Question, PCP and Labs

My PCP said the same thing. I even had to bend the bariatric Dr's arm to get my first set of labs. I've had a couple PCP visits since then, and he sees my progress. He is starting to warm up to the idea of ordering my labs because I don't see myself driving an hour to get to the surgeons office on a regular basis. IF my PCP wont order the labs long term, it will be time to find another PCP for me. Another test I had an issue with was a DEXA scan. After another arm bending appt with the bariatric doc, he finally ordered one as a baseline. They backtracked when they found the start of some bone denisty loss. As a result, I am taking more calcium and excersizing like crazy. 

Good luck, and remember this is your health. You get to drive the bus. 

She knows that she can order them, she just doesn't want to. Was she against you having surgery? Some PCPs are, and pull this crap about not doing labs after. 

Long-term, there is no reason to continue seeing a surgeon unless you have a surgical issue. Labwork is absolutely a PCP's job. If this one won't do it, you will need a new PCP.

I think she was was against the Surgery, the Dr before her gave me my referral but he left and went out of town. I always hear negative things about this Surgery for some reason why can't I ever hear good things. My PCP tells me "people I know have gained back all their weight " or any medical Professional I see seems to have negative things to say like " the people I know had the Surgery have had lots of Medical problems " can't I ever hear great things !

Yep. My endo told me "people eat thru those surgeries all the time. Just become a vegan and all your health problems will go away."  While I appreciate his comments, if it were that easy for me to change my entire diet, I wouldn't be asking about the surgery in the first place!

Why do you keep seeing her then?  I wouldn't see a PCP that was uncooperative and refused to order labs and said negative things about my WLS.

I don't really know how to choose a Dr that does know something about a person who has had Bariatric Surgery and will order labs.

Most PCP's Don't know much about WLS.  However, I think most will order labs.

If you want a PCP that knows about WLS, ask your surgeon to recommend someone or just call some docs on your insurance plan and ask.

If you want a PCP that will order labs, call some on your insurance plan and ask if they will order labs for patients.  Or just make an appointment with one and ask when you go.

Also, our lab results should be exactly the same as someone who hasn't had surgery. Any doctor who knows how to read lab results can read ours. Everyone can have high levels, or low. The only difference with us is that our levels can drop a little faster than someone without surgery, so most of us prefer to stay in the upper part of the range, instead of lower. 

You don't need a medical degree to understand any of that. And if a PCP can't, or won't, why would you want them as your doctor? I sure wouldn't.

This is a medical issue, not surgical.

^^^^^  What he said!

I rely on my PCP to order my labs, but I certainly don't rely on her to interpret them - I know what my levels should be (same as everyone else) but make the decisions on what or how to supplement them to keep them at the desired NORMAL level!

I have a health degree but I am not a doctor!   Staying healthy after RnY is most certainly not rocket science, and we should ALL take the time to educate ourselves as NO ONE will ever be as invested in your good health as you.

I haven't seen my surgeon in 10 years because ...  I don't need surgery!!

What Grim said!  I would never continue to see a doctor who didn't care enough about my vitamin levels to do the lab work.  It isn't rocket science; your PCPS doesn't need any special training (and your surgeon mIght not know any more than the average PCPS, sadly).

If you were a smoker and your PCP refused to do lab work to check something just because she doesn't approve of smoking, would you continue to use that doctor?

What happens if you become ill and your PCP refuses to diagnose (or treat you) because she thinks it is something caused by your surgery (and sends you to your surgeon) but then your surgeon knows it isn't related and tries to send you back to your PCP? Who are you going to turn to then for care??

Lora