Question:
My Gastroenterologist informs me that she does not

I first saw my Gastroenterologist in January. I told her up front why I was seeing her (a prerequisite from my surgeon because he felt I had reflux). I had the endoscopy and determined I had Esophogitis and a hiatal hernia. She said I was not a good candidate for surgery at that time and would reevaluate after medication and a follow up endoscopy. Well, I had the follow up last week and the Esophogitis is all cleared up and hiatal hernia is better. So I have been calling her office to get her to clear me for surgery and she hasn't been calling me back. Well, her receptionist or whoever answers the phone this morning told me that she will not clear me for the surgery (lap RNY) because the doctor does not believe in WLS. I was furious to say the least and asked this girl why the doctor didn't tell me this in the beginning when I told her why I was seeing her. She said she didn't know and that the doctor was going to tell my surgeon just that the hernia had gotten better but that she would not say it was ok to do the surgery and he had to make the decision. Well, my surgeon's assistant said she didn't know if that would be good enough, so now I may have to go see a whole new Gastroenterologist to get approval, if my surgeon would even accept it after whatever the original doctor sends to him today. Has anyone else dealt with something similar to this? Please, any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.    — Dawn P. (posted on March 14, 2003)

March 13, 2003

   — Jazzy

March 14, 2003
Dawn, call that gastroenerologist's office and ask them to fax or mail copies of YOUR record to you, or tell them you will be there on such-and-such date to pick them up. If she has already written the results of your endoscopy up and they are on your chart and state the esophogitis is gone, well, it's just none of her business whether you have surgery or not. She is to give clearance, not decide whether or not you should have WLS surgery, unless she states a legitmate medical reason you should not undergo the procedure. That decision IS up to you and your surgeon! What if you were going to have some other procedure? Would her prejudice result in not having some other surgery? Get the records and take them to the surgeon. (My husband had to have cardiac clearance, and the cardiologist who did the tests said he was okay to have any surgery, and didn't put in whether he approved of WLS or not - not his job.) Perhaps when the gastro talks to the surgeon, he will "set her straight". Good luck!
   — koogy

March 14, 2003
Yeah that nightmares in my profile. Pulmonoilogist. Thats why its important to ask your surgeon for referralfs for ALL support docs, and use them. Otherwise you might run into a anti WLS doc and do whatr you will end up doing, seeing yet another doc for clearance. Your surgeon wouldnt recommend someone whoi doesnt support the operation.
   — bob-haller

March 14, 2003
I know what you mean...I went to my GI doctor just to get his opinion on whether or not I he felt I should have surgery. He said that I wasn't obese enough to have the surgery...what did he mean by that? My BMI is 43...well over what is required. I also have many co-morbs. I think they are just afraid that they will stop making money off of you if having this surgery cures your GI problems. Some doctors are in it to help people while others are in it to make money. I'm sorry that you're having such a hard time. I would do as the previous poster suggested and get copies of your records. Give them to the surgeon and see what happens. If you have to see another doctor ask the surgeon if they can give you a name of someone they prefer. You always have the choice of a 2nd opinion. Hopefully that will help. I wish you the best!
   — Renee B.

March 14, 2003
Most surgeons have a network of providers that they work with regularly. Obtain the paperwork from the current gastroenterologist and if that is not sufficient, have the surgeon refer you to a WLS friendly doctor for follow-up.
   — Cindy R.

March 14, 2003
It must be a gastroenterologist thing. My GI doc tried to talk me out of it too, he didn't think it was a good surgery at all. when I went back and told my referring doctor what he said, the referring doctor (a surgeon but not gastric bypass surgeon) had a shocked look on his face and said he couldn't believe the GI Doc said those things because everything the GI doc had said was untrue. This really got my attention, because it is extremely rare to hear one doctor say that about another. They usually give the benefit of the doubt to each other's opinions -- at least in front of a patient. I decided since EVERYTHING else I had found out in my research in that year about gastric bypass surgery was so positive, that I went on to talk further to my family doctor and the gastric bypass surgeon I chose. He also agreed that what the GI doc said was untrue. I am now 8 months post op and feel great and feel the GI doc was wrong. I think maybe the GI docs don't like our surgery because it is more difficult for them to work on us if we need a procedure that goes past the little stomach. I feel like I shouldnt have to suffer or worry about making thier job easier.
   — Darlene P.

March 14, 2003
I also had a hyatal hernia, and reflux problems. I had been on steriods for my asthma and they were causing me to have problems with my liver. My GI doctor was wonderful, stating the only why to get my liver healthy was the surgery. He dictated and faxed a letter to my Surgeon, who used this second opinion(Along with my PCP) to get my surgery approved with no problems. Maybe you should get a second opinion. A lot of doctors are not as informed about WLS an they could be. I think this makes them afraid to be apart of a referral. When I had my gallbladder out 15 years ago, my GI doctor(a different one) told me there was no such thing as gallbladder disease! Yeah right!!
   — TERI S.