHOULDN'T refer me? :-)    — Julle N. (posted on October 24, 2001)

October 23, 2001
If your PCP is the family doc type who might not be aware of the state of wls today, then it's a good idea to send him some info before you meet with him. I'd send it two weeks before and don't send a big packet, keep it at 3 pages or less. Make sure it has current info including outcome statistics. Good idea!
   — [Anonymous]

October 24, 2001
I would send it in before your appt and also bring information with me to the appointment (just incase his copy got lost in the mail or he was too busy to get around to reading it.) You can use your visit to openly discuss the information. By doing this it will show your pcp that you've done your reseach, you've have thought this out throughly. Speak with him plainly and honestly about what you want and what you hope to achieve. WLS IS NOT a magic bullet, it's only a tool and the best tool we have today for someone 100 over weight. Be clear you understand the risk of this surgery (and i hope you do as with any surgery), relay to him that you have realistic goals about using this tool to lose weight and express the achievements you hope benefit for from WLS. Your main reason should be to have better health. If it's approach as simply "another quirky risky way to lose weight" you might have less success with your doctor. The goal is better health and along with that, losing weight. Losing weight is the "key to better health" for people like us. You should also convey that you are committed to a "LIFE STYLE CHANGE FOR HERE ON IN" for this is for the long term. This will help your feel more apt to agree with your decision if he sees you aren't looking to have WLS as an easy-option-out to dieting. (some people in the medical field view WLS that way so be prepare is all I am saying) I think you will do just fine. Your pcp will see that this woman has her act together, knows what she is embarking into and is realistic about what WLS can and cant do and understands its risk and is willing to do what she needs to do to make this TOOL a success toward a better, healther you. Good Luck
   — Gwen M.

October 24, 2001
Sorry about the double post, wasn't sure it went through I got some error message so I had to retype it all. I would send it in before your appt and also bring information with you to the appointment (just incase his copy got lost in the mail or he was too busy to get around to reading it.) You can use your visit to openly discuss the information. By doing this it will show your PCP that you've done your reseach, you have thought this out throughly. Speak with him plainly and honestly about what you want and what you hope to achieve. WLS IS NOT a magic bullet, it's only a tool and the best tool we have today for someone 100 over weight. Be clear you understand the risk of this surgery (and i hope you do as with any surgery), relay to him that you have realistic goals about using this tool to lose weight and express to him the benefit you can get for from WLS. Your main reason should be to have better health. If it's approach as simply "another quirky risky way to lose weight" you might have less success with your doctor. The goal is better health and along with that, losing weight. Losing weight is the "key to better health" for people like us. You should also convey that you are committed to a "LIFE STYLE CHANGE FOR HERE ON IN" for this is for the long term. This will help your PCP to more likely to agree with your decision if he sees you aren't looking to have WLS as an easy-option-out to dieting. (some people in the medical field view WLS that way so be prepare is all I am saying) I think you will do just fine. Your pcp will see that this woman has her act together, knows what she is embarking into and is realistic about what WLS can and cant do and understands its risk and is willing to do what she needs to do to make this TOOL a success toward a better, healther you. Good Luck
   — Gwen M.

October 24, 2001
Thanks for the responses. Yes, my doctor is a smallish town family type doc. But he's good. He delivered my last two children and I have the highest regard for him. I'm just worried he's not up to date with WLS. I think I will go ahead and send the packet before I go to my appointment...when we can discuss it intelligently. :-) Should I mark the envelope "Personal and Confidential"?
   — Julle N.

October 24, 2001
You can mark it personal and confidental but I would put a note from you to him mentioning why you are sending it and that you are hoping to discuss future this procedure when you seen him on (put in the date of your appt) just as a side not. Good Luck
   — Gwen M.