Primary Care Physician

I've been seeing my PCP for a while and he still doesn't recommend WLS. I've tried any type of diet you can think of short of starvation and still haven't been able to lose weight. I made an appointment to see a bariatric surgeon. I know that according to my insurance I have to have a PCP documented weight regime of at least 6 months. I don't know what else to do being that my PCP doesn't want me to do it. HELP

Hi there, In order for your insurance to cover it, your PCP must refer you to the surgeon. Why won't your PCP refer you?? I had to clear 3 of my docs (PCP, Endocrinologist and Cardicac) to get on board. Well I didn't HAVE to, but I wanted to make sure they were all ok with it for my piece of mind. Believe me, I had to do my homework and present my case to each of them. I had to make them believe in me. I told them what I knew and how much I looked into it. I even did a report on it for school and brought it in for them to read. Are you thinking lap band or RNY. I am high risk for any surgery and none of my docs would have referred me for RNY. The lap was the safest choice for me (even though there are risks). Do you have medical conditions that your PCP is concerned about?? Do your homework and plead your case. I made sure that all my docs knew that I was fully informed of my risks. I even made a chart of risks vs. benefits...believe me, with my medical history the benefits outweigh the risks tenfold. Good luck on your journey. I hope everything works out for you!! Kristen D

K I don't know how long you have been with your PCP but I have to tell you my PCP calls herself an advocate for WLS and is absolutely awesome!!!! Another person here was going through the same thing you are. After much much frustration our great friend Shelli switched to my PCP and absolutely LOVES HER. She not only is an advocate but her brother has had surgery with Dr. Roye so she knows first hand the benefits of surgery. Aside from the WLS aspect her care is top notch. My husband has a St. Jude's valve and she's so on top of his care its unbelievable. She also cares for my hubbys best friend, his wife, my aunt, my uncle, my father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and nice!!! She's the kind of doctor that if your feeling crappy she brings you right in and there is no jerking around. If you call her office and have a question and June her awesome nurse can't answer you, Dr. Adams herself will call you back herself. It's a small practice with just her, no other doctors at all so one thing to keep in mind is that if you don't make your appointments in the am, its not uncommon to wait a good 45 mins to see her,BUT she does NOT rush you out. She will literally sit and shoot the breeze with you forever!!!! She will talk family with you, work with you, anything you want. She will go over and over things with you until you are comfortable with what she's told you and she will not let you leave until she is sure you understand her. She talks to you like a human and not like she's reading from a text book. She had a baby at the beginning of this year and she opted to come back to work A.S.A.P. so and because its her own practice she took one of the rooms there and made a little nursery you will see her little one there! Her husband answers the phones and he's got the personality of a sand flea but he's like that with everyone so don't let that put you off. I myself was always one to "suck it up" when I got sick and not go get treated cuze I just never found a doctor that I felt comfy with. Now when I feel crappy I call her without hesitation... I could go on and on and on about her and I know Shelli would back me up on her too. Her name is Dr. Leah Adams and she's in Barrington on 310 Maple ave Ste 105 in the Barrington Medical Center, very easy to get to off the Wamponauge trail. Her number is 401-245-5555. Good Luck!!

i switched to dr. adams, too and i LOVE her. she's the best PCP i've had in my entire life. no joke. she is actually PROACTIVE in keeping me healthy - which is practically unheard of for a doctor these days. LOL i would highly recommend switching to her if you're looking for a WLS-friendly doc. Even if she's out of the way for you [i know she is for me!]- it's well worth the trip. good luck and don't let a closed minded doc keep you from the healthy life you need. kristen*

I think no matter what I try to do with my doctor he still won't recommend WLS. His big thing is the Akins diet cause that is what he did and it worked for him so he recommends it to all his patients. He only gives me the bad side of WLS to which I said to him that I know what all can happen and have been doing my research on it. Thank you so much for all your help. I will definitely call Dr. Adams tomorrow morning to set up an appointment.