Question:
Should We Educate Physicians?

Tomorrow I have my appointment to schedule my WLS. I have been browsing the AMOS websight and ended up reading postings about physician insensitivity. Reading these postings has brought back alot of painful and unnecessary memories for me. I am going to print the Physician Insensitivity postings and put a generic cover letter on it. Then I'm going to make lots of copies. Would you like me to mail a copy to your physician? I'll be happy to do this as long as I don't get 17,000 requests. :) But seriously - can we work together to educate physicians? We may not be successful - but we'll go down swinging.... What do you think? Email me your requests and opinions. God Bless Us All - We're GREAT!!    — ronascott (posted on September 26, 2000)

September 26, 2000
I left information with the first two pcp's I had who were completely insensitive to WLS. I don't know how much good my "packet" did because I never saw them again and now have a different, more thorough pcp. She is just a resident in family practice who gave me a referral to the WLS surgeon. I did not have to go through acrobats. She went through my information, asked questions and although it is hard talking about intensely personal issues excess weight brings on; I concentrated on them feeling this was my best hope to get a referral. She was kind and understanding. I feel she could not relate on a personal level to the obesity...she is so young and thin...but she was caring, understanding and was trying to help me achieve optimum health. That is what I expect from a first rate physician. I deplore the judgement and condemnation some docs attach to obsity. We have a right to respect as a person with just another major health issue, ours being obsity. The first pcp I had thought he was superior to me in knowledge of WLS. Several months ago I might have thought he was. That is the shame of the experience with him. Thank you to this site and links, and the wonderful people here my knowledge is tremendous. The packet I left him was for all those who deal with him after me and here in Wisconsin, unfortunately, we lead in the states with obesity concerns. My packet to him included educational materials attacking his stand that WLS never works and I would be undertaking a major surgery for no benefit long term. Information on web sites that support surgery, and organizations that have published papers on the subject. I also included some personal info from various people about obesity issues and insensitivity, protecting anomity of course. After aspirating in the operating room for a different surgery last year I take this surgery very seriously and would not undertake this except as a last resort in order to enjoy a healthier, more attractive being. If I did not have the utmost confidence in this surgery and its' benefits as a tool for sustained weight loss I would never undertake it. After many, many visits to this pcp he should have known me well enough to relate to this. He was also aware that I am a medical coder and work with docs daily and have more than the average knowledge of medicine and the body. I say that word enjoy...how long since some of us have enjoyed the way our bodies feel. Back when I was able to exercise and lift weights I so enjoyed the healthy feeling that working muscles produces. I enjoyed hikes and climbing the shore of Lake Michigan taking in the scenery. Some romantic interludes might be nice if this size and heaviness were not looming so large on my frame. I also left information in my packet on this explaining that my very best diet attempt after attempt did not bring me close enough to my weight loss goal to enjoy these activities without significant joint pain. I wonder what is taught in medical school these days about obesity. Some of the posts here give good reports to young docs and my experience echoes this. I feel no matter what I said to first pcp he was a lost cause. We try and try but will only reeducate some. They need to leave personal feelings and predjudices at the door before treating patients but some make no attempt forgetting entirely what they are there to do; which I believe is to help the patient achieve optimum health. That means optimum health in all shapes, sizes and medical conditions. I am tenatious and a strong willed individual and marched out the door, head high with determination that I would find another doc, but not everyone is as strong as I am and these docs do people such a disservice(sp). I applaud your effort, as the whole experience with that doc wore me out for a month. I was so MAD!!! and even now it is hard to let go of the anger that accompanies the treatment that this one gave me. Best of luck in your endeavor.
   — JennyLynn A.

September 26, 2000
Rona, I think that is a great idea. I would appreciate it if you would just e-mail me a copy of your letter/packet which I will run off and send to a few docs I know who could use it. My personal physician did agree with WLS for me, but only because of my persistance. He really tried to talk me out of it telling me I just needed to get more excercise and push myself away from the table. It doesn't seem to matter what I go to see him for, he always has to make a comment about the weight (like I really need to hear that from him - and it is so worth the cost of an office visit for that wonderful, heart-felt medical advice).
   — jeff P.