Question:
I THINK I finally got the referral,but my PCP was adamant about me NOT getting WLS
My PCP tried to talk me out of it saying all i had to do was eat less. he also said he said i would regret it and im too young (im 26 yrs, 230lbs, 4"11)im not even sure he will put the referal in. what should i do, and how long should i wait? IM DEALING WITH THE VETS ADMINISTRATION.. — Octavia M. (posted on September 7, 2003)
September 7, 2003
I am 20 years old 5'11'' and started at 292lbs. I think if your pcp is not
supportive I would find a new one. My surgeon wants us to have a supportive
pcp since then I can see her if I can't get ahold of him. If my pcp
wouldn't have been supportive i would have found a new one. I can call her
nurse anytime I have questions and she will find the answers for me.
292/232/-60lbs as of 6/27/03 I do not believe you are too young for this
surgery. Why wait ten years to see if you end up with comorbids and more
weight which will make it a riskier surgery.
— horserider0146
September 7, 2003
Find another PCP who is supportive of the surgery, if you really want
it...they are out there. (And you're NOT too young!)
— rebeccamayhew
September 7, 2003
By this website's BMI calculator, yours is 46.5. That's in the morbidly
obese catagory. Mine was just of 50, by the way. So, I'm wondering why
your doctor doesn't want you to do this. I'm assuming that you have been
trying for a year or more to lose weight on your own. Right? Hmmm... I
hope that you have a great WLC there, that can educate you and take good
care of you for at least a year. And, if this doctor won't refer you, find
one who will. God bless. Darlene
— darbruing
September 7, 2003
Like the others said change doctor's if necessary. I would probably have
gotten ticked and asked "at what weight will you think this is a good
idea", if he said none, then I would have said "I'll send you an
invitation to my funeral". Sometimes it takes a hammer to get across
to a doctor how serious you are.
"One thing you might try is writing him a letter and telling him what
life is like for you. Tell him about the limitations and difficulties you
have on a daily basis. Tell him about the surgery and make him understand
that you know what you are getting into and what changes will be required.
Talk about the things you want to do in life and cannot do now. At the end
tell him you are not asking for his blessing on the surgery but you do need
his support in providing a referral and you would really appreciate him
giving it to you. Give him your number and tell him to please contact you
if he has any questions or would like to discuss further. Go for the heart
strings. You have nothing to lose! Go for it!!
— zoedogcbr
September 7, 2003
Change doctors if he's not doing what's needed to help. One point I will
bring up since you're young and dealing with the Veteran's Administration.
If there is a chance you want to be in the reserves or national guard, you
may want to re-evaluate. WLS will disqualify you for elistment because due
to stomach size, you are considered as not deployable because of the
limited amount you will be able to eat. If that's not a consideration,
get another doctor and go for it.
— Cathy S.
September 7, 2003
Goes without saying that you need to change doctors. I am the same height
and was about the same weight as you and I held off until I was 40. I was
miserable for 20 years and suffered health and self-esteem problems. Do it
now! Do whatever it takes to get it done. You will not regret it! You have
no idea how much better you'll feel, even after 30-40 lbs come off. Good
luck!
— Laura B.
September 8, 2003
RUN don't walk to another physician!!! Good luck, dear!
— Deborah M.
Click Here to Return