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Gastric Bypass - Referral Question, Please Help!!

C

Curvy_Kapricorn

New Member
Hi everyone,
This is my very first post :wave_cry:. I came across this site and now I'm hooked. I love reading about all your experiences as they are so inspiring.
My story is, I've been overweight since childhood and have tried every diet known to man, I am now 32 and I am heavier than Ive ever been at just over 21 stone. I have come to a brick wall and after much research i know the only way forward for me personally is the gastric bypass op.
I had an appointment with my GP this morning and was hoping to get an understanding Dr as my surgery has around 10 Dr's, anyways, the female Dr was nice but she said she cannot refer me to the hospital until she has tried me on Zenical for a month (i have been on this in 2005 with old GP before i moved house), I did tell her ive tried weight loss drugs before, but i only lost a little. Then she proceeded to tell me (in her size 6 suit) that i can lose weight without surgery and that its very drastic blah blah blah. I pleaded with her that if i was going to lose weight alone, i would have done it by now, but she wouldnt have it and said, "lets see how you get on, come back in a month's time and see the nurse, if you lose lots, you wont need surgery". Arrggggggg:mad:

Has everyone else been through similar before being referred, is this the norm? As the Dr said the hospital would do this anyway before surgery even if i was referred? I just feel like she is wasting time because i have tried Zenical before. :sigh:

I would be most grateful for advice and opinions???

Thanking you in advance

Curvy xxxxxxxxx
 
Sorry can't really help, but I think the GP would need to apply for funding for weight loss surgery and would need to prove to them that other attempts at weight loss have failed. So that's why she will have prescribed xenical first, it didn't work for me either. If you go back in a months time and you haven't lost weight she might refer you then.

Good luck.
 
Hi Curvy
:welcome: to the group.......

Firstly I personally didnt have any problems with my gp... he referred me to hospital and then they found out I was diabetic and then another gp at my surgery referred me last November and I am due to go into hospital in six days.......

hopefully someone will come along and let you know, i know that some people have had problems getting funding.... but please dont give up hope

xxx
 
Hi KC

I am also new to minimins and am also looking to be referred for bypass surgery - i see my gp on may 21st about it.

I have never tried any of the weight loss tablets either so it will be interesting to see how i get on. I did ask my gp about tablets before and he said that one type would not work for me as they were no good for constant snackers and the other two types i could not take because i have had depression.

Will be keeping an eye on your post to see what happens, but lots and lots of luck with your battle!!:p
 
You should be able to get a copy of the criteria from your local PCT. If you are unhappy with the way the Dr dealt with you make another appointment with another Doc. You will often find that 2 Docs in the same surgery will give a totally different response. Good luck with it x
 
alliecat said:
Hi KC

I am also new to minimins and am also looking to be referred for bypass surgery - i see my gp on may 21st about it.

I have never tried any of the weight loss tablets either so it will be interesting to see how i get on. I did ask my gp about tablets before and he said that one type would not work for me as they were no good for constant snackers and the other two types i could not take because i have had depression.

Will be keeping an eye on your post to see what happens, but lots and lots of luck with your battle!!:p
Click to expand...


Hi Allie,
Thank you so much for your reply. Please keep posting as i would love to know how you get on and likewise i will do the same!
Thank you for your support and good luck to you also.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
I'd book an appointment with a different GP as well just for a second opinion.

My cousin had same problem with her Gp but could'nt get a different one to refer her. In the end she went private with one of those who offer finance, which is okay if you can afford it! But do get a second opinion before you look into other options.
 
Thaialina said:
Hi Curvy,
I have heard of lots of problems getting it on the NHS so I decided to go private after trying dieting, xzenical and my dr referring me to a dietician. Look into it if you can afford it?
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for your reply Thialina. If i saved and asked good old mummy lol, im sure i could afford it but i would be a bit lost as to where to seek treatment as knowing my luck i would choose the wosrt surgeon and end up dead. How much does a gastric bypass cost privately?

Thanks for your advice and good luck x x x x
 
carrot_tit said:
I'd book an appointment with a different GP as well just for a second opinion.

My cousin had same problem with her Gp but could'nt get a different one to refer her. In the end she went private with one of those who offer finance, which is okay if you can afford it! But do get a second opinion before you look into other options.
Click to expand...

Thank you Sarah.
I may see what my Dr says in a month, otherwise I may change Dr's or consider private treatment. x x x x x
 
Taz said:
You should be able to get a copy of the criteria from your local PCT. If you are unhappy with the way the Dr dealt with you make another appointment with another Doc. You will often find that 2 Docs in the same surgery will give a totally different response. Good luck with it x
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice Taz x x x x
 
Thank you for all your replies which have been really helpful.
I won't give up and will keep you posted!!

Best of luck to all of you xxxxxxxxx
 
Keep us updated KC - I am looking into Spire healthcare (used to be BUPA) as there is a hosp only 8 miles from me. I now have the name of the surgeon to ask my GP for referral (whether he will or not is a different matter!!) I think a bypass with them is about £10k but when I find out for sure, I will let you know.

