Hi im new and confused!!

[*kayy*]

I've been reading through all the threads and have found lots of useful info and read some really inspiring stories but I am really confused about funding as everyone else seems to have been referred by there gp, do you think I need to make my gp aware and will I have to go back to her in the funding process as in the past she has been very unhelpful in my quest to lose weight. My story is as follows:
Recently (november 2014) i had gall bladder surgery and whilst on the operating table I stopped breathing and surgeons discovered I have a extremely fatty liver. After I had come round from surgery the doctors came to say they thought I would benefit from bariatric surgery, at the time I never took much in as was still feeling the affects of the meds. Two weeks later couple of letters arrived one for weight loss surgery education group which I attended last week and consultants appointment is on Monday.

 

[Butterfly_lady]

I self funded so not sure I can help but it sounds like you are already in the system so to speak and wouldn't need to go via your GP

 

[*kayy*]

Thanks butterfly_lady, I so wish I could afford to self fund. The Nhs route seems a long and complex process. I've tried every diet going, slimming pills, I exercise as much as my body allows and already see a dietician regularly but whenever I have lost the weight ive always managed to pile back on plus more

 

[freddysmum]

Good luck with your journey... It maybe seems a long time to wait but it will be worth it x

 

[samp24]

I agree, it sounds like you have bypassed (excuse the pun) your gp and got an immediate referral. if I were you I would attend what ever they have asked you to, and when you see the consultant just confirm that you are already on the pathway with him. if that is the case then they will just contact your GP when they need to, to make them aware of when they have seen you and what is happening. get yourself a list of questions to ask the consultant at the appointment, they should be able to give you some indication of the wait and the various teams/people you will need to see along the way. then you should be more familiar with what is going to happen and roughly how long it will take. you can also ask the consultant if there is anything that YOU need to do specifically, to keep the process going etc.

 

[*kayy*]

Do you think it will help that I can show that I have been doing regular exercise and have been seeing a dietician since 2007. I'm so scared I won't get funding as my bmi is 41. X

 

[Kar8858]

It sounds like they referred you so they must have though you were suitable. Attend what they ask and good luck with it all!!

 

[westiedog]

Hi

I am new too. If your GP is not supportive do you have another one in your practice you could see?

I saw the practice nurse in my practice previously for weight management and she was vile to me (however GP was very supportive but with my bmi I don't qualify for NHS).

 

[*kayy*]

She is the only regular doctor at my practice other than locum's from time to time, apart from my weight she is pretty good, she just doesn't see my bmi (41) as a issue

 

[westiedog]

Hope all goes well for you. At the end of the day its how you feel about yourself and bmi is just a number. I wish the NHS understood this but I know they have to have guidelines for funding etc. My practice nurse did not see my weight as being an issue but if I went back in three years I know I would be bigger. I already have asthma, had one knee replacement and need another one and depression due to my weight. They would rather spend 15-20k on a new knee replacement rather than a £4000-£5000 band grrrr

 

[westiedog]

Oops missed off my high blood pressure from the list lol x

 

[samp24]

I think by the sounds of it it is out of yr Gps hands now as you already have appointment for weight management and consultant! One of the steps for me was to see a physical therapy person to go over what exercise/how active I was, so anything that you can show/say to them will be a positive thing. As far as weight management goes you may have to attend a certain no sessions or for a certain period of time to satisfy the team before they give you a final recomendation for surgery at this point you need to be on top of yr eating habitschewing properly, and I made sure I was steadily losing weight to show I was ready and prepared to make the changes necessary for bypass to work for me. It may help that you have been under weight management for a while but may not! Different areas have different requirements so I'm just sumizing really. you will just have to "suck it and see", so to speak. Good luck though and keep us posted on yr progress. X

 

[*kayy*]

Thanks for all the info, a bit worried about losing weight as if I do as well as being under the guideline weight they may think I can lose the weight by myself which I know is not the case.

 

[samp24]

Think I would not lose any more weight till you see weight management team. Then take it from there. X

 

[*kayy*]

I agree, thanks again. Everyone seems so nice on here x

 

[samp24]

It's a great place for learning by other people's experience, make sure you research all yr options surgery wise,so you understand each op and what is can and can't do, and then anything you need clarification on someone here is bound to know. I learnt loads from this forum, it's fab! X

 

[Michelle79]

She is the only regular doctor at my practice other than locum's from time to time, apart from my weight she is pretty good, she just doesn't see my bmi (41) as a issue

Hello you do qualify with a bmi of 40 or over for weight loss surgery so don't let any doctor say your not suitable tell her to look at the nice guidelines x

 

[*kayy*]

Any ideas on questions to ask consultant on Monday? I feel pretty much informed on the different types of surgery and have researched what's needed before and after surgery and can't really think of anything to say other than I really want to have surgery! Also what sort of questions will I be asked? TIA x

 

[cjkollar]

My BMI is not extremely high but due to my high blood pressure and being in the early stages of diabetes, I still qualify according to the guidelines.

 

[Bonita S]

You might want to make your GP aware of the route your specialist is taking, the more people that know your medical history the better. My son had a referral for a band made via his Neurologist (he has severe epilepsy amongst other things) so know it does happen.