Mean ol' doctor.

[LapBandit 5]

I feel kinda ticked about a doctor's appointment I had today at my PCP, not my bariatric doctor's office. You guys are so supportive that I figured it was safe to vent a little!

This is the first time I've seen this particular doctor since my band. She asked..."is it working?" and I thought...if you had taken 2 seconds to look at my chart you would have noticed that I'm almost down 100 lbs. But instead I told her "Yes, I really think it's been good for me."

THEN...she proceeds to look at me and ask if I was going to have surgery to get rid of my apron. Again, I tried to be nice and said that I was just banded 4 months ago so I don't think it's time to think about it yet. Duh...4 months...give me a chance to succeed before you write me off as needing someone to cut my fat off my body. (I whole-heartedly believe in the apron surgery because I know that for some people it just won't go away regardless of how much weight you lose.) But, I took her comment as...you won't succeed.

THEN...she asked if my insurance paid for my band. I said "Yes." She asked "For the whole thing?" Again, I said "Yes." and she practically rolled her eyes as to say "What a waste!"

I don't know...I'm frustrated. Darn it...I'm working my butt off at this and she totally acted as if I'm a lost cause. To top it off...she's about my size. Was it jealousy? Was it a misconception about the band? Or, was she just being a b*tch?? Either way, she really put a damper on my day.

Thanks for listening!!

[SherryW 4]

Hi Lapbandit, I went to my PCP this past Monday. She said gee you've lost 49 pounds since I've seen you last. That's great keep up the great work. I said thanks doc I'm happy with it and I'm going in next week to get the band tightened. She says Band? Umm yea doc that's how I'm losing weight. Ohhh yea thats right so are they going down your throat to tighten it. UGH didn't she read anything I gave her before she sent the referral over? lol. It is frustrating but, before I left there she knew what the band was and how they fill it and what the scares look like lol.

[cootie 0]

what is WITH some people??? And a Dr. at that! What a meany, what a bad additude she has.

[Magical_Me 0]

WOW!! :faint: You are making such amazing progress! :clap2: Good for you! I know its hard but dont listen to what anyone else says!! YOU k now how bloody hard you;ve had to work to get those pounds off. pound by pound! And at the end of the day YOU will be the one getting into little black dresses and swanning off to a fabulous night out! woo hoo!

[DonnaB 3]

LOL, I just posted my opinion of doctors and their opinions on another thread! It went something like this:

If the doctor doesn't listen to what you're telling him . . . FIND A NEW DOCTOR!!!!!! We pay their (exorbitant) salaries, we pay for their office staff, we pay for the art work on their walls, we pay for their trophy wives' boob jobs. We pay for everything. In exchange, they have to listen to us. Unless there is a medical reason for not doing what we want, they don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to our choices and decisions when it comes to OUR bodies. Period.

So, for your purposes switch out 'her' for 'him' and change 'trophy wives boob jobs' to 'pool boys gym club memberships' LOL!!!!

I stand by the rest!

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[Bettina 0]

Lapbandit,

your progress is great!!!! That doc sounded like an idiot (regarding the band i mean) I wouldn't tell her a thing about the banding next time, let her look it up...lol. It must be doc week. My pulm doc's nurse calls me about sleep apnea and knows nothing about it....i mean nothing...hello she is his nurse, it is her job to know about it, its one of his specialties! And why is she calling patients if she is clueless. I was tempted to call the village today and tell them i know where their idiot is hiding. Finally the doc called me and straightened everything out!

Keep up the good work, you are an inspiration!!

[diva 0]

1) Call your surgeon-tell them you need a new PCP,no info nec, ask them if they can recommend one-perhaps one that has referred patients to them for the lap band, someone who is wls friendly

2) Call your insurance company-find out if any of the PCP names your surgeons office gave you are within their system and if any of them are accepting new patients

3) Call and make appt no matter how long the wait. Make appt for new patient consultation and physical.

4) Kiss your old PCP good bye

[NewSho 20]

Oh, LapBandit.

How horrible.

Her behaviour is disrespectful.

You deserve a doctor that is fully 100% supportive of you, and ALL aspects of your health including your LapBanding.

For you to lose 100# and her to say that... Nah, she's collected her last co-pay from you. I know there is a doctor out there that can do better for you.

[Boo 3]

Maybe she was mad at herself for referring patients for gastric bypass when she could have sent them to get a band.

Or maybe she was mad that her insurance won't cover a band for herself.

[laurapar 0]

Or maybe, she's the village IDIOT!!

[Bettina 0]

Or maybe, she's the village IDIOT!!

OMG maybe she is the sister to my nurse-zilla!!!!! ugh:phanvan

[kittylover 1]

You could technically report her to your insurance. It could be considered discrimination for her comments and actions. There is such thing as people hating themselves and anyone like them (IE: Weight Problem, Race, Sex, Etc)

I know with my insurance they told me if I have any problems with any doctor to call them.

[LapBandit 5]

You guys are AWESOME! I knew I could get some encouraging words from you all! I feel better now because you guys are right...there's lots of doctors out there so it's my job to visit one I feel comfortable with. Thanks for the support!

[karenj 0]

LapBandit- HOLY GUACAMOLE! How have you lost that much weight in just 4 months? What the heck are you doing to have such awesome results? Please share!

[StephM 0]

My PCP wasn't as negative about the band, but she seemed against it. When I approached her about it, she said she wanted me to try more diets before she would recommend I even think about getting banded. I felt like standing up, yelling at her, and saying you have had me try diets for 10 years now, and all I have accomplished is a weight gain of 100+ pounds! So to make a long story short, since I am self-pay, I went to my surgeon, am being banded on Monday, and will return to her office in December for my physical a new person. Then she can say what she wants about the band and I really won't care.

Although most of us value the opion of our PCP's, sometimes we have to do for ourselves what WE feel is best. They only see us maybe a few times a year, not every second of OUR lives. Just look at what YOU have done for YOURSELF!

Congrats on the loss, keep up the good work!!!!