newbie...pcp question

hey everyone. I have been researching this for a while now and am starting to get the ball rolling on this whole process. I registered for an info session at NYU medical for tomorrow night and also made an appointment with a doctor, but here's my question. I haven't been to a doctor for a checkup/physical probably in 12 years. I think the last time I went was for a physical in the 8th grade! so i made an appointment with a doctor (internal medicine...is this ok?). Do I have to go every month for 6 months to fulfill the 6 months of medically supervised dieting? any advice you have to offer would be really fantastic. thank you.

welcome! it really all depends on your ins. It will only help you with getting approved having a documented with your PCP your weight. My surgery date is April 24th and I got my ball rolling Jan31. So it happened much faster that I thought. The only hard part about it is, I have GHI and that is one of the harder ins ( so I have been told) so even though I already did all the testings and have a date, I'm still not approved. My surgeons office said they dont start to worry until 5 days prior. they are acting like its no big deal. I dont have to battle the ins they do it all for me. But sorry to get off track, I would make an apt with your pcp just to have it documented that you are wanting the surgery and make sure they weigh you. I know with my ins. they wanted to see all of that. The surgeon I have has me meet with his dietitian once a week for a weigh in and I'm on the opti-fast diet ( 2 shakes and 1 meal a day). Every doc is different. I wish you all the luck. And good luck with all the testings. Tricia

are you expected to lose weight prior to the surgery? or is that for purposes of shrinking the liver prior to surgery? thanks so much for your reply and all the information :)

Well...sorta both. The surgeon is going to want to see you lose a bit to shrink the liver and stomach, but then on the other hand...the ins wants to see a bit of a weight loss/gain. I had to do a 6 month journal to show that I've tried different diets and I do lose, but then the weight comes back so my last resort is surgery. I guess thats what the surgeons office told me to plea to the ins. They gave me the guidelines to follow with a sample journal and then I had to get my pcp to sign off on it. It really helps you if you have your pcp on your side. I even got my obgyn to write a letter stating in his opinion I am a candiate for surgery, and I'm x pounds over weight. When I went to the surgeon on Feb21 he put me on opti-fast diet. Sorta like slim fast. He does it for all of his patients, but every surgeon is different.