First Dr. Visit Today-VERY Discouraged
I will be 26 in less than a week, 5'6", 260lbs., and, after doing a lot of investigating and thinking, decided to see my physician to discuss options and the process of getting started after recently sharing my desire to get WLS to my family and friends and gaining tremendous support. I have never been so discouraged and confused. I should preface everything by saying when I had to have my gallbladder out 9 months ago (which, I believe was a result of all the weight), the surgeon privately spoke with my parents and said I was an ideal candidate for WLS. Since then I have been plagued with health problems and been in the hospital a total of 4 times since December due to what I, again, feel are issues related to my weight. In fact, the last time I was in the hospital was when it hit me I needed to get help because I saw 'morbidly obese' on the doctor's chart accidentally. My main concern was the impending battle I figured would ensue with my insurance provider, Personal Care, however, after meeting with my PCP today I think that's only a portion of what I'm up against. He told me that I would need to wait a minimum of 12 months, get a pedometer, start eating less , exercise more and then in about 6 months submit to Personal Care. This was all said after I had just gotten done telling him that I couldn't get up the two flights of stairs to his office without feeling like I was going to die. In addition, I barely eat that much as it is and do not drink or do anything that could add to my obesity. I am confused. I thought it would be, at most 3-6 months to get this ball rolling. I am more than willing to endure that, but twelve months? And then to run the risk that Personal Care rejects me in a year +?? I couldn't handle that. I'm young, I want to travel, engage in sports again and have children in the next few years and know I can't until I lose the weight but now I feel completely dejected. Should I return to the surgeon who took out my gallbladder and see if that would be a more aggressive way to go??
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