Help

[charliegirl]

Just spoken to a lady at the PCT. I wanted to know what happens if the PCT suggest two years weight management and the weight management clinic suggest surgery. I feel piggy in the middle. She checked my file and there is no second letter from my GP asking that the time I have been trying since february 2006 with medication and seeing the local weight management clinic be taken into account. There is no trace of the letter. Thats the second letter that has gone astray for me. She is going to call the GP direct and get a copy of this.

She further stated that Dr New is "naughty" he is seeing patients without them having the funding and that he favours surgery over other methods of weight loss.

She kept talking about the weight management clinic in penwortham (which is near were I live) and how they get favourable results etc etc. I asked her for the address and discovered its St Mary's clinic and guess what yes I attended with them over a year ago and I am now two stone heavier than when I was seeing them.

Now I am completely at a loss as to what is happening, I am being put forward to see Mr Ammori and I am having sleep studies this week and it sounds like its all for nothing. What do I do now?????

 

[serenitylove]

go to the appointments ask them there other than that not sure i know a woman i was in hospital with saw the consultant as a private patient to get on his list i dont know if that always works tho

 

[charliegirl]

Thanks I still have not had the original letter with the result of the first meeting with Dr New the consultant. I have just called his secretary to get a copy posted out to me and she has gone home for the day. I will be ringing her first thing in the morning and requesting a copy of what he has said and if necessary I will get that and a letter from the local weight management clinic and send them to the PCT. The PCT woman did say the GP's letter said very little and thats what they go off. I cannot get him to write more as every time I have spoken to his secretary she just says "I dont know". I dont want to bamboozle these people but at the end of the day they go home to their worlds and forget about me and so they should. I just wish I had asked more when I saw Dr New instead of sitting there crying like a wet lettuce.......a lesson to be learnt I think...Linda x

 

[serenitylove]

its hard when you dont take everything in i saw the consultant and agreed to a bypass then got outside and thought omg! had to ring the next day and say i wanted a band lol start keeping a note of who you speak to and when then when you talk you have a reference the consultants secretary should be a help tho they usually know whats what and if you get fobbed off by gp go to the practice manager and say your not happy they can be really helpfull as well

 

[e.green69]

hi linda
what mind boggling time for you.. as serenity has said always write things down and names e.t.c
attend your appointments and i am sure something positive will come out of all this..
thinking of you
emma

 

[tammy]

Hi nda, thats so unfair that you haven't got a clue whats going on. I would attend the appointments and hassle them to death when you are there. if youv'e already done the weight management stuff and other options tell them straight and push for the surgery. keep your chin up hun the surgeon will make the decisions not his secretary! x

 

[charliegirl]

Thanks Tammy I have been giving myself a stiff talking to and have written a plan of action, starting by getting a copy of the consultants letter which is so long over due. I am making lists of relevant questions that I am now going to ask every step of the way. I have realised that the GP, his secretary, Dr New's secretary and the PCT lady all dont really have a say in this. Its up to me to ensure that the right information is going to the right person and thats what I plan on doing. I have two weeks off work so plenty of time to get my head sorted, I always have to hit rock bottom before I start fighting back and with my ear infection that had five days to take a good hold on me before I sort medical treatment I kind of feel sorry for me and I need to stop doing that and focus....I WILL not turn 50 in january and be without anything to assist me in losing this blubber......Linda x

 

[tammy]

Yougo girl and stand your ground!!! 50 in january party at yours is it to say goodbye to the old Linda and hello to the new one xx

 

[Cowgirl]

Yougo girl and stand your ground!!! 50 in january party at yours is it to say goodbye to the old Linda and hello to the new one xx

I'm coming Linda!

 

[charliegirl]

Ah thanks girls come 4th Jan though everyone is partied out and I have yet to have a party in the last 49 years somehow dont think this one will be any different lol...Linda x

 

[tammy]

4th Jan great will need a party as will have had a break after xmas and New year!!! got to celebrate you big one and do it in style xx

 

[charliegirl]

lol thanks tammy xx

 

[Cat321]

Hi Linda

I just wanted to say I know how you feel. I know that although you see Dr New you are with a different PCT but I just wanted to say hang in there!

Unfortunately my letter went missing from Dr New too, which resulted in a bit of a delay - in the end I got hold of Dr New's e-mal and e-mailed him directly, he was great, full of apologies and the letter arrived a couple of days later.

I know it feels like you are just waiting all of the time but before you know it you'll have your date and bob's your uncle! I used to sit there and cry because nothing would be happening, then I'd have an appointment (Dr New, Sleep study etc,) feel better for a few day then the whole process would start all over again.

Maybe e-mail Dr New to ask him your questions, he has been nothing but great to me and I only have positive things to say about him - in fact I can't wait to go and see him again in January to show him that I was worth the approval!

It's a really long, tough journey (mainly the pre-op bit for me!) but I promise you, in a few months you'll look back and wouldn't change what you;ve been through for the world - it makes it all the more sweeter!

Cxx

 

[charliegirl]

Hi Cat thank you for your message it really helps to know I am feeling the same way you and others have felt. Do you know his email address? Does it go direct to him or via his secretary? Linda x

 

[Cat321]

Hi
I don't actually have his e-mail address with me as it's on my works PC and I'm not back there for another week or so yet.
I'm sure I just found it via google so try that. Sorry!
Cxx

 

[charliegirl]

Hi cat I have tried gooling and nothing is coming back, any ideas what I can put in to search?

 

[charliegirl]

Right started my plan of action. Went into my GP's and asked if they had received the orginal letter from Dr New that I have been so patiently (not) waiting for. They had it had been faxed through on the 15th september. So I requested a copy I can now actually see what Dr New has said! yeehaw.....I then went to St Marys clinic where they run the weight management that the PCT wanted me to attend for 2 years. I had already attended a food for thought course and I requested a letter to confirm that I had attended. This is in hand. I have requested a telephone call when it is ready so I can collect it, I no longer trust the royal mail. My GP's secretary passed a message on (think she is sick to death of me but tough she gets paid for it) to say that she is faxing on all the relevant information that the lady from the PCT requested yesterday. I will now attend my sleep study on thursday/friday and hope those results do not get lost. I will then push for my appointment with Mr Ammori and then revisit Dr New and see how much fight he can put up against the PCT. He has stated in his letter that he knows the surgery would reduce my BP and the horrible sweating that makes me so self concious. His only concern is that I dont think highly of myself and he is unsure if getting to my goal weight will totally cure that. Well all I can say is it will be a lot better at 11st then it is at 16st 10lb. It will be up to me to prove this to him. Also found out why there is no psychological appointment they wanted a specialist in eating disorders and there is none in the Manchester area that fits that bill. I have to say the fact my ear infection is starting to move with the antibiotics is helping me see the light. I still feel far from fit but just bought a load of mags and going to make a nice chicken salad for lunch and then curl up on the sofa and browse instead of graze.....Linda x

 

[shelbell]

Linda, you're amazing. Well done for everything you've done today! Its great to see you being so proactive.

 

[charliegirl]

Thanks shell just wish this infection would vanish its making my face hurt but then a lot of people have told me my face hurts theirs on a regular basis lol....Linda x

 

[shelbell]

i know the feeling linda lol my face is pretty painful to others too!

I've had this throat infection for about 10 days now so believe me I can empathise