Insurance Approved The Surgery But PCP Refuses, what now?!

If insurance has approved your surgery why do you need an approval from a pcp? 

Surgery is a huge step and should not be decided on a whim ! Slow down. Have you done any research or education about the dedication or patience or forever everyday commitment it takes to make surgery a success .... 6 months is nothing in comparison to this life long commitment to Health . 

Advice is precisely what Sheri was giving you. You will find here that most people are supportive, but not too shy to say what they think either.

I think that all of the advice you got was good, don't discount it just because you don't want to hear it. By all means, write a letter, talk to your PCP, or even go to a different one. If none of that works, follow your current PCP's plan and wait 6 months.

I probably didn't take the time to word my support and advice how I wanted it to come across . I was in a hurry . I wish you good luck in your journey ! 

"Make sure you REALLY know what you're getting into and how it will affect your everyday life" IS support and advice. Just ask someone who DIDN'T get it beforehand and now eats until they're sick but still brags about it.

That's honestly what I was trying to give you.

You know the facts for success, even for Weight Loss Surgery (WLS). 25% of people gain it all back within 5 years of WLS. 50% of people keep off at least 50 pounds - this is medical success, but for most patients - if you lose 100 pounds and gain 49 back, so you are net 51 pound down, you are not all that happy.  Only 25% of people get and stay at a normal near-normal BMI.  You really want to be one of these, and at 25, the odds are on your side.

Doctors know that the insurance companies are tracking their results and the PCPs want to make sure that you are going to be a success. And, at 25, with few co-morbidities, you have time on your side.(Although you do not see it that way at this time.) I do not think 25 is too young to have WLS, it is TOO YOUNG to do it wrong.  

You have ONE best chance at WLS working.  (Few revisions, other than DS, have high chances of success.)  

I say this, because there will be hurdles along the way, and right now your PCP is one.  You cannot, even joking, dive into the Krispy Kremes.  You will also have hurdles after surgery, so now is the time to get good at dealing with them.

Do you know who is requiring you to get a recommendation from you PCP - insurance or your surgeon????  That will help you deal with whatever objections are obstacles.  I think the suggestion for you to put your reasons in a letter is a good idea.  Since you are not happy withyour newly assigned PCP, of course get another, he doesn;t want to spend the time to get to know you.  To not waste anymore time, I would take the suggestion to put your reasoning into a letter - using bullet points,

PS Here is my logic for getting WLS, it immediately got my surgeon on board and he and his office helped me get it done.  I was 57 1/2 at the time, so I wasn't in a position to wait for a newer/better technology to come along.  Your logic will not be the same, but I write it so that you know a thinking pattern that did work.

   1 - My knee is messed-up and if I do not get the weight off, I will be looking at knee surgery. Per my ortho surgeon.

   2 - I just lost 100+ pounds with a conventional diet (by going to the best University run program on the East coast) and put 90% of it back on within 2 years, so I am not one of the lucky 3-5% who will keep the weight off. 

   3 - WLS is easier to recover from than knee surgery.  My WLS surgeon totally agreed with this, and also the logic that there is a surgery in my future, so which has a better impact??  WLS to improve many health issues, or just knee replacement at 285 pounds, which will reduce the potential for success for the knee replacement.

   4 - WLS was (and is) the right option for me. It may not be perfect, but it is my best option.  If I don't get it, the best I do will yo-yo every 5 years - 2 years to take it off and 2-3 years to gain it back.  (or do nothing which means gaining ~5 pounds a year).

   5- Quality of life things that will be better:  enjoying the outdoors, clothes, . . .

Your logic may be different - but get it down to a few bullet points, your weight history and attempts to lose over the years, list the drugs or prgrams you have tried, your fears if you do not get WLS, etc. 

If you want to post it here, or email it to me or a few other privately, I will look at it and give you feedback, as will others.  I offer this because you may be getting overloaded by all of us trying to help you at the same time.

Hang in there, you long term health (and the little guy) is worth it.