What to do next

I have found the Dr I would like to see that take my Ins nnow what? Do I need to start with my Primary Care Physicain? I am trying to get a list together of what to do? The only thing I worry about is the psychiatric evaluation because I am Bi-polar... Also has anyone gotten approved on their first try because of hear conditions? My cadriologist told me I could have it do since my Ejection Fraction is stable and stayed that way even during a pregnancy even though I wasn't suppose to have another child.. my BMI is 48.. Tina

BE SURE THE SURGEON YOU WANT IS ON YOUR INSURANCE CARRIER'S PREFERRED LIST OF DOCTORS. THEN, HAVE YOUR PCP REFER YOU TO HIM/HER ... MY INSURANCE REFERRAL HAD TO BE AN "EVAL & TREAT", NOT JUST AN "EVAL" BUT EACH INSURANCE CO IS DIFFERENT, SO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF REFERRAL YOU NEED. ONCE YOU ARE REFERRED TO YOUR SURGEON, HIS/HER OFFICE WILL HAVE THEIR OWN PROCEDURES & YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THEM. IF THEY REQUIRE YOU TO GO TO SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS, DO SO ... IF THEY REQUIRE YOUR CARDIOLOGIST TO DO FURTHER TESTS ON YOUR HEART, THEN ALL THAT WILL BE SET UP THROUGH YOUR SURGEON'S OFFICE. AS FOR YOUR BI-POLAR CONDITION ... AS LONG AS YOU ARE CONSISTENTLY TAKING YOUR MEDS & MENTALLY ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CARE & MAINTENANCE OF YOUR CONDITION, THEY CANNOT DISCRIMINATE SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE CONDITION. IF YOU'RE MAKING UNWISE OR COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE DECISIONS WITHIN THE CARE OF YOUR CONDITION, THEY COULD DENY YOU ... MY THOUGHT IS THAT NO MATTER WHAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A DENIAL ... DON'T HIDE IT ... PUT THE INFORMATION "FRONT & CENTER" & GIVE THEM THE ANSWER TO THEIR QUESTION, WHICH WOULD BE ... ARE YOU RESPONSIBLY HANDLING THE CARE OF YOUR CONDITION? I HAVE A HEART CONDITION. I WAS APPROVED THE 1st TIME BUT NOT BECAUSE OF THE HEART CONDITION. A HEART CONDITION CAN GO AGAINST YOU OR BE A GOOD FACTOR IN THAT THE WEIGHT LOSS WOULD HELP RELIEVE THE EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON YOUR HEART. IF YOUR HEART CONDITION IS TOO SERIOUS OR YOUR HEART TOO WEAK, THEY MAY NEED TO GET YOU IN A STRONGER CONDITION BEFORE ALLOWING THE SURGERY. AGAIN, DON'T HIDE THE INFORMATION ... FACE IT HEAD ON. YOUR BMI IS MORE THAN IS NEEDED (40) SO THAT IS "GOOD". JUST AS I TOLD MS SUSAN IN MY PREVIOUS POST ... BE PROACTIVE & WRITE DOCUMENTS REGARDING YOUR CO-MORBS/HEALTH ISSUES ... &, LIFESTYLE PROBLEMS DUE TO OBESITY. CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THIS FAR IN YOUR WLS JOURNEY; KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! GOD BLESS DAWN & NICK