So PO'd Right Now!

OK, so I went to the surgeon for the initial consult on 12/9/13. Their office faxed over my release paperwork to my primary care physician. When I went to my monthly appointment with the surgeon on 1/9/14, they had not received the paperwork back from the PCP. The receptionist was kind enough to print the paperwork out and give it to me so that I could take it to the PCP. I faxed it to her, telling her that it was originally faxed last month and I need it completed and faxed back to the surgeon as soon as possible.

Surgeon's office just calls me. The PCP says that although I have sleep apnea, am on high BP meds and cholesterol meds, and although I am a good candidate for the surgery, she has only seen me 3 times in 2013: once to remove a skin tag and a couple times for a sinus infection.

She is the one *****fills my prescriptions, and we have had conversations in the past about my weight and she has given me information on how to lose weight. Is she losing it? The surgeon's office suggests I make an appointment with her to discuss the WLS.

What the hell?

Man, I would be PO'ed too!!  That is just wrong.  I'll keep my fingers crossed that all works out well for you.

I would be super annoyed.  But I'd also schedule an appointment to talk with her face to face.  (Which my PCP required from me.)

Time to start doing things in person. Faxes are easy to delegate to others in the office. If you go in person to talk to your PCP, you can't be ignored. Take the paperwork that you need filled out with you when you go and hand deliver them directly to the doctor. Tell them you will follow up IN PERSON in ONE WEEK. Then do it.

I know how you feel.  My PCP took forever to write my clearance letter and when she did, it wasn't right.  I had to take matters into my on hands and re-write the letter myself. 

Everything will work out.

Hi,

I am also still pre-op, and have my appt with the PCP on Monday. I actually asked for a referral to a PCP, from the patient consultant at my WLS surgeons office. So I am going to a  PCP they recommended, and other patients have went to. Maybe give that a try? 

Yup, I don't blame you for being upset!  In my situation I only had one appointment with my PCP before I talked to her about WLS - and that was just an introductory appointment.  I made the second appointment and went back to her and said "I know you don't really know me, but I'd like to talk to you about weight loss surgery."  I gave her my reasons why.  She said "I think you'd be a good candidate for WLS". 

So I clearly had a PCP who was supportive, but it sounds like yours may not be.  I'm so sorry you're not getting the cooperation you need.  But definitely do everything in person as the other posters recommended.  You'll have piece of mind that way,  And good luck!!

Sandie

Thanks everyone. I called and left a message to make an appointment, and sent another fax to make an appointment to no avail. I guess I will just take the paperwork to the office tomorrow afternoon and see if I can get squeezed in. Their office is TERRIBLE about answering the phones and returning messages.

AGoodWin, I am going to take your route I think, and ask my surgeon to refer me to a PCP that he works with. My current PCP is kind of a holistic, natural remedy doctor, and you are correct, she may not be WLS friendly...