Question:
Can I go directly to a surgeon?
My PCP is so unhelpful and wants me to try another diet/excersise program.I just switched to her last year after moving back to the area, and cannot seem to convince her that all my previous attempts failed.She says" of course they fail if you dont stick with them".Maybe it is a personal failure but I've been on a diet since age 5 and I can't stand it anymore! I've decided to change doctors and my first appointment with her is upcoming - But I'm nervous that she too will want to watch me try and fail a few times before being convinced that surgery is an appropriate measure.Willthe insurance company be suspicious of all the doctor changing?I've moved all around and so have had a number of different PCPs. — Stephanie H. (posted on June 7, 2001)
June 7, 2001
I was never referred to my surgeon by a PCP. I went thru a Program called
New Start. I found the phone number, called it, and they did all the
paperwork, submitted to the insurance, and scheduled the appointments with
the surgeon, Dr. Yates, who was affiliated with the program. I just filled
out the paperwork that the New Start Program sent to me and sent it back to
them. They submitted to my insurance and they approved within 3 working
days. Took me about 6 weeks from my first phone call to my surgery. So I
do know that you can go directly to the surgeon without being referred.
Hope this helps!
— nealp
June 7, 2001
Stephanie, I know how you feel but first off alot of insurances
(if this is how you are paying) do not like it when you jump
around.. they want some kind of consistent (I believe 11 months?)
of medical observation of trying to lose weight) I just returned
from a seminar that my surgeon gives and he too, wants some kind
of medical show of attempt... (they dont realize that a good amount
of our lives have been a attempt)But what I did was go into my Primary
Physician with a written format... how long I have been trying..
diets, medication and attempts I have tried, family medical history
run down, and my medical history run down... this was attached
to my referral and I have been approved for 3 OP visits. Good luck..
is pattern has been
going on all our lives)
— rinkadinktx
June 7, 2001
I requested help in selecting a PCP directly from a WLS
surgeon's office. We recently moved to a different state
and I wanted to establish myself with a PCP who was
supportive of WLS. The surgeon's office had me fax them
a list of PCPs on my provider network and they called me
back with several choices of physicians who refer
patients to their office. This might be something for you
to consider. Good luck.
— Benita W.
June 7, 2001
I am in a situation similiar to yours. I have not been to a doc in three
years and i swithced to a new insurance. I called and picked out a PCP,
went to see him and started crying and gave an award winning performance.,
he sniffled to. He gave me the referral. I also called the surgeon that I
have already picked out and asked the nurse for a good PCP that works with
them alot. They gave me 4. If my PCP had of said no, I would have switched
to one of them. Don't stop, keep going!!
— Courtney W.
June 7, 2001
Like was posted previously, it depends on your insurance. Most surgeons
know which PCPs are going to support the surgery and which ones won't. It
is worth the call. I have BC/BS PPO and went straight to the surgeon. He
gave me a PCP to see for my pre op tests but that was all I needed to get
down 165 pounds. I am 18 months post op and feel like a new woman.
— S S.
June 7, 2001
I know how you feel. I finally got a PCP, after two doctors (one of which
said go down to 400 calories when I could not lose on 1100 calories in 16
weeks and refused to acknowledge that some people are actually afflicted
with an extremely slow metabolism, which is basically a very slow resting
rate. The next one told me I was predisposed to obesity and it doesn't
matter what I eat (or don't eat for that matter). No, you have to switch
to a physician and keep switching until you find one whom you are
comfortable with, and who can stand to hear the sound of someone else's
voice besides their own and actually HEARS you. There used to be a time
when you paid someone for a service, that their function was to please you,
not the other way around. It took twelve years after being a person who
worked out, ate nutritious foods, watched fat intake (okay, sometimes I
went overboard as does any one of my 120 pound friends who eat about 3-400
calories more than I and has less energy than myself), over a hundred
pounds later, for someone to say, oh, yes, it is possible to gain weight
even if you are not overeating. Even if you are overeating, these doctors
have to get to the underlying reasons, and not reprimand but encourage and
even sniffle a little with you. The days of compassion are not over. It's
just harder to find. Search, Search, and Search. Keep documented records
of conversations with doctors. Remember, your switching to PAY someone for
their experties is your right. The fact that a doctor has an MD does not
automatically ensure that he/she is competent, as in any other profession.
In the meantime, if you have to switch doctors again, make sure you let he
or she know that you are not in the market to be set up to fail again, and
he or she needs to come up with something better than weight watchers.
also keep a daily log and don't kill yourself on the calories as much as
your fat intake. Even though I am obese, I do feel that eating nutritious
foods is at least helping me not have to cope with the comorbidities that
come with obesity and does help me with energy throughout the day so try to
keep fat intake to under 30 percent. In other words, 1800 calories
consumed should consist no more than 600 calories of fat content, and it's
best to distribute it over three to five meals someone evenly, although
that requires a lot of attention. Sorry to be so long-winded, but I too am
tired of doctors' ignorance of obesity. Finally, there's been a lot of
research done in our favor, but most are old school and haven't a clue on
how the basic metabolism works, let alone are qualified to give advice on
weight loss and the trials and tribulations of weight loss. So, you go and
interview as many PCPs as you want. It's your life. It's your money (or
insurance), and it's your time. MDs are there for you, not the other way
around. Good luck and stay with your search and post. I hope this helps
you. Mi
— Mi R.
June 8, 2001
I found my surgeon on this site. I called and made an appointment. I then
went to my first appointment with my new PCP. I was new in the area. I
told him I had already booked an appointment with the surgeon. He said he
didn't think I was a candidate (360) but I should talk to the surgeon to
get all the facts. After I talked to the surgeon he sent letters to my PCP
stating what he needed from the PCP. My PCP called me in to give him a
history of my prior diets. He never asked for doctor names ... just dates.
I got home and remembered several things I had forgotten and was amazed
when I was approved on the first try. Good luck!
— [Anonymous]
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