New PCP for surgery process?

[SarahSleeve 170]

**Sorry if this has already been asked, there are so many threads here!!!**

Has anyone switched PCPs for the purpose of getting through surgery requirements? I haven't been seeing my doc very long (previous doc retired in Sept after being my doc for almost 10 years) but I don't think she's done many bariatric referrals. At my info seminar today they said some people choose to switch to a doc more knowledgeable with bariatrics for this process and either switch back after or stick with the new one because they know more about post-op stuff.

Just curious if anyone has any experience with this.

Oh, also - the surgeon I'm getting started with has done about 900 bariatric surgeries.~600 bypass, ~150 sleeves, the rest lap band. Are those good numbers experience-wise? It seems pretty good to me.

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[Valentina 2,642]

Why not just talk with the PCP that you have been seeing since the other retired?

Have a one on one , take a list of questions so you don't forget to ask everything you want to ask and just sit down and "have a chat"?

[SarahSleeve 170]

Why not just talk with the PCP that you have been seeing since the other retired?

Have a one on one , take a list of questions so you don't forget to ask everything you want to ask and just sit down and "have a chat"?

Oh, I will. I already requested the appt and will organize everything before I go. I was just curious

[Rainy Days 73]

I think it is important to have a PCP that is supportive of weight loss surgery but I wouldn't say that switching to one that had referred a lot of patients would be critical. My PCP is involved in my pre-surgical care because I live 4 hours away from the weight loss surgeon that is in my insurance network. Even still, my doc only had to weigh me once, deal with my blood pressure issue, and refer me for a sleep study. After surgery she will do my post-op incision check and that is pretty much it. Everything else is handled by my surgeon so far- the insurance clearances, the paperwork, lab work, nutritionist stuff, etc.

[Barry W 336]

The surgeon sounds experienced - if you have done something 150x, you have seen most of what one can see in terms of different types of challenges I imagine. Is any other info provided?

Regarding the amount of support needed from the PCP, I agree with @@Rainy Days - during my research/decision phase, I went to my PCP a couple of times to discuss what I was learning and thinking around what became my decision - wanted to "keep him in the loop". If you go forward, you need the PCP to be supportive (if it's the right thing to do) and provide a referral, but once the intake process starts, the surgeon's team has been handling most everything for me, and I have had scheduled followup visits with the nutritionist and surgeon. The scheduled followup hasn't been extensive, but it has been enough, and if I was having issues, I could of course get more of that.

Edited April 9, 2016 by Barry W

[SarahSleeve 170]

Thank you for the replies! I guess I was thinking the PCP would be more involved than she actually will be Looking over the papers it doesn't look like she needs to provide much more than the referral, recommendation letter, and lab/physical history. That should be easy for any PCP I'd think.

I just have to hope she's supportive of my choice

Now to find a psychologist for the eval. That has to be completed before I can even submit my intake form!

[SarahSleeve 170]

The surgeon sounds experienced - if you have done something 150x, you have seen most of what one can see in terms of different types of challenges I imagine. Is any other info provided?

Just that he's been certified as a general surgeon since 2003 and then it lists all his education and training info and awards (honor student, surgical awards, etc). I think he'll be a good choice

[Joyce 258 10]

Thank you for the replies! I guess I was thinking the PCP would be more involved than she actually will be Looking over the papers it doesn't look like she needs to provide much more than the referral, recommendation letter, and lab/physical history. That should be easy for any PCP I'd think.

I just have to hope she's supportive of my choice

Now to find a psychologist for the eval. That has to be completed before I can even submit my intake form!

I'm surprised your bariatric team is not providing you with names of psychologist that provide the service

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[SarahSleeve 170]

Thank you for the replies! I guess I was thinking the PCP would be more involved than she actually will be Looking over the papers it doesn't look like she needs to provide much more than the referral, recommendation letter, and lab/physical history. That should be easy for any PCP I'd think.

I just have to hope she's supportive of my choice

Now to find a psychologist for the eval. That has to be completed before I can even submit my intake form!

I'm surprised your bariatric team is not providing you with names of psychologist that provide the service

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They did provide the names of a couple but said they are booking several months out so I wasn't sure if I could find someone sooner.

On a good note, looks like my PCP's office has done this before. I called and told them I was starting the bariatric surgery process and they were like "OK! We'll need to bring you in for a pre-op physical, EKG..." and kept going. So I feel confident that they will work with me fairly well