Good luck and keep us posted:hug99:
 
Hi Curvy,

I'm having similar problems to you, in that I went to see my GP, and she was all for the idea of me going for Gastric Bypass surgery. She didn't know much about it, but sent off to the PCT to find out. She got some forms back upon which it said everyone had to have tried some Weight management course (at their own expense) which is run by a local fitness centre so the instructors are not medically qualified to deal with people with my disabilities and health conditions anyway. I emailed the consultant at Charring Cross and spoke to the manager at the PCT who both said that I would not need to attend this weight management course. I put all this (including a copy of the consultant's email) in a letter to my GP who took two weeks to get back to me, only to still say I have to go on this weight management course (a 12 week course that has already started, so I'd have to wait for that to finish, then join the next one to run for 12 weeks and pay for it which I can't afford). I also can't stand 'groups' (severe panic attacks) and hubby would have to book a day off for every time I attend, and that would leave him with no time off for when I went to the hospital for appointments etc.

It's very frustrating, just like you are going through. I have the consultant and the manager at the PCT both telling me the same, and the GP telling me something totally different. The thing I worry about (and wonder if you feel the same) is that if I go to see another GP at the same practice, will they look at the notes made by the other GP and go along with their decision. There is another very nice GP at my practice, and I am wondering about seeing him (although I've always got on well with the GP I saw initially). I just worry that it will be a waste of time, especially as getting to the surgery is exceptionally difficult for me.

I too have tried Xenical in the past, and they done nothing for me either.

Only you know what the GP's at your surgery are like - if you know you stand a chance with one of them, then I'd say go for it and try, what have you got to loose. If my GP told me to try Xenical again for a month, I'd be happier to try that than what is being suggested to me, even though I know it would not work.

I hope you have more luck than I'm having just now.

Wishing you well and let us know how you get on.

Gerry
:)
 
Hi ya

Ive not got alot to say on this which makes a change :D. But...


You are completly in your right to refuse DRUG treament.

And if you have been on them already there is no reason why you have todo so again.

Speak to your doctor again and say.

1. Ive been on the drug program before i didnt feel it was for me and i dont want to do it again.

2. Ive tried on many many diets and yes they do work but i cant keep the weight off. That the reason im here.

3. I have been advised before when taking these drugs that if they fail along with all the diets . that i should think about gastric bypass. And after 1 or 2 years of thought and research you feel this is the route for you togo.


Research the bypass here Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Procedure


Learn as much as you can. so the doctor knows you know what your talking about.
As he will know sweet FA about any of it.
Dont forget to mension your depression and the longer it goes on the worse it gets.

And take it from there


Hope it helps


Mark
 
Hi
My doctor said I had to go on Xenical for a month and see what happens and I told her that I had done it before and it made very little impact (well the flaming side effects did). Anyway I went back to see her after about 2 weeks cos basically I was so depressed, in tears, didn't know which way to turn, my back was killing me I just said I'd had enough so she referred me after that. Got to say its taken a while to get there but I had my first appointment with the consultant 2 weeks ago and am now awaiting the next appointment to start me on the pre-op diet.

If you need any other info just shout xx
 
HI Curvy.
I had exactly the same experience with my GP and everything ground to a halt. Eventually my boss, who has had a lap band fitted, paid the £150 fee for me to see a surgeon for a private consultation with a view to getting a lap band fitted.
He persuaded me I was too big for a lap band at 23 stone and has recommended I go for the full bypass which I have now agreed to. HE wrote to the PCT (Primary care trust who fund all NHS operations), via my GP, recommending I have the operation. Goodness knows what he wrote but my GP was giggling when she saw the letter and said " this man knows how to get what he wants!".
Six weeks later I got the funding needed and I am now at final decision stage - HELLLLLP!!!!
You need to research private hospitals and specialist weight loss surgeons in your area which can carry out the operation on the NHS if you get the funding - but they need to be in your PCT funded area. You may need to book and pay for your initial appointment privately as I did - but it would be worth it if you can get the surgeon to apply for funding on your behalf - bugger your GP!
Most surgeons belong to hospital groups and you should be able to contact their secretaries to find out if they will do this for you if they feel you need the op, before you pay to get a consultation.
Hope this helps
Good Luck
Kate
 
Hi Curvy, further to what I said earlier my surgeon is DR David Ashton of 'The Healthier weight' group. They have a clinic at the Princess Grace hospital in London. Don't know if this would be in your area - but here's hoping! Contact details can be found on their webbsite if you do a google search.
All the best
Kate
 
hi curvy i am also having bypass on nhs and im in kent,but my operation is being done in chichester by shaw somers and he is a wonderful man,he has a tv show on sky channel 252 called fat doctor.im not sure how far away that is from you as its about 180 miles from me but pct were happy to fund it .if i can help in any way just shout xx
 
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