hi i am new here and have some ?s

hello everyone, my name is theresa and i am tring to find a primary care dr around topeka, ks....my insurance requires i try to go through a supervised weightloss program for 6months before they will cover the WLS and i have to have a referral from a DR who supervised the whole 6months, my problem is i havent been to a dr here in topeka and i dont want to get with a dr that will not refer for the WLS because they do not like them or something, so i want to know if you have a dr that helped you through the process to get to the WLS.....i have been wanting to do this for about two in a half years and am finally ready to start getting on the ball......i am done having all my kids and now i just want to keep up with them, i have tried everything to lose weight and i just cant keep it off and i am sick of this feeling of being fat, and all the problems that go with it, sleepless night, shortness of breath, sore joints from carring the extra weight and so on.....can someone help me find a good primary care dr so i can get this ball rolling?

I see Dr. Stanley Hornbaker at Cotton O'Neil Clinic. Call and see if he is taking new patients. 354-9591. His wife, Rosie, is the ARNP there. They were very supportive of me having WLS!!!

Hi.... Dr. Maire Fowler through St. Francis hospital 295-8000(ask for the number to her office)....my mother sees her, and she is wonderful.  She is supportive, sweet, and so personable.  I would definitely recommend her.....the other person posted Dr. Hornbaker.....there are several Cotton O'Neil docs that might work for you as well...not sure who are taking new patients...but worth a try anyway.  There are many St. Francis Docs also, at their family practice clinics......since you would likely have surgery through Tallgrass, and St. Francis....that might be a good fit for continuity of care, and medical records.  Just a thought?  There are some really good docs there also.   There are some physicians who are against WLS.....however, mine was not exactly thrilled with the idea.....but I presented her with why I wanted it....and why I needed it.....and basically said to her that I was not asking for her approval, but her SUPPORT if it was what I decided to do.  Luckily she was receptive.  I think that physicians should not decide for anyone what is right for them....they can have their say, and their opinion...but ultimately it is your body, and your decision.   Good luck!  I hope everything works out for you.  I am 3 months out, and down 46 lbs after my RNY!  I am doing well!  It has not been easy at times...but overall, not nearly as tough as I expected!  

I asked Dr. Hamilton a similar question and he said Betsy Johns (who also works from the Tallgrass building) is supportive of WLS.

Hi Theresa, I see Dr. George Wright as my PCP.  But I went to Dr. Tague for several years for Very Low Calorie Diet, it works but I couldn't maintain the loss after I got off the diet.  Also, you might try Stacie Weeks, she does a supervised weight loss program, she'll prescribe drugs for you.  I don't know how Dr. Tague and Weeks feel about WLS but Dr. Wright is supportive... Hope that helps. Rachel