Type of doctor to help assess health long term

[sheribearmama]

Hello folks. It's been ages since I've been on here but I can see than many of the original members are still with the group. I'm almost 9 years out, still weighing about 120, and would really like to find a doctor to help me maintain my health from a DS perspective. I see an oncologist frequently because I've survived breast cancer, I occasionally see an OBGYN, I'm about to start seeing a GI doctor so I can get a colonoscopy, I have an orthopedist (just had back surgery) and I finally have a primary care physician whom I like. But none of my doctors know anything about the DS. Should I be pushing my PCP to get educated so I can have all the labs I need completed yearly? Or, is there some specialty that will understand this surgery better than most? For instance I'm seeing the GI doctor because I had polyps several years ago, but also because I'm having lots of bleeding when I have a bowel movement. FYI I've never had diarrhea since the DS. But constipation plagues me unless I guzzle fat (which I try). Any advice would be very helpful. Thank you in advance.

 

[southernlady]

Your gastro probably will understand it best. But educate your PCP, it’s worth it.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

I’m doctor shopping for other reasons, so I’m clueless.

But, welcome back.

 

[JackieOnLine]

glad to see you back!

 

[hilary1617]

Hi and welcome back sheribearmama ! I think a good PCP is the best answer to DS labs and general coordination of care. There comes a stage when having a medical quarterback becomes priceless. All the best and hope life finds you smiling!

 

[aaa]

sheribearmama A good PCP, endocrinologist & gastro. are the ones I find the best to work with concerning the DS. Especially, the last two but I believe that's only bc my PCP is a bit old school.

 

[sheribearmama]

Thank you all for these great responses. Would someone please direct me to the list of labs we are supposed to be getting? I want to be sure my list is the same. Thank you all again!!!!

 

[southernlady]

Thank you all for these great responses. Would someone please direct me to the list of labs we are supposed to be getting? I want to be sure my list is the same. Thank you all again!!!!

https://bariatricfacts.org/threads/generic-ds-lab-order.191/

 

[N00DLE]

Hello folks. It's been ages since I've been on here but I can see than many of the original members are still with the group. I'm almost 9 years out, still weighing about 120, and would really like to find a doctor to help me maintain my health from a DS perspective. I see an oncologist frequently because I've survived breast cancer, I occasionally see an OBGYN, I'm about to start seeing a GI doctor so I can get a colonoscopy, I have an orthopedist (just had back surgery) and I finally have a primary care physician whom I like. But none of my doctors know anything about the DS. Should I be pushing my PCP to get educated so I can have all the labs I need completed yearly? Or, is there some specialty that will understand this surgery better than most? For instance I'm seeing the GI doctor because I had polyps several years ago, but also because I'm having lots of bleeding when I have a bowel movement. FYI I've never had diarrhea since the DS. But constipation plagues me unless I guzzle fat (which I try). Any advice would be very helpful. Thank you in advance.

Hi there Sheri

I Remember you when You from when I got my Ds 8 years ago. I am also a cancer survivor 5 months after my Ds I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. My 2 cents of this whole discussion is yes in good Endo and keep a super close look on your calcium and PTH so you don't get bad osteoporosis like I have. I am also do for colonoscopy.

Blessings
Julie

 

[Soonerjoseph]

I hope you have better luck than me. I haven't found a PCP willing to pull anything close to the required labs: they all send me to hopeless gastro surgeons of the bariatric persuasion.

 

[Georgepds]

Does your surgeons office provide aftercare? I meet with a nurse practitioner from the weight loss center associated with the hospital where the surgery was done. They arrange for annual labs and diet counseling follow up. This includes recommendations to correct deficiencies, eg take a zinc tablet if zinc levels are low

Lately it's been done remotely, covid and all, and the blood work was issued so it could be done at another hospital and shared with them. Even if you are far away, this could be done

They know a whole lot more than my GP. Example.. the surgeons office/weight loss center follows parathyroid levels, among other things, the GP tests only calcium. My understanding is calcium levels will stay in range until things really go to pot, whereas parathyroid level is an early earning. You can forget about zinc and copper at the GP, mine does.

 

[southernlady]

I’ve been able to find a PCP (actually a Nurse Practitioner) who is teachable and willing to do all my labs.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

I don’t know if someone already suggested this, but…my bariatric surgeon, whom I see annually, has always ordered my labs for me. Once they are in the system, Quest or LabCorp, most of my other doctors can see them, and I print out a copy and take it with me to my other doctors.

Caveat—we get into a little trouble when I try to have the labs draw from and report to two doctors at the same time. Once, the phlebotomist drew TWICE when a test was ordered by both doctors. If I wasn’t anemic going in, I sure was on the way out! Another time, they managed to skip a really needed test from the doctor not part of their group.

But when my PCP writes her standard order, if any of those results are NOT ”in range,” I send a copy to the specialist handling that issue. IWO, if iron or ferritin are off, I send that report to my hematologist. If the UA shows something weird, I send a copy to my urologist. I give them a few days and then call or send an email.

 

[southernlady]

But when my PCP writes her standard order, if any of those results are NOT ”in range,” I send a copy to the specialist handling that issue. IWO, if iron or ferritin are off, I send that report to my hematologist. If the UA shows something weird, I send a copy to my urologist. I give them a few days and then call or send an email.

My PCP got a hematologist involved with my ferritin. It was way high this year. I had infusions in Nov 2020 before getting to this area. By April, it was extraordinarily high, it dropped by July but she was still concerned so off the the hematologist. Thanks to MyChart and linking my previous hospital system with this one, they could read her notes. He decided to do a wait and see cause I showed no signs of too much iron other than a number on paper. This last time it dropped some more but dealing with a major infection, it didn’t drop nearly as much. Maybe by my year mark.

She’s been very proactive about getting us to specialists as needed without argument. In fact, she was a major help with my lip biopsy when the RA dropped the ball. The RA just said call the Find A Doctor line which for that type appointment actually needs a referral. So my PCP provided it for me.