Visit with my primary care doc - not my fault

[ardelia 41]

Right.

I went to see my primary care doc to get a referral to the surgeon so that my insurance would cover that visit. Before know what happened, he has scolded me for not having taken my thyroid meds and he thinks that surgery is a bad idea. If I can't change my eating habits, then the surgery won't work. Yeah, I get that. He also said that any decent surgeon would refuse to operate on me till my thyroid is under control. I get that, too.

Then he said that he wants me to read about bupropion, which I did ravenously. It is used for many things, but an off-label usage is for people with eating disorders (not anorexia or bulimia, though) - like me, apparently. He tells me that he thinks (based on what I have told him over all my visits) that I have a food obsession and (now get this) that my overeating IS NOT MY FAULT. WHAT? I can see the food obsession thing since I do have some other compulsive behaviors like counting things or thoughts cycling though my head incessantly.

My fatness is not my fault?! I cannot tell you how that felt to hear. I mean, when I try to explain to my best friend (never been fat in his life) that I just cannot control myself, he doesn't get it. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am about in tears. These are good tears.

I am going to get myself back on the thyroid medication and start the bupropion and see how that goes. If it works, then I can avoid having an invasive procedure. If not, then I can always come back to the surgical option. I am not going anywhere, though...I want to continue to learn more so that I feel comfortable in case I have to go the surgery route.

So...I have canceled my consult with the surgeon. (Though, interestingly, his office called me a few hours later - apparently they had not listened to my message yet - to tell me that the surgeon had to cancel my appointment. How funny!) I am, however, going to go to the learning session at Phoenixville Hospital on Thursday...should be interesting.

[CavyGuy 0]

Yeah I take bupropion. And I'm here getting ready to get banded. Now the thyroid, that's a while other issue and only your internist can advise you about that. Good luck.

[ardelia 41]

Yep! And that is why I still look around here...if bupropion does not work in combination with the thyroid meds, this might end up being a great option for me. :thumbup:

[angermom 0]

I wouldn't tell anyone that you have any compulsive habits. Any mental disorders will be on the required psych evaluation. They may deny you. I know Blue Cross will.

[Cocoabean 430]

I have thyroid issues, too.

Getting the thyroid under control is certainly very important. But, once treated the amount of weight loss is not huge.

www.thyroid.org states that a loss of 10% of body weight is all that is expected. This can make a significant improvement in health, yes. It's most likely less than the amount of weight you want to lose.

As to angermom's post, I might be misunderstanding it. Not all mental disorders will disqualify you. I don't know about OCD. Blue Cross approved me with well treated depression.

It may be that they want you to be in treatment and have your symptoms under control. The best you can do for yourself is be honest in the psyche eval.

I hope the new meds work for you, and that you can avoid surgery entirely!

Best wishes!

[ardelia 41]

I have never been diagnosed with any sort of mental issue. Only the other day was I told that I have a food addiction.

Frankly, I have no interest in trying to game the system just to get myself a band. That would be irresponsible and STUPID. The docs have to know everything about their patients and not being honest with them JUST so that I can get a band is moronic and I will not do it. If someone does have some kind of mental issue that they try to hide, and then they get the surgery, there could be major problems. If you are a food addict, for example, but you hide that fact from your doctor, it is a mistake. The band will not change one's behavior, though it seems some people here don't care about that issue. They are single-sighted: MUST GET BANDED NO MATTER WHAT.

If the docs decide that banding is not for me (for whatever reason), then I have to live with that. Trust me, I do not WANT to get the band unless I really have no other option. I'll give the meds a go and see how I do.

[angermom 0]

So true. Any kind of addiction needs to be treated, no matter what kind. I was not thinking of food addiction. I was referring to the OCD issue. I have several students in my class with this disorder and have they gotten treatment. Two of my kids are so much happier! It is awesome to see them smile and hold their heads with confidence now.

:thumbup:

[Cocoabean 430]

I have never been diagnosed with any sort of mental issue. Only the other day was I told that I have a food addiction.

Frankly, I have no interest in trying to game the system just to get myself a band. That would be irresponsible and STUPID. The docs have to know everything about their patients and not being honest with them JUST so that I can get a band is moronic and I will not do it. If someone does have some kind of mental issue that they try to hide, and then they get the surgery, there could be major problems. If you are a food addict, for example, but you hide that fact from your doctor, it is a mistake. The band will not change one's behavior, though it seems some people here don't care about that issue. They are single-sighted: MUST GET BANDED NO MATTER WHAT.

If the docs decide that banding is not for me (for whatever reason), then I have to live with that. Trust me, I do not WANT to get the band unless I really have no other option. I'll give the meds a go and see how I do.

You are so right, ardelia!

Also, I think to a large (ha ha) degree we all have food issues/compulsions/addictions. Else we would not be here. Some are bigger issues than others and need different kinds of treatments.

For me, I ate compulsively, if it was there, I wanted it. I was seldom NOT hungry. Getting the band has given me control I did not think possible. Gaining control of the physical hunger has allowed me to work on the head hunger issues. It is not easy. I still work on it. But not having my stomach screaming for food all the time has very much helped me. Your mileage may vary, of course.

I think you are wise to try the meds first. They may work very well for you. :thumbup:

So true. Any kind of addiction needs to be treated, no matter what kind. I was not thinking of food addiction. I was referring to the OCD issue. I have several students in my class with this disorder and have they gotten treatment. Two of my kids are so much happier! It is awesome to see them smile and hold their heads with confidence now.

Thanks for the clarification. I was, indeed, misunderstanding. Thought I might have been. :crying:

[stargate713 0]

The day I went to my PCP for my surgical referral she had me in tears. First she yelled at me and berated me, and then she ended her verbal assult (for that is what it felt like) with "I'm still going to write you the referral". Turns out part of her issue was her total lack of knowledge and understanding of the proceedure. She is an attending physician in the clinic the trains the Family Med Interns for the health care system where i had my surgery. She didn't even know who my surgeon was! The sad thing is, this means that she does not refer any patients who could benifit from Lap-band surgery. In my case, I'm an RN, so selfishly when she said she'd write the referal I let it drop, because I did all my research, went to 2 seminars, and took over a year to make my decision and NEEDED that referral and later insurance letter from her! I think you may have a slightly different view after you've been to the information seminar and hear the surgeon's point of view. Good luck in what ever path you choose, and do what ever you can to be as healthy as you can.......and if you go for the band, we will all be here waiting for you with open arms!!!!