The Doctor Struggle

[MayfairDuLioncourt 0]

About a month and a half ago I was diagnosed with PCOS.

Ever since my daughter was born two years ago I couldn't lose the weight. I would lose some, gain a lot, lose some, gain a lot. Before I knew it I was heavier than I was when I was 9 months pregnant. I feel like crap all the time. Body aches, chronic fatigue, constantly feeling sick to my stomach, Hair growth on my face, Hair loss on my head and oh god the acne. My periods were nothing short of a nightmare and when I went two months without getting it that's when I knew something wasn't right. I moved and changed insurance recently so when I made an appointment with an obgyn it took a month before they could fit in a new patient. She sent me for a sono and a blood test and it turned out PCOS was the cause of all this. Without really explaining much about the condition she sent me on my way with a script for provera(to induce a period) and necon(super strength BC). That's when I decided I really wanted to get the gastric sleeve done. Six hours into my day I eat for the first time when the nausea subsides, no matter what I eat or how little my body is storing fat like I'm about to hibernate for a decade and after five minutes on a treadmill I feel like I'm about to pass out. If I push through it and make it 30 minutes or more I feel like someone beat the crap out of me. I'm so easily winded. I wasn't like this before my daughter was born, I was at the gym 3 nights a week and walking 3 miles to work and back every day. It's frustrating and depressing.

So I made an appointment with a PCP and explained the whole thing to him. He said he wanted me to come back in 3 weeks and 1 week before the appointment come in for a blood test. I asked if he would want my obgyn to fax the blood test I JUST had two weeks before and his response was "It's ok". Whatever. I was ecstatic. I got the process started. I did what I was told.

I came back for my next appointment and the doctor told me he wants me to eat oatmeal every morning at 8am and a piece of fruit every hour until 12pm when I have a sandwich and again until dinner and also join weight watchers. I said "but.. Don't you think the sleeve will help me? With my PCOS symptoms I mean if I lose the weight my hormones will regulate and the PCOS can go away" He said "No that surgery stuff is no good. I wouldn't recommend that stuff to my patients. All it does is shrink your stomach and you can do that yourself by doing what I told you. These surgeries all they do is make you throw up and it's messy and you will have a miserable life". He went on to tell me some story about one of his patients who had 27 surgeries and I just stopped listening because honestly I could've just cried right there and then. Why couldn't he just have said that in the first placr instead of wasting 3 weeks of my time? He told me if I really wanted it I would have to call my insurance and find a new doctor. So I went home and called my insurance.

I told the woman on the phone I was looking for a new PCP and please give me the number to every single one who takes Aetna in this town, the next one, give my the whole county and then some.

She gave me three numbers then started saying "Hello? Ma'am? Are you there? I can't hear you" then eventually disconnected the call.

The first number I called told me they weren't accepting new Aetna patients but they do recommend patients for the sleeve and if I change my insurance to Blue Cross they can help me.

Second number said they weren't sure if the doctor recommends the sleeve because she's on vacation. They took my info and said the will call me in a week when the doctor returns.

The third number was an answering service and they didn't even name the doctor that the insurance woman gave me.

I felt so defeated, depressed and hopeless at that point I couldn't gather the strength to call the insurance company back and ask for more numbers. I'm not really sure where to go from here. I can keep calling doctors. If that fails I could try changing my insurance and hope that by the time I get blue cross that doctors office is still taking new patients. And also hope that I can find a good pediatrician for my daughter. I'm also not sure if I can get blue cross considering I get my insurance through medicaid.

I feel so miserable now. My optimism deflated. I don't want to give up.

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[Christinamo7 4,042]

you are doing exactly what you need to be doing. you will find a PCP who is willing to work with you. one step at a time. we've all had long and winding roads to surgery, and set backs. hang in there.

[MayfairDuLioncourt 0]

Thank you. Right now it feels like the universe is working against me and it's really hard to stay positive. But back to my mission I go ????

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[Read2016 658]

I'm not sure why the pcp has the right to veto the surgery... Their role is to order the some of the pre surgical testing so you can be medically cleared for surgery... I'm seeing my pcp Monday, not for permission but so she can order whatever test the surgeon wants on his paper... If you go to the pcp saying you need clearance for breast implants are they going to say oh no I'm not doing that I think you breast look fine....

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"

Einstein

[KristenLe 5,979]

I agree with @ - check with Aetna to see if you can go to a Bariatric surgeon without a referral from your PCP. The PCP sounds like an asshole! Some plans will allow an OBGYN to be your PCP too. It is Aetna's responsibility to find you a PCP that is accepting new patients!

[MayfairDuLioncourt 0]

I'm not sure why the pcp has the right to veto the surgery... Their role is to order the some of the pre surgical testing so you can be medically cleared for surgery... I'm seeing my pcp Monday, not for permission but so she can order whatever test the surgeon wants on his paper... If you go to the pcp saying you need clearance for breast implants are they going to say oh no I'm not doing that I think you breast look fine....

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"

Einstein

That's exactly how I feel. Thank you ❤

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[MayfairDuLioncourt 0]

I agree with @ - check with Aetna to see if you can go to a Bariatric surgeon without a referral from your PCP. The PCP sounds like an a*****e! Some plans will allow an OBGYN to be your PCP too. It is Aetna's responsibility to find you a PCP that is accepting new patients!

Thank you so much I'll try that!

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[anniebanana 167]

If your insurance requires a referral from a PCP, you also might try working backwards and contact your local bariatric center and ask them for names of local doctors who are supportive of WLS. If they can't give you names, ask if they have a support group, and check with the people within the group. Good luck!