What Happens Now? - ThinnerTimes

Peckkale · 06-22-2006, 11:49 AM

At my 1 yr check-up my surgeon released me. He cautioned me to make sure that whoever is caring for me needs to do a once a year complete metabolic work-up.

I'm feeling sort of out in the cold now. So what happens now. Is there a board that caters to the long-term problems and/or concerns of 1 yr+ GBP patients and more importantly...... Where do I find a PCP that can and will follow protocol for caring for me. ... Do I need special care?

My PCP has already stated that my needing a complete metabolic work-up is bull-shit and the only way he will consider doing one is if I come up with a low red blood count. I know the answer to this is simply find a new PCP. I'm just curious at this point. Have any long-term GBP patients faced the same situation?

Is it possible that maybe I'm just feeling run-of-the-mill and no longer special *L* . I'm not sure. I do know that at the moment I am feeling a bit lost and confused. I hope it passes and my surgeon is right when he said that at this point I am way past the point of needing special care and chances of complications are over.

I guess only time will tell.

lealphachienne · 06-22-2006, 02:26 PM

I continued with my PCP who started me on this process. There's no particular special care, but you do need to monitor your labs every year...my surgeon wants every 6 months. My surgeon also wants us to report any problems that may be related and we can still try to get a referral to follw-up if necassary. My PCP is very supportive of my success. She's an internal medicicine doctor.

Peckkale · 06-22-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lealphachienne

I continued with my PCP who started me on this process. There's no particular special care, but you do need to monitor your labs every year...my surgeon wants every 6 months. My surgeon also wants us to report any problems that may be related and we can still try to get a referral to follw-up if necassary. My PCP is very supportive of my success. She's an internal medicicine doctor.

I had to fight my PCP for my referral and the only way I got it was by taking my daughter, the Lawyer, with me on an office visit.

He still thinks I never needed the surgery and was a waste of time. Come to think of it, six months ago he instructed me to stop losing when I reached 140 lbs. .......... I wonder, maybe, if he's not a "fatty chaser." *L*

Anyway, thanks for the input. I think I need a new PCP.

lealphachienne · 06-22-2006, 05:54 PM

Yes you do!

Mavisavis · 06-22-2006, 06:10 PM

I agree, get a new pcp. Mine is educated about the surgery and helped me get approved....and you and I had similar stats. She likes to do the bloodwork about every 6 months I think. Right now I am still doing it for my bariatric updates anyhow, so I tell her when I need it. This last time she mostly wanted to recheck BP and iron level. But she has other patients who had the surgery, so has dealt with this before. She is also realistic about the weight. I think she would be ok with 140, 135 was what she named as goal, but now that I am closing in and told her I felt I wanted to try to get to 130 she felt that was ok. I think you might be right about your doc, only I call it a "fat chick lover".

Gina in NY · 06-24-2006, 06:53 PM

You said it - you need a new one!

Ask your surgeon to recommend one - is there anyone else in your area that is post-op?

Ask around!

Dyann · 06-25-2006, 04:26 PM

You are special and will be forever unless your intestines decide to rearrange themselves back.

You need these at 18 months, 2 years and then annual lab work, but it is not just for anemia.

Here is what I think you need annually

Methlmalonic Acid
Homocystieine Level
B12
Folate
Ferritin
Thiamine
Iron serum
Iron IBC (Iron binding capacity) % sat
Lipid panel
CBD
Complete Metabolic Panel
25 (OD) D
1.25 (OH) D

In addition, an annual bone densitometry
My MD is very cautious and I like that. It is much easier to prevent a deficiency then catch up.
There is my 2 cents