the beginning...its going to be a long road

I had my drs appt today with my PCP. We had a very nice long discussion about my weight and what to do about it. I cried a lot. I dont know why.....embarassment i guess. Maybe a little frustration. He asked lots of questions as far as family history of weight, diabetes, thyroid, etc. He took some blood to run some tests to make sure there is not some other underlying problem. He talked briefly about WLS. He said if I weight 100 llbs more he would recommend it right away....but since I am only a smidge under 320 he wants to try the nutritionist first and see how that goes. So now I have an appointment on the 21st to see her. I think that it is going to be a long time before i get anywhere near the WLS. I will give this a try for a while......a couple of months...and then go back and talk to him about it some more. billie jo

You know I really hate it when doctors have that mentality. Does he really believe that you shoud be over 400# before you can have the surgery? Can't he see what it is doing to you physically? Does he want you in a wheelchair first? He needs to do some reading & he'll find out that using a nurtitionist is useless by this point. You have a small chance of losing a large amount of weight & a very great chance of putting it all back on & more. If you really want this surgery, tell him you want a referral NOW & if he won't give you one, go to a doctor who will. If you are willing to wait, like he wants, then work with the nurtitionist. Your insurance may want a supervised diet anyway & that may qualify. I feel really fortunate. I was the first patient to ask my doctor for a referral and he gladly gave it to me. Now he can't believe his eyes when he sees me & has no problem with referring patients. Good luck. I hope you get what you want. Dixie

Morning Billie Jo, Think I would go back NOW with all the info you have on hand & TELL him you qualify for surgery, YOU WANT surgery NOW. Change dr's if you have to. Sometimes you don't need a referral for WLS surgeon. Don't wait around on him to make the decision for you you let him know this is YOUR decision. Please keep us posted & let us know how things are going. The one surgeon I saw did require us to see the nutritionist before he would do surgery. And sometimes insurance requires this. Good luck to you. Hugs Carolyn

Billie Jo I'm sorry you didn't get any support from your pcp. It can't hurt to see the nutritionist, but I would say I'm still going for wls. I see you have medicaid now. You know when you do get a job you run the risk of getting ins. through your employer that has a exclusion. Is that a risk you want to take? My dh recently changed jobs and now I am able to go for wls. For such a long time I was unable. It was a very sad time for me. Cindy

I'm so sorry. That is a real bummer when you go in having your hopes up and they just kind of crumble because someone who makes the decisions doesn't agree. That really disappoints me about your PCP. Like Dixie said, what will it take? A stroke, heart attack? I'm just so very sorry. See your nutritionist though and do as he says and prove to him that this is the tool that you need. I'll be thinking of you! Hugs, Jen

Billie Jo, What a bummer!!! I can't believe a doctor would be that clueless. If you're right around 320, you are WELL WITHIN insurance guidelines to qualify. That is just nuts! I have been fortunate that my PCP was very open and supportive. I have to agree with Carolyn, I would tell your doctor that you want to have this done and now or change doctors. But, you are the only one that can make that choice. Either way, we are all here for you. Hang in there!! LoriW