Family Doctor Approval

Well, after trying to lose weight since I was six years old to no avail, I've decided that WLS might be the way to go.  I went to the family doctor yesterday and she told me that she'd like to have me go to a nutritionist - which my insurance doesn't cover unless I have diabetes or high blood pressure - and watch me for "the next few years."  ARG.  My BMI is 52 - which makes me "Super Obese."  She says I'm too young - I'm 21 - but I have been at least 100 pounds overweight since the 5th grade.   while I don't have any "serious health problems" yet - I have terrible acid reflux, but that's about it so far - I have a family history of hypertension, diabetes, and heart problems.  I'm afraid that if I keep yo-yo dieting, I'm going to make myself sick.  It's already affecting my job, my feet hurt so bad I want to cry sometimes, and I just don't think waiting a "few years" is a healthy option.   Well, my insurance doesn't require me to get a referral so I went ahead a booked an appointment with a bariatric surgeon.  Supposing he doesn't tell me the same thing, which would literally crush me, do I need to get my family doctor's approval to get the surgery?  Does it depend on insurance - I have Oxford Freedom btw - and could I just change my family doctor if that's the case?   My insurance supposedly doesn't require a six-month doctor-monitored weight loss program before surgery, but I haven't been to the family doctor in almost 2 years because I keep trying to hold out until I lose weight, which never happened.  I've been going to the gynocologist every six months and they've been weighing me, so I do have a record of my weight there.  I'm just worried that I'm getting my hopes up and I'm not going to be able to do this.   Sorry I'm a little wordy, hehe.  I would appreciate any advice.

Attend seminars for WLS and see a surgeon!  My pcp ignored me when I mentioned WLS and I went ahead with it anyways.  After I had it done, he was all on board with it.  Family doctors will come and go, they all have their own opinions on the surgery.  You are 21 (young) and perhaps they want you to wait because you have not had enough years to say that you tried everything and exhausted all natural possibilities.  However, I do know people who have it in their 20's and you should follow your heart.  Don't be discouraged.  Good luck!! 

Thanks :o)  I just wish they'd understand that I've been trying for 14 years and I don't want to sit around continuing to waste my time with diet plans that never seem to stick.  Or they think I'm immature and just to get it to look good, which is just completely wrong.  Did you need to have your PCP approve it before the surgery?

My heart goes out to you. It would be so nice to have family support but sometimes that might not be the case. You are 21 and have the right to do what your "gut" tells you to. (no pun intended) I have met someone who had surgery at 18 yrs. of age and is doing terrific 5 years later. As a mother, I can certainly understand your folk's resistance to a drastic measure. You have so many co-morbitities though, which might help sway their minds.  Go to the bariatric meetings and ask lots of questions. Ultimately your surgeon will tell you if you are a candidate. Then make an honest  list for your parents of all the ways that being obese has had a negative impact on your life. They need to understand - but know that they have your best interest at heart. Any parent who hears the word "surgery" for their child would get upset - I would. Good Luck honey. P.S. In answer to your question, Imy insurance required 6 month supervised PCP visits to document weight loss/diet.

To be honest, I haven't even mentioned this to my parents at all yet.  I was referring to my family doctor as in PCP - I'm new and didn't realize this ackronym existed, haha.  I'm not required to do the supervised diet, but my PCP was suggesting I should basically attempt and fail at dieting and excercising for many more years - ontop of the 14 I've done already - before considering the surgery because i'm so young.   I know I'm young, but that does not in any way suggest that I don't know what I'm getting into or that I haven't exhausted all my options.  While I don't have any co-morbities yet, aside from the GERD which most people don't consider very serious, it's pretty obvious from my family history that I'm going to get them eventually if I don't do something.  And everything I've tried so far has NOT stuck, if it even worked at all.  I'd feel better going into surgery without heart problems, hypertension, and diabetes so I won't have as many complications.  Aye, I just hope I can find a doctor who agrees with me.

Hi!! Welcome to you!! I was lucky because my pcp is behind me a million percent & will do follow-up care as much, if not more than my surgeon!!! In fact she wanted me to do this 3 yrs ago & I went to the seminar to basically shut her up (I told her as much too  ) & I was not going to do something so drastic!! But alas, 3 yrs have come & gone & not only did I not lose the weight I said I could but I gained more!! So my opinion is you go to the seminar, ask lots of questions & do a lot of research then go back to your pcp & present it all & make a list of pros & cons too!! If you still can't get his support/approval then find another one who will!! It's your health & you need to take total control over it!! Nobody else has that right!!! You have weight records at your gyno's offce so that might appease the ins co but whatever you do don't give up!!! Even if it takes a while keep your eye on the ultimate goal!! We'll be here to help you through it all... there are folks on here than have gone through hell & back to get their surgery... they've seen it all & can help you with anything!!  Good luck!!! Cece

Thanks :o)  I'm trying to find an open seminar around here somewhere to tell the surgeon.  Hopefully if I show that I'm well informed, my age won't be a restriction.

Hi there.  I can tell you that Oxford freedom is very good with approvals for WLS, and you automically qualify being 100 lbs. overweight..   My doctor's partner, Dr. Spencer Holover is in the network...I don't know who else on LI or NYC is.  With all bariatric surgeons, you have to go through several tests, none of which are with your PCP. (psych eval., cardio, breathing (forgot what that doc is called,) etc.  My doc's office had a list of several specialists to choose from, and I chose ones who took Oxford Freedom and had the soonest appointments.   Now that I think about it, I did have to have my PCP's office put through the referrals, and I did have to have my pre-op testing signed off on by my PCP.  When I  had to get the referrals done, I just called my PCP's office & told them what I needed--I never even spoke to him.  (He knew about the WLS and was very supportive) Personally, I would say that being 100 lbs. overweight for 17 years and wanting to have WLS is your decision, not your doctor's., as long as you have no medical condition precluding it.   I'm sure that if you could have lost the weight, you would have done so already!

Good luck, and keep us posted!

I keep reading about how good Oxford Freedom is with the surgery, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.  I figured I would need clearance from my PCP, but hopefully they won't have a problem with it once I go through all the loops.  Thanks :o)

I meant hoops, not loops, hehe.