Doctors appointment next week. How does it work?

[Potnoodle88]

Hello everyone.

I'm 27 and have struggled with weight since my early teens. I have tried everything from weight watchers, slimming world, low carb, no carb. I even had diet pills from the doctor called Orlistat and nothing works for me.

I have a bmi of over 40 and accordingly to the NhS website this meets the criteria for WLS but I am nervous to speak to my doctor (new doctor as old doctors shut down)

If I explain my struggles to the doctor and say I want to be referred will they do this? Or will they make me jump through hoops? From what I have seen and heard I believe they have made it easier now to be referred.

Thanks in advance
Charlotte

 

[jen1805]

Hi, for me I was referred to weight management programme which consists of a minimum of 6 monthly sessions with a diet specialist and minimum of 3 sessions with a psychotherapist. At the end of this if you have jumped through all the hoops then they will do one of 3 things, recommend you for surgery, recommend you for further sessions or recommend you can go forward alone. This is sent to your gp who then decides the next move. It's hard work and different from area to area but it's worth it in the end xxx

 

[jen1805]

Ps. Weight management is tier 3 and surgery is tier 4 xxx

 

[beepbeepcat]

Snap same as Jen

 

[_Victoria_]

Gah! I havent had any psychotherapist sessions.. I hope that doesnt hold me back from anything. i dont get to the end of my 6 months until april but as far as i know i only have 2 appointments between now and then

 

[los in it]

My route to WLS started via a major health scare which thankfully came back clear and with a dodgy knee that made me think about changing my life so spoke with my gp to get the ball rolling altogether it took around 18 months meeting psychology team to see if I knew why I wanted / understood ( course I understood I ate too much!) what WLS was about meet the dieticians and nursing team a few times attended a couple of group meeting also had the usual blood tests ecg sleep tests all bog standard hoops to jump through and then changed my eating habits smaller portions making wiser choices so by the time I got to the LSD I was use to the new way of eating one of the "tools" I found really helpful was practicing " been mindful " lots on you tube around this
Hope some of this helpful to you

 

[jen1805]

Victoria, every area is different but might be worth asking at your next appointment just to make sure xxx

 

[Penelope]

I asked about that at the seminar, Victoria and they just asked me if I thought I needed it!
I filled in a questionnaire before my first Tier 3 appointment and nothing psychological since. (Well apart from the Doctor there who told me it would ruin my social life and would be the worst thing I could ever do!)

 

[jen1805]

Hi penelope I can't talk for my social life as it's pretty non existent outside of playdates lol but 2 weeks post op and weight falling off I can honestly say it's the best thing I've ever done, xcx

 

[Samkisses]

I was really nervous about approaching my GP about it in 2014, as I had heard how dismissive some GPs can be when it comes to the matter - but to my surprise my GP was very understanding and so lovely about it. He typed out the referral letter as I was sat with him in the appointment, asking me what I had done to try and lose weight and added his recommendations. I was referred to tier 3 at Luton and Dunstable hospital a few weeks later. Go for it! You don't ask you don't get

Good luck! xx

 

[Penelope]

Looking forward to being in the same place as you - in line for a sleeve, but getting used to waiting....

 

[_Victoria_]

I asked about that at the seminar, Victoria and they just asked me if I thought I needed it! I filled in a questionnaire before my first Tier 3 appointment and nothing psychological since. (Well apart from the Doctor there who told me it would ruin my social life and would be the worst thing I could ever do!)

Hopefully that's it then because I do remember filling out the questionnaire.. Maybe they think I'm sane enough! lol and you've had your op now with no psychological appointments? Where are you from if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Penelope]

No - I'm still waiting, but in the process. I live in Shropshire, and will be
having the op at Heartlands.

 

[_Victoria_]

I'm having my op at heartlands too!! Or I hope to be anyway. I'm still on tier 3. I've been told to try and lose a stone within the 6 months but my dietitian says the numbers don't really matter.. As long as I don't gain. I'm struggling with a normal diet, I always have. That's why I'm hoping to have WLS in the first place lol I live at home and my family visit every day and none of them eat healthy so temptation for me is always there. Sometimes I fail! Failure hasn't lasted longer than 3 days since the new year though so I'm really hoping I can reach the stone before the 6 months is up.
Do you have all your appointments at heartlands?

 

[Penelope]

Yup - all my appointments are at Heartlands. I wasn't given a goal of weight to lose, but then they didn't refer me to a dietitian until I had been going for 6 months! I have been working on losing weight for 5 years now and have lost 5 stones in that time - all documented through my GP surgery, so I think they have accepted that as meaning I am serious about this. Having said that I have lost weight on every appointment - not very much but steady. My next appointment is at the end of next month with a Dr Helmy in Endocrinology. I am not sure what it is for, but will keep on keeping on!

 

[_Victoria_]

I have an appointment on April 18th for the same thing. I asked my dietitian and she said they just do a kind of medical to make sure there's no health issues contributing to your weight like an over active thyroid and stuff and that they will take your bloods and everything. Do you know your dietitians name?

 

[Penelope]

Thanks. They have already had loads of bloods from me, but I don't mind that so much. My dietitian now is Sally Abbot.