Jump to content

I FINALLY told my doctor yesterday that I was getting the lapband


Recommended Posts

I dreaded telling him almost as much as I dreaded telling my husband, but my husband made me promise to talk to him, so I made an appointment and I went in to tell him.

First I need to tell you that he is young, active...a marathon runner and to give you an example of his mind-set, one time when I was sick as a dog, in the Emergency Room throwing up and came to visit him a week later and had lost 10# he CONGRATULATED ME on what a great job I'd done on my weight loss. So, I knew he would not be excited about this because with having the lapband, I will get healthier and healthier and won't be in the doctors so much.

Well, anyway, I told him and asked him his thoughts. He told me that it was unnecessary...NOT a "non-invasive" procedure as it is advertised to be and that "all I need to do is exercise more and eat less"....SIMPLE. He said there was NO WAY I wouldn't lose weight if I exercised more and ate less. Well ....

DUHHHHHHHHHH

If I could make that one work for me I wouldn't NEED the lapband!!!

I had to laugh though privately because he does a LOT of botox, skin peels, etc. and you have no idea how much I had to bite my tongue not to ask him how "necessary" these procedures were....

Oh well...it wasn't anything I didn't expect...just was a bit comical I thought... :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I told my doctor after I had it done and he asked ALOT of questions about Dr. Ortiz and how much it cost about my recovery. He is younger but I don't think very active he has a little pudge on him so I think maybe he is wanting to have it done too! I gave him all Dr. Ortiz's info so we'll see! LOL!

Erin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I told my doctor he was thrilled! He said he would do anything I needed him to do to get me approved by insurance. Didn't help - they wouldn't cover it, but he wasn't put off at all when I told him I was going to Mexico to do it. I'm going to talk to him about having someone in the office trained to do fills. I love Darlene, but driving to Roswell is such a headache on Saturdays. My doctor is 5 minutes from my house.

My Psychiatrist also thinks it's great. He keeps asking me questions about it. I wouldn't be surprised if he is asking me this information to share with other patients.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I told my doctor right after I booked the surgery date and he was very happy that I was taking control of my health. He was extremely supportive. I felt so much better keeping him in the loop. He said that if I needed anything, he would be available. They also have a nutritionist on staff that I can talk to anytime, which is great too. Their receptionist had the band done in October and had lost 60 lbs (June), so I am very pleased with my healthcare support system.

Whatever your doctor, your husband or your mother. etc thinks of this procedure is not relevent. If you are comfortable with your decision, just do it!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got it from both sides. My gyno was dead set against surgery even before I'd considered that as an option. No problem, however, telling me to lose weight without providing any support or referrals to actually help me with that. No, I'm not bitter about that. At my last appointment with her I was down about 100 lbs and I STILL got the idea from talking to her that she was looking for problems. I swore not to go back to her after that appointment.

My general physician on the other hand thought the lap-band would be a real opportunity for me, though it took him a bit to come around to the idea of Mexico. He left me a voice mail which I played several times in which he said "I cannot medically recommend that you do this." Once I told him all about Dr Ortiz and he did his own research he was incredibly supportive, and I think would have even driven me to the airport if I had asked.

My mom could start a whole thread wherein she tells of the stories she's experienced dealing with her 95 year old mother and doctors who just WON'T EFFING LISTEN and end up causing unnecessary hurt and/or expense.

I guess what I'm trying to say with this post is that it doesn't matter how much education someone has had, they can still be an ass.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I say "poo poo on your doctor!!" Tell him to call and talk to Dr. Ortiz if he's worried about your surgery. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that conversasion!! ;):lol:

I'll bet that your Doc [or the majority of Doc's who give the simple advice of "eat less\move more"] have never had a problem with their weight in their lives! That's what kills me, they dish out the advice and expect it to be SO simple but they can probably eat whatever they want and stay thin. Bastards.

[OK, take a deep breath Darlene!] Anyways, bottom line,... you are doing what is right for YOU! Your Doc doesn't know YOU, how you think, feel or live. After you lose your weight, go back to "Mr. Know-it-all Doctor", [make sure you wear your sexiest outfit] do a little twirl and ask him "What do ya think now??!!" :P

P.S. You're getting banded on my B-day!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Dr. was supportive as well. She is a bloodwork junkie and is dying for me to come in and have my cholesterol and other levels checked. She wants to see how much they dropped.

You won't regret this decision! If something happened to my lap band I would panic and be on the next flight to San Diego to have another one put in. LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw my doc before my surgery and I was nervous that she'd tell me I was crazy to go to Mexico for surgery, but she was totally supportive. She was genuinely excited for me and the start of my new life. She gave me a few warnings about life with the band, like PBing and such which of course I already knew, but I appreciated the attention.

When I left she said "Osta lo wego"! That just made my day, I felt like I totally had her blessing and that was a huge relief.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's funny because my orthopaedic doc was really nice about it. Some of you might remember that I had a quandry about whether to have my lapband or my arthroscopic knee surgery first...well I talked to my orthopaedic doc the day before I talked to my regular doc and he told me that he's prefer to wait until my incisions from my lapband were healed. So, at least I know he knows something about it and he didn't try to talk me out of it or put it down.

I don't care if the Surgeon General personally came to my house and told me he advised me NOT to have the lapband surgery...I'd do it anyway! That's how set on it I am...lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have Kaiser for medical insurance and I knew they did the band. I asked my doc about it like 2.5 years ago. She said because I was in grad school (at that time) I should just wait until I was done because everyone gains weight in grad school! What! That is so dumb. Basically keep gaining and then we'll talk. So I looked into Dr Ortiz (actually my husband found him) and 4 months later I was banded. I changed docs too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why do you still have this doctor? There are a lot of caring, compassionate doctors out there who may even have weight problems themselves.

It's a long story why I still have him but I'll boil it down to convenience for me. I have a lot of health issues, so I have specialists for those and so this doctor is mainly for "regular stuff." He's about 3 minutes from my house and I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes in the waiting room to get in because their office is run perfectly. Also, they are amazing at getting you in for last minute stuff. I have been through nightmares of doctors offices making you wait 2 hours in the waiting room and even one that forgot me in a back room. It's worth it for me to have the convenience and I can handle him. He doesn't phase me or make me feel bad about his opinion. Besides, once I lose weight and get healthier, he will have to eat his words...;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's a long story why I still have him but I'll boil it down to convenience for me. I have a lot of health issues, so I have specialists for those and so this doctor is mainly for "regular stuff." He's about 3 minutes from my house and I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes in the waiting room to get in because their office is run perfectly. Also, they are amazing at getting you in for last minute stuff. I have been through nightmares of doctors offices making you wait 2 hours in the waiting room and even one that forgot me in a back room. It's worth it for me to have the convenience and I can handle him. He doesn't phase me or make me feel bad about his opinion. Besides, once I lose weight and get healthier, he will have to eat his words...;)

I understand the convenience thing and not having to wait and all the great stuff you listed. You are strong and far more than you realize. Great attitude too. Yeah, use him for your needs and then you'll show him!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...