need advice

I have not been to a doctor in about 5 years.I'm interested in wls but not sure where to start.should i start with a general practitioner?and does anyone know of a doctor in the memphis area that is better able to help severly obese(390lbs)people with health issues.

Good Morning Jeff, Congratulations on taking your first steps into this journey of researching WLS! There are many great people here on this site and will be able to offer many suggestions to you because it is probably a bit different for everyone but this is what I would suggest, and hope it helps some.. First I would check with your personal Insurance company and make sure there is not a written exclusion in your policy for WLS..IF there is not an exclusion, see what thier requirements are, because most have alot of hoops you will have to jump through to gain approval for it..then once you are aware of what you will need, find a really good primary care physician who will see you and give you a written referral for WLS. You can look through the surgeons in your state who do bariatric surgeries and the different types, there are many types, and chose one in your insurance network...when you have found the surgeon you want call them and ask thier requirements for first consult and kinda go from there.. This whole journey can have many ups and downs but always remember you are doing this for YOU and DON'T give up! You can find such great support here on this site and I am sure any answers you seek as well.. This site is a wonderful place to begin because there is sooo much wonderful information and help and support from soooo manay others who are in the same boat and we are all here to achieve the same goal! I wish you the VERY BEST in your journey here and I am here if you need any help along the way, if I can't help I know there are many others here who can! God Bless You! Dawn knoxville

thanks for the reply.I have aetna insurance and they do cover wls but also have lots o hoops.just need to find a primary care doctor that can really help and not just tell me I need to lose weight.

I totally understand that! I went to my primary doctor that I have seen the last 5 years since coming to tennessee and they would not give me my referral even with all the comorbidities, but I did not give up and eventually found a great lady to give my referral and she personally called the surgeon I chose for me and scheduled my first consult for me. This can be frustrating at times but when it seems like you are ready to pull your hair out in frustration, you just have to remind yourself WHY you are doing this and not get down because the payoff when you DO get there will be very worth it in the end! Atleast this is what I do personally.. I have had many ups and downs on this road but Lord Willing it won't be too much longer now.. I finally am at the point of second consult. And trying for insurance approval.. FINALLY! I do not know alot about docs in Memphis but I know there are people in memphis who are going through this.. maybe they can help you get started.. at the top of the site there is a link to local help, maybe that will help point you in the right direction!? Good Luck! Dawn

Hi Jeff, at the top of the page is also a "find a doc", you can find several in there. Do not go thru Dr. Alston in Memphis. He has taken a medical from surgery. All his WLS patients are now having to find another Dr. I can give you a few that are in Franklin, and Nashville. There's a Dr. Oxley of Franklin, Dr. Wright in Nashville, but you can always call the AMA for a surgeon in your area that does the surgeries. Also check under insurers, read what people have said about the insurance. There's a fount of information that can really help you in this website. Everyone is here for everyone. Whether to just wish you well, send a prayer, or help guide you. Dawn and I both are pre-ops just waiting for everything to be ready for surgery. Don't get discouraged or over whelmed by it all. It will take time to get everything done that needs to be done. I wish you well on your journey to becoming a loser. Have a happy day, Kathy

Jeff, Welcome to the list and good luck on your journey. I see that alot of insurance companies requires a 6 month physician supervised diet before they will consider coverage of WLS, so your first step should probably be call the insurance carrier and see what their requirements are. If your insurance is an HMO, then you would also have to get referral from your primary care physician. I myself have just started this journey in that I have seen my surgeon once and am waiting on approval or denial from my insurance carriers. Everyone here is just great and very friendly; glad you joined us. Kelly

Dear Jeff, I can't be of much help on the pcp, but as far as the WLS surgeon there is none better than Dr. Atul Madan 448-6635..... Call and schedule your initial appt. today!!! Tell them I referred you... Read my profile if you like....

Hi Jeff! My best advice regarding the pcp would be to visit your last one. Who ever was taking care of you before the last 5 years that has the most experience with your care. They can pick up where they left off. I would schedule a physical appointment so theres plenty of time blocked for the visit, and discuss your desire to have the surgery at that time. I'm not familiar with the surgeons in Memphis but I know some of our members are. Best of luck to you in your new journey! God bless! Melanie

Jeff, I researched all of the surgeons in Memphis for a long time and I can tell you that Dr. McGrath-Weaver is the best for WLS surgery. She is just awesome and she has a very stringent program and follows you for a long time. As far as PCP, I live North of the city and go to a PCP in Covington TN so I can't help you there. Best of luck to you. Anne

Hi Jeff! Welcome aboard...I am in Munford, in south tipton co, north of Memphis. My surgery is this coming tuesday! (excited but biting nails) at Methodist Germantown. Dr. Woodman of Midsouth Bariatrics is doing my Lap-band surgery. Outside of getting a letter of referral to a bariatric surgeon for the WLS, I wouldn't expect much help from any PCP on weight loss issues. That may be tough since you haven't been to the doctor in 5 years. I would go straight to a bariatric surgeon. All of us know weight loss isn't rocket science....You have to eat way less, eat only good stuff with an occasional "treat" and exercise. We're all here for the same reason, so pls don't take anything that I am saying the wrong way. (smile) After I went to the seminar, did all the paperwork, and had the psych eval all within a week. I came home and talked myself into yet another diet and out of surgery. Went to my PCP and begged for Phenteramine just one more time...and had decided that I could do this myself and didn't need to have surgery. 3 months later...after losing 3 lbs with the phenteramine and the PCP not refilling the script (I couldnt blame him) I was sitting on my bed, looking at my water-filled swollen ankles, trying to get up the energy to get ready for work. My step-son had just put a cinderblock under my side of the bed because the frame had broken too many times and my bed kept collapsing from the weight on my side. The phone rang and it was Kelley from Dr. Woodman's office telling me my insurance letter had come back and I had been approved. The cinderblock had hit me square between the eyes. I have been trying for 30 plus years to do this myself. I can't do it without drastic help. I told Kelley to go ahead and schedule the appts with the hospital for pre-surgical testing. I weighed in on July 8th when my surgery was scheduled at 337. I am a female, 5'4 inches. My BMI is 57.7 So I begin a journey in 2 days. I look at it as a rebirth of sorts because my stomach is going to end up about the same size it was when I was 2 years old..(hehe) I cannot wait to get out of this body that feels like a blob that just keeps getting bigger and bigger...and an appetite and brain that keep food a constant issue in my life. I realize the control I have allowed something that is suppose to sustain my life has...Right now, I dont eat to live, I live to eat. I refuse to live this way anymore and I am going to do this. I can do it, I will do it...I will become a HUGE LOSER!!! I know that I probably didn't offer you much here, but ended up spilling my guts to calm my nerves a bit before surgery...(thanks for listening) Good luck on your own personal journey...and stick around here. This is a wonderfully supportive group of people that truly understands just about anything you can throw at us. Let me know if you would like any more info on Dr. Woodman's office and I'll be happy to send you my email address. Best of luck! Carolyn