Hoops to get my DS referral

[Kassandra]

So my original surgeon is requiring I do another psych. eval. before they will finalize my referral. In doing so I also had to have a chat with the nurse practitioner who I've been having monthly phone meetings with. It was a rather comical conversation as I'm now beginning to see how they are a little upset that I have opted not to have the VSG but go outside of hospital (Kaiser). So, I was expecting that we would have a nice informative conversation about the pros and cons of the DS, which I've already been researching. Nope. Basically, it was a conversation trying to convince me that VSG is the way to go, not with any facts mind you, but with fodder which included people that have DS walk around smelling like poo and rarely ever have a girlfriend or boyfriend after having surgery. Not hey, there's a vitamin deficiency risk, or hey there's risk of malnutrition, or hey ANYTHING medically unappealing but just that...and that is almost verbatim. I had to hold back laughter and advised I didn't think that would be a problem, and moved on to why I felt it was still better for me. He also told me that there is no way to reverse the switch portion and maybe I should go with RNY, to which I stated I've read otherwise. He at that point went to his computer and searched for it, and then must have found something that agreed with what I stated. He then said, Oh, well you can't trust the internet. <--- My face....he then scheduled my psych eval. lol. I already have done the psych eval. mind you and it was fine, but because it's been over a year, they claim they need another one. It's scheduled for this Friday, so hopefully there will be no funny business.

I figured I'd pose the question here. Any truth to his statements? I know of the gas etc. and when eating the wrong foods the potential diarrhea, but aside from that, is there a constant "poo" (his term, mine is generally more colorful) smell that ligers and follows? Are you all single and miserable? *rolls eyes*

 

[southernlady]

I go twice in the morning, and SOMETIMES once late afternoon.

LOL, many of us are married and haven't chased our spouse away YET.

Yes, there is a risk of vitamin deficiency but there is a risk with ALL WLS, esp any that are malabsortive, like the DS, RNY, SADI, etc. There is a risk of malnutrition BUT if you get labs like clockwork and watch them like a hawk YOURSELF, then both are very manageable.

Bottom line, it sounds like he was grasping at straws.

 

[Nosh Spice]

As a pre-op newbie, I can't speak to your poo-smelling loner question, but I have to say I adore your post. Go get 'em @Kassandra!

 

[DianaCox]

I swear to all that is UN-holy I'd like to trap these assholes in their lies, which amount to malpractice.

I want you to PROMISE me that after you finish with the smiling and nodding to GET your DS, that you will file a complaint, and then give me a copy of it, and I will talk to the legal dept at the DMHC about what they are doing. It should be illegal, and it very well may be. I want to hold their feet to the fire on this.

 

[Kassandra]

I swear to all that is UN-holy I'd like to trap these assholes in their lies, which amount to malpractice.

I want you to PROMISE me that after you finish with the smiling and nodding to GET your DS, that you will file a complaint, and then give me a copy of it, and I will talk to the legal dept at the DMHC about what they are doing. It should be illegal, and it very well may be. I want to hold their feet to the fire on this.

Will do @DianaCox. On a positive note, he did ask if I would like to talk to the DS specialist at a dif. location aside from him which I did, and she was definitely a plethora of info (which is what should have been offered to begin with!) She will be the one that I will then be dealing with once the 3 month follow up with Rabkin is complete, so that was a relief. I feel the complaint is necessary though, even if only for the reason of for future directing patients to the people that actually have the knowledge instead of throwing out nonsense.

 

[Larra]

It reality, it is FAR more difficult to reverse gastric bypass than to reverse the switch part of the DS. Of course the sleeve part can't be reversed, but then, they wanted you to have the sleeve so that's not an argument they could raise with you.
Hang in there, it sounds like you are making headway. And with the psych eval, make sure they stick to the issue of whether or not you are a good candidate for bariatric surgery, NOT which operation is best. The psych person is not qualified to make that determination. the role of the psych eval is to make sure you aren't someone who is going to fall apart post-op, or someone who is going to ignore post-op needs and get into trouble, that sort of thing. It's very important, but not part of the question as to which operation you should have.

 

[Larra]

And I forgot to say that once you get your approval, and if you are comfortable doing this, you can tell other pre-ops about the DS. Many will not bother to do their own research or go against the party line, and it's amazing to me how many people just can't be bothered to look at the long term and instead opt for whatever they can get quickly and easily. But some people do listen and learn, and you can pay it forward with them.

 

[Munchkin]

Twaddle. Total and complete twaddle. We don't smell any worse than everyone else. Now my poop smells worse but that's life and it's manageable.

 

[Charris]

Will do @DianaCox. On a positive note, he did ask if I would like to talk to the DS specialist at a dif. location aside from him which I did, and she was definitely a plethora of info (which is what should have been offered to begin with!) She will be the one that I will then be dealing with once the 3 month follow up with Rabkin is complete, so that was a relief. I feel the complaint is necessary though, even if only for the reason of for future directing patients to the people that actually have the knowledge instead of throwing out nonsense.

Of course he's going to lie and say whatever is needed. You are talking about using a different doctor other than him and all he sees is your hand in his pocket digging cash out his wallet. RIDICULOUS

 

[Kassandra]

Update- passed the psych evaluation, now surgeon says I will be contacted with the next steps to complete the referral, but did not indicate a time-frame. I again have passed all of the other preliminary requirements for surgery with Kaiser SF. For any that have had referral from Kaiser for DS, what is a reasonable time-frame I should wait to be "contacted" before becoming bothersome?

 

[Larra]

Sounds good so far. I would give them at least a week, esp since we just had a holiday weekend. If you haven't heard anything by then, a very polite email to the surgeon would be reasonable.

 

[Charris]

Congratulations. I know I was so anxious for my surgery. What Dr are you using again.

 

[weaura]

Congratulations!! I'm looking forward to hearing your next update.

 

[Kassandra]

Congratulations. I know I was so anxious for my surgery. What Dr are you using again.

I believe Dr. Rabkin @Charris. The surgeon when I asked him, didn't have much info. I don't think he is really familiar with this type of referral so I believe he is deferring to someone else in the background, but when I spoke with the DS specialist at the other Kaiser during the informative convo, she stated the referral will probably be to Dr. Rabkin so I'm basing it on that.

 

[more2adore]

Can I just say how much I love it when we get knowledgeable pre-ops in here who obviously did a ton of their homework and don't take crap from anybody?