help???

ok, i admit i am a newcomer to this site, and i dont know all there is to know, but i want to know the basics of how to go about beginning the process of getting help, i cant find a doc with enough brains or caring to help me so maybe some of you can, please email me anyone who can tell me how to begin the process for requesting surgery, do i need referrals to certain docs, who do i get to write letters for me, etc, any help will be appreciated, [email protected]

Valarie, Hello and welcome to the Kentucky message boards. There are several ways to get started and some of these can be done at the same time. First of all, check with your insurance to determine a couple of things: (1) do you need a referral from your PCP to go to a bariatric surgeon and (2) does your insurance cover bariatric (weight loss) surgery and what paperwork will need to be filed. Once you are ready to find a bariatric surgeon, you can use the obesityhelp.com web site to locate a surgeon in your area. In Kentucky, there are bariatric surgeons in or near most of the larger cities. Also, start thinking about which weight loss surgery you might be most interested in and this could help your search for a surgeon since not all surgeons perform all of the procedures. If you're not sure, attend on of the informational meetings offerred by most surgeons to find out more about weight loss surgeries (benefits, risks, complications, costs, etc.). Once you have an idea of which surgeon and possibly which procedure, contact that surgeon and arrange for a one-on-one consult. At this point, you will most likely submit your insurance and personal information to the surgeon's office staff and they will in turn submit it to your insurance company. This is when the fun begins (OK ... it's not really fun). You should follow up with insurance to make sure that they actually received the paperwork from your surgeon and that they have everything that they need to make a decision. Follow up about every wee****il you hear from them either approving or denying your claim. Assuming you get approved, the next step will involve scheduling several pre-operation appointments including: psych evaluation, cardiologist, endocronologist, blood works, gall bladder untrasound, dietician, and probably others I can't remember. As you go through these pre-op appointments, you will find out if you are good to go for surgery or if there are other procedures which might need to be done before weight loss surgery (like hernias, blood clot filters, etc.). Assuming all goes well with these visits, your surgery date will be scheduled and before you know it you'll be on your way to a healthier and thinner person! I hope this helps in some way. Charles

Hello. I'd suggest first research the types of surgery available and then find out which surgeons do the WLS you want. There are three major types of surgery done today--RNY which is the most common, lap band, and duodenal switch. I chose the duodenal switch because I wanted the best chance for weightloss as well as the best quality of life afterwards. Once you decide on the surgery, call the surgeon's office and they will let you know what you need to do further. Best of luck, and if I can help, email me. -joanne s 277/158/150

Also, my ins covered RNY but not the Lap Band... You might want to find out what your ins will cover too...might have some bearing on the doctor you use.... Good luck! I have my first evaluation appt on 10/12 and would be happy to be a buddy through this! Email me, if you want to.....