Help - I am depressed

I have been seing my PCP for a couple of years and about 6 - 9 months ago I told her I wanted to have the surgery well she said we will see when we get your diabeties under control. Well we did and I mentioned it again and she as like well I do not know, all these people are having it and we do not know the precautions 20 yrs down the rd, etc so she is not for it. I went ahead and saw a doctor who does the surgery, Dr. Hixon and he said not worry about the PCP. Well than I had the psych eval and other things and know DR. Hixon's office wants a medical letter of necessity for the insurance company so they can get approval. So I go back and call my PCP's office and she cannot see me until mid Feb but I tell them what I want and they say I can see anyone in the practice. Well I see a dr. and he will not refer me until I have went to a Bariatric doctor for 6 months and done dieting and he said he guranteed I would loose 50 lbs and if I did not than he would refer me. He also handed me his card and he owns a location that does this and if you look at his web site he is totaly against this surgery. So I said well why did you not suggest this 6 months ago because I have asked and all my regular dr. will say is well try South Beach or Weigh****chers and I have with no success. I have asked for an appiette suppresent and she will not give me one either. So he said I do not know why she did not recommend a location that helps with dieting first, and that he would not write the letter until I showed 6 mths of proof of visiting this type location. I could use his practice or another location for the diet monitoring. So anyone the ofice will not give me a letter and I do not want to wait another 6 mths. I keep thinking well 6 mths doing that than the approval and I am afraid that it will be a year and than my insurance will change because they keep cutting back on our programs that the insurance pays for. Any suggestions would help greatly. Also this is the docs website: check it out and you will see he is against the surgery for anyone or he is in my opion. I though of going to another PCP in another practice but than I thought I would have to see them for a while to get any thing..... www.bariatrics.com

Kristie, I am sorry that you seem to be hitting brick walls with everything that you are trying to do. I did look at that website, and yes he is very much against having surgery, and I think that there is quite alot of misleading information on there. I wish that I could give you some wonderful advice on where to go or what to do, but I didn't have my surgery in this state. I know that you will get plenty of responses from people who will problably refer you to some local doctors here who are more supportive of your decision. I wish you all the best..... Cathy Martin

Thanks. I to thought that about his website so I am going to look for another PCP because when I have the surgery I do not know about been treated there afterwords.......

Kristie, I'm sorry to hear that your doctor will not support your decision to have WLS. My doctor is located in Rome Georgia. My first visit, she wrote my letter of referral for the surgery. My letter was the 5th letter she wrote that morning. Email me if you would like her name. Don't let that doctor you his weight loss program. Those programs don't work. I tried them 3x and got larger and larger. Best wishes in finding a supporting doctor Tammie G. new loser

Just wanted to say that i too visited the website. He is totally against WLS and is trying to promote his business. No he doesn't want you to have the surgery because he wants to make your money. I thought it was also a very tacky website just trying to lure people in. I would go and find me a new PCP, make an appointment and tell him/her exactly what you need. Maybe you can get some suggestions for a new PCP from members in your area from the boards. Good luck and don't give up Nalani

Kristie, It isn't too late to find a WLS friendly PCP. I'm not familiar with your area but hopefully someone here can assist you or Dr Hixon's office could refer you to one. Good Luck gal! Tonya

Kristie, that period of time you've had diabetes AND been followed by your physician COUNTS AS 6 MONTHS OF SUPERVISED DIETING. Hopefully going to another PCP with your records from the other PCP will satisfy the insurance company as far as the LOMN goes. Having comorbs helps. Luckily my PCP is completely in favor of WLS -- I went in all loaded for bear, gave her my spiel, and she said "I think it's an excellent idea". I about hit the floor! If you feel up to driving to Tallapoosa (5 miles east of Alabama on I-20) her name is Dr. Ara Travers with Tallapoosa Family Healthcare. Don't have the phone # right handy, though. They're in the book. Lorri

HI! I researched the surgery for over a year, talked with my primary physian at that time and she told me to wait a year so I waited. After a year spoke with my primary physician assistant who knows me better than the primary physician does and was i surprised when she referred me to doctor who determines if you are a candiate for the surgery and he referred me to all the doctors I had to see so I could get approved and I was. surgery date Oct 14, lost 57lbs ince surgery & in a size 18 from a 26. Change your pcp find out who in your insurance knows and acknowledges that the surgery is beneficial. Hang in there, don't give up. It took me 8 months before approval.