New Dr/new Insurance...already A Problem!

SQBEAR37 · October 6, 2003

so i have just changed insur to Health Net so i can try to get a breast reduction and lap band(not at same time) and i got the "new and youngest dr" in the group! so i had my 1st appt last Fri and i told him all the reasons i wanted to have breast reduction(i am a 44DD..back/neck pain/perm grooves in my shoulders) and he tries to talk around the subject...then i start about lap band(BMI 43/poss diabetic/high bld pressure) he says" well i referred someone and they died" i say "from lap band?" he says "no from gasrtic" i told him i was not interested in gastric i asked if he even knew what i was talking about he said he did...i think i will be having a prob with him...he is already biased against WLS....so he said after he gets my records from my last Dr and after my bld work come back we will talk(next month) i'm giving him that last appt then i willbe changing to another dr in the group...sorry so long...Nicole....oh yeah i did have to tell him i have worked in the medical field for 10 yrs so that he knew i knew how the system works......:rolleyes

soon2bskinny · October 6, 2003

Perhaps you should give him a chance. Maybe supply him with a little more info, maybe something in writing. Some doctors are just opposed to the idea if they didn't come up with it. Maybe he really doesn't know about the band. Maybe he was intimidated by your knowledge of what you want and he wasn't prepared for your straight forwardness. Don't budge though, stand up to him and let him know you are not backing down and if he won't help you you can find someone who will. Perhaps that will get his feet and mind moving.

Good luck!

Lulu · October 6, 2003

For years my PCP said a lot of my problems would be alleviated if I could lose some weight. Early this summer after my regular exam I brought it up, and told him I wanted to discuss something that I was dead serious about. I told him that he was aware of how long I've been trying to lose weight but it keeps coming back, and I am seriously considering surgery. He didn't say anything for a few minutes, then said that if I was SURE this is what I wanted he would suggest Dr. Engstrand who was in the same clinic! I had no idea there was a bariatric clinic in that building. While I expected an argument or "try another diet" he surprised me by being supportive. At the time I didn't even know about the lap band, and I'm sure he didn't either. This is so new the majority of doc's aren't up to speed on this wonderful tool.