Question:
Saw the NP and she wont send me to specialist.

Sorry I got cut off - I saw my nurse practioner on Friday, I weight 220 at 5 ft 2 in, 41.7 BMI. I was given a sheet to fill out a 3 day diet history, and was told to see her in 2 months for a DIFFERENT problem. I'm in a HMO. Any ideas?    — Victoria N. (posted on November 15, 1998)

November 19, 1998
If your PCP will not give you a referral, you may wish to work backwards from the surgeon. After selecting a surgeon in your area who does weight loss surgery, ask his office to supply you with the names of PCPs who have referred patients to them for treatment. You should be able to find a PCP in your plan who is convenient to you. Change PCPs and you should be realtively assured of a referral if medically justified. Good luck.
   — Bill H.

November 28, 1998
One of the easiest ways around this problem is to call the surgeon's office directly and ask them which PCP's are most willing to refer patients for weight reduction surgery - when you have the names of PCP's in your group, transfer your PCP care to one of those doctors - this is sort of a "reverse" technique, but it has worked very well for lots of people!
   — Jo Ann S.

February 14, 1999
This is not the answer to your question but a suggestion. I think due to the fact that weight loss is not a covered procedure she might be trying to tell you to make an appointment for the problems the weight is causing you --like your joint pain. When you see her she will probably say. "you need to lose weight" then you say "I have tried EVERYTHING" and so on. :)
   — Mary B.