Weight Loss Clinic questions

[poppyowner]

Hi all:wave_cry:
Tonight the Doctor rang me after having applied for funding and told me they have asked for me to attend a weight loss clinic - he also told me that this was no guarantee of a yes to funding.
He has made me an appointment to see him for a chat and to fill in the form he was sent on Wednesday at 10am.
I am based in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

My questions are:

Has anyone else attended one of these 'clinics'?
Where are they held - local hospital/doctor surgery?
How long do you have to attend for?
Do you visit weekly / monthly?
Do they give you a diet plan to follow or just support the diet plan of your choice (I follow SW at the moment) ?
What exactly happens to you at these clinics?
How long does each 'session' last?
What do you have to do to ensure referral to Bariatric surgery at the end of clinic phase?

My Dr said he's never heard of these clinics and also referred to my desired Bypass as the "Bypass thingy" - grrrrr - I believe mine was his first ever referral since he applied to hospital BEFORE funding (they wrote to him to tell him he had to apply for funding first!!!).

Please give me as much info as poss about these clinics please as I assume one clinic is the same as another wherever it is based if on NHS.......

I am one of those people who prefer to go somewhere pre-warned

Thanks in advance

Jill

 

[Big an Bouncy]

Hi Jill,I was referred by my gp to the wlc at our local hospital.Nothing was said about surgery at that time.You get an appointment were they weigh you,bp,height,medical history,eating habits,exercise,family etc.I was asked to attend a fortnightly gym session at the hospital were they go over all your physical probs and decide the best exercise for you.It is nothing like a gym.Very easy exercise.Also encouraged me to go back to sw were I lost 3 st.you get monthly appointments at the wlc to weigh you talk to dietician etc,they will ask you to try Orlistat for a period too to see if it helps.Sleep study if you have apnoea.I attended for 18 months before the doctor put in for funding in Feb this year granted June this year waiting to see surgeon now,I should hear before the end of the year I hope then after an appointment with him get an idea of op date.It will of taken 2 1/2 years!Each session is like an ordinary appointment,not group session.They will tell you if you meet the requirements for surgery,depending where you live the bmi,co morbidities etc.You have to show how serious you are by losing weight of your own accord with their help.I put my weight back on plus more which has always happened hence I weigh 18st!I dont have diabetes and only mild apneoa but my doc applied under extra special rules,I have had prolapsed bladder and vaginal walls,osteo arthritis and depression etc.Hope this helps you have to always describe your life as an overweight person in worse case scenario.No sex life,dont socialise,cant wash yourself/wipe your bum(soz)depressed etc if it affects your life tell them everything.Maz x

 

[Emma Louise]

Hey!

I'll give answering your questions a go...

Has anyone else attended one of these 'clinics'?
Yup i certainly did when i tried to go through the NHS i was referred to the obisity clinic.

Where are they held - local hospital/doctor surgery?
It was a seperate hospital called the diabeties/obisity centre and was on a seperate campus from the main hospital in Exeter but i think still part of it - if you get what i mean

How long do you have to attend for?
I had been attending for a little over 18 months (having been told i had to lose 4-5 stone before they would let me see anybody else) before i had enough and went private.

Do you visit weekly / monthly?
I was supposed to see the consultant every 3 months but saw the dietition every 2 months.

Do they give you a diet plan to follow or just support the diet plan of your choice (I follow SW at the moment) ?
I followed SW too, which the dietition was happy with.

What exactly happens to you at these clinics?
First time i went i had my bloods taken but everytime i went after that i would: Wait, get weighed, wait, then see dietition/consultant. They then talk to you about how things are going and how they can help and when you would like to see them again.

How long does each 'session' last?
It really must varie between each person, i think my first session lasted about an hour the ones after maybe a bit less. But it depends what you have to say and what you want ot get from the sessions.

What do you have to do to ensure referral to Bariatric surgery at the end of clinic phase?
They may tell you to lose a certain amount of weight to show your commitment to the procedure and show you are willing to change your eating habits etc.

Good luck hun!!! xxxxx

 

[Big an Bouncy]

Soz forgot to say there is no guarantee you would get surgery at the end if you dont meet the requirements your pct has set out.Also some pcts have changed their bmi's.

 

[poppyowner]

Thanks BIG AN BOUNCY & EMMA LOUISE.

Feel a bit calmer now after having read your posts. Am glad it won't feature a severe new diet and that I can still keep doing SW in particular.

IF you do meet the weight loss they ask you to - does that GUARANTEE you the surgery IF you still meet the PCT criteria? Surely if you have to lose so much weight then the BMI would reduce so that could put you out the criteria range? (or am I being cynical?)

Got my meeting tomorrow morning so will find out location etc there and then.... got my readings from this year (thank God I keep a food diary with weigh ins in it!) to hand to GP.

Wish me luck..... will post what happened after the meeting!

Thanks again you two

Jill xx

 

[sugga]

Wishing you luck with your appointment tomorrow, hope it goes well for you xxx

 

[Mixman]

This is also the case now in Sheffield. All new 'patients' cannot be put forward for any WLS unless they have attended a 12 week weight management course first.

Again, there is no guarentee after this either!

 

[poppyowner]

Thanks everyone

WELL - went to the GP today - saw him for about 20 mins - basically I sat there while he read the form aloud and then asked me 2 questions. He has admitted I am his first patient to go through a referral for funding!! oo-er!!
Took along weight measurements etc from this previous year and he duly completed the form. This was the funding form - so have been told he THINKS I now have to wait to see if I have got funding - THEN I am meant to attend a clinic which may / may not lead to surgery! He told me "They'll have more hoops for you to jump through!"
Gives me hope - not!
He doesn't know where the clinic is......he said there is 'something' written on the form about Ashford in Kent!!!! I'm not happy driving long distances after my eye op so this worries me - I thought since it is meant to be basically a pop in and weigh then chat with dietician type clinic that it should be at local hospital etc.......
NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT THAT NOW! just need to WAIT and see if I get the funding first - without that - no clinic - no surgery so everyone cross those fingers / legs - ANYTHING for a YES to funding!!! Doctor told me when I asked approx how long to find out "It is the NHS so your guess is as good as mine - allow years!!!!"

Jill