Doctor's Recommendation
If your doctor doesn't think you are a good candidate for WLS, I would ask him or her why not. If you disagree with the reason, you can always see another doc for a second opinion.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I had this required by the surgeon doing the surgery, not insurance... And my primary care doctor had no problem writing it. As long as you meet criteria, they shouldn't have an issue. Ask them why if they decline. Good luck!
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It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.
I went to a doctor for over 10 years and he always told me everytime I brought it up that he would never sign off for me to have WLS. My health kept going downhill and my weight was not getting any better no matter how hard I tried. I finally switched doctors and the first thing my new doctor asked me if I had considered WLS. A year later, I felt the time was right and I had a little money saved, I told him I was ready and he signed off on me having the surgery. I work in the building with a NUT so she signed off on the supervised diet and everything just fell into place.......Good Luck on your new adventure.
When I made the decision that having WLS was the best thing for me, I did NOT 'ask' my PCP for a referral. I made an appointment to see him, and I told him about my decision and that I would need a referral letter from him. He wrote it immediately---perhaps because he could tell that if he refused, I'd be seeing another PCP ASAP. (*grin*)
I never had to convince my dr of my decision to have wls, I gave him a copy of a letter the center gave me of what insurance companies look for in the letter & he wrote it right up, no problem. I would've found another pcp if he had a problem with it.
No one surgery is better than the other, what works for one may not work for another.
T-Rebel
When I brought up the idea of WLS, my PCP recommended 2 bariatric surgeons to consider. He gladly wrote the letter requested by the surgeon I chose. No resistance on his part, he has seen my health deteriorate over the years. I think it helped that he has had his own weight loss struggles in the past but is a model for healthy living (according to his staff).
