I am having surgery on March 16th, but do you just go to the dr. when you are having checkups or are sick or do you take a list of do's and don'ts with you.  Not your surgeon's office, but like urgent care, etc. for "other" things.  My PCP doesn't know I am having surgery and I know he is kinda againist it, so its weighing on me.  Any suggestions?
thanks

No advice here. 

Personally, I cannot understand how any person would enter into such a major medical decision without the support of their PCP. The relationship between you and your doctor is supposed to be a collaborative one, not one where you go behind the other's back.

If you don't see eye to eye with your PCP on your health care, you are setting yourself up for major problems down the road.

Yes, I would definitely take a list with me. Unless they are pretty experienced, you PCP won't know what to do. 

I would find a new PCP if he doesnt support you in your decision.  You need all the positive support you can get.

Ditto Anrea- if you current PCP does not support you - find another one..

I had follow up appointments with my surgeon's office at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, etc.  However, everytime I go to the surgeon, I also go to my PCP.  He's the one who orders the labs that my surgeon needs, and he likes to review them with me (He does a better job than the surgeon's staff does).

 Your PCP MUST KNOW that you are having surgery.  His name is going to be on your medical chart as the person to contact if your general doctor needs to be called in for anything.  Yes your surgeon will deal with the surgery and any complications. But the rest of your medical care (including your surgery) needs to be monitored by your PCP.  

My PCP is HIGHLY involved in my WLS journey.  He's my PRIMARY care physican afterall, he's in charge of everything that happens to me.  He has about 13 other patients who had WLS (including my mom and sister), so he's very familiar with how things need to work.  I also make a point of bringing him "something" everytime I see him -- some medical journal report or ASMBS article or whatever cool information I come across.  He's always happy to get new data so he can treat me (and his other patients) better. 

If your PCP is not supportive of your surgery.  Find a new PCP.  If you can't trust your own doctor to provide the best possible care for your own personal health needs, and if you're scared to tell your doctor stuff that has any bearing on your medical conditions.... then you need to find someone you feel comfortable with.

Pam

>>Do you take a list of do's and don'ts with you.

By the way, here's a list of the things that are either in my medical chart or that I've given my doctor for his own education...

* A copy of my diet guidelines that was given out at my pre-op nutrition class 
* List of medications we are not allowed to take (in my chart)
* List of lab tests that need to be drawn each time (in my chart)
* My research on why calcium citrate must be taken after RNY, not calcium carbonate
* The ASMBS Bariatric Nutrition Guidelines
* Article entitled "Medicine and Nutrient Considerations after RNY"
* I plan to take him the information often posted by PuggyDawn about the malabsorption of psychoic medications after RNY -- next appointment is in March.

Who knows, maybe he really doesn't want all this information and he just acts like he's thankful.  But I feel better knowing that I'm doing my part in giving him the "insider" information I find here on OH and in my research ... at least I know he's got the resources at his fingertips to be more educated about WLS.  And hopefully by my giving him all this stuff, he'll be able to better treat his other patients.  

thank you all for the informative postings.  I feel I need to clarify something.  When I discussed WLS with him originally, he said he would suggest it, but I felt he didn't want to.  I know there are lots of doctors who doesn't support it or maybe he feels I haven't tried hard enough.  He said his wife goes to WW and does good on that and offered me a diet pill prescription.  He didn't SAY he was againist it, just me feeling that way.  As one poster said she wouldn't go to a PCP that didn't know, I feel I need to address that.  This PCP came to me after my doctor died and I was transferred.  He is actually a friend through a group of friends and sometimes I don't feel comfortable telling him things like OB/GYN stuff.  I go to the Ob/GYN for that, etc., etc.  He is a doctor I go to for colds, asthma, etc.  I am realitively healthy and do not see him alot.  I am not planning on keeping anything from him or jepordizing my health.

  Thanks Pam for the list of what you do.  That is what I was looking for.  My surgeon does everything else, blood work,etc. so I was just wondering how much info to share with the PCP because I know he may not be up to speed with WLS. 

Get a new PCP. I was already approved before my PCP knew, but he did support me. I have since changed for personal reasons.

You need a PCP that you can tell "everything."  And , your doctor should be aware of something as serious as WLS . We malabsorb supplements & prescription meds . I've had to switch a couple of meds , because they didn't work after WLS . You can't take certain meds after WLS . Your PCP needs to know this  . I was nervous about telling my PCP , but he was great & has continued to be very supportive .