Question:
how did people tell there PCP that they wanted to have WLS?
I am wondering how people asked there Docter about WLS. My docter has never mentioned it and I'm not sure she'd be too supportive. She is more along the lines of "Just eat less and exercise and you'll be fine." Does anyone else belong to Havard Pilgrim and go to the Medford location? How is your Primary Care Doctor? — sherry F. (posted on July 24, 2000)
July 24, 2000
I did my "homework" and printed lots of pertinent information and
illustrations about the surgery to hand to my PCP so that he could read it
when he had time. I basically told him that I had done my research, and
made had my mind up to go ahead with the surgery. He agreed and gave me
the referral
— Barbara S.
July 24, 2000
When I was first diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the knees, my orthopedist
told me that weight loss would greatly reduce the pain plus he would not
even consider a debriding of the spurs formed on my caps until I lost
weight because the weight (fat) on the knee makes a relatively simple
surgery a major one because I would bleed too much. He then suggested WLS
and told me about a friend of his who had it. I took this info to my
primary care doc who, like you said, immediatly pooh-poohed the idea saying
'just eat less and exercise'. Ha! If that only worked. However 3 years
later, I on my own, made an informed decision to have it. I did not need a
referral from him. However, at my last visit, I took all the research
papers I had on it and just came out and told him (I originally wasn't
going to tell him) I showed him my stuff, told him why and how I came to my
decision and how I hoped he would support me, and now he is suggesting this
idea to some other patients he has!! I have become his poster child for
WLS in the office!!!
— Carole C.
July 24, 2000
I lucked out with my INS. I do not need to have a referral to go to any
doctor here. I have the option of choosing on my own. I did however
approach my PCP with the idea, and he was kinda hesitant at first until I
sent him to the website for Dr. Fobi. He read up on it, and when I talked
to him today, he was happy that I gave him that information and wanted to
expedite his dictations into my file since I meet with the surgeon
tomorrow. The best way for anything is head-on. Tell the doc what you
want, why you want it, and how you want it and how much your life would be
improved by it. Make sure to get that homework done though. The easiest
way...go in for a physical. During the 'questioning' phase..*S* Tell him
the reason for the physical. Something along the lines of "I want to
make sure that I am healthy enough to have surgery." This normally
leads to "What surgery?" Then you just tell him. WLS!!!! At
that point, break out the ammo...LOL *S* HOpe this helps..*S*
— Linda R.
July 24, 2000
I also didnt need a referral from my PCP, but went to him to ask for him to
right a letter, b/c I knew how much it would help w/ the insurance company.
You have already gotten great advice- especially about taking some
pamphlets w/ you. I was nervous about bringing it up to my Dr b/c a lot of
them have negative opinions about the surgery. I think what helped me are 2
things: 1) I ad done my homework and he could tell. 2) It was very obvious
to him that I had my mind made up- I was not in limbo about it at all. Much
to my surprise, he was VERY supportive of the idea and wrote the letter
THAT day to be sent to the insurance. Good luck, and remember- this is YOUR
life- your Dr is there to promote your health, to support you, and to
present you w/ options. If he is not supportive, find another PCP. Again,
good luck!
— Julie M.
July 25, 2000
My PCP was an older man and I thought for sure he'd be against the idea of
WLS so I went about it myself. I made an appointment with a surgeon at BTC
and had to pay for that consultation myself (I would have had to pay for it
even if I would've had a referral from my PCP). I had done alot of
research and was ready to go ahead with the surgery. BTC gave me a list of
things I needed to have done before they could schedule surgery (pulmonary
function test, sleep study, cardiac clearance) and I needed my PCP for some
of these. I basically just went to him and said that I was having WLS and
my surgeon wanted to have these things done. My PCP was very understanding
(probably because he could see that I had my mind made up) and had his
office schedule the appointments for me. I also needed my PCP to write a
letter to the insurance company for me stating why he thought WLS was
medically neccessary for me. I went to him with a list of all my
comorbidities and my doctor supervised diets and told him basically what to
say in his letter. He must've said the right stuff because I was able to
have the surgery.
— Kellie L.
July 25, 2000
After I had done all my homework and attended support group meetings and
chose the surgeon I made an appt. with my PCP for a check up on my
allergies.
While there I told him I had something important to discuss with him and
would he please give me ten uninterrupted minutes of his time.
He closed the door and sat down. I told him what I had done and that I had
made a decision and asked if he was as familiar as I was with the surgery.
(That is important, how you word it)...he said No, but he was interested.
He asked me some key questions and then said he would give me the referral
and write the appropriate letters and be supportive.
I did let him know that if he was not in favor of this and would rather I
used another PCP that it was fine with me to switch doctors. An HMO doctor
lose a patient? I don't think so. His office has been fine with everything
since then. My PCP is actually looking forward to see how this works out.
He prescribes Xenical and Meridia (I would not take them) and is a
cardiologist also, so he is very concerned with seeing great success.
— [Anonymous]
July 25, 2000
Hi Sherry! I'm from Malden so we're neighbors. My PCP had been kindly
nudging me to loose weight for the past couple of years. I'd loose it,
regain it plus add a few more pounds. Finally, I happened to meet an old
friend who had this surgery and she filled me in on what it was all about.
I told my PCP I was interested in exploring it further by having a
consultation with Dr. Randall (at LMH). He resisted giving me the referral
but I sternly pointed out the fact that my gallbladder had been recently
removed, which I probably destroyed with all my years of yo-yo dieting. I
also pointed out other factors such as hip pain, asthma, sleeping problems.
I said that by my research I am entitled to a consultation referral and if
he didn't give it to me, I'd choose a new PCP and file a complaint against
him with Harvard. I didn't want to seem that crude but it worked. I got
the referral and Dr. Randall's office took care of everything else once
they agreed that I qualify. I have Harvard Pilgrim and haven't had a
single problem. I got approved for surgery to take place 9/11 and can't
wait (although I'm not looking forward to post-op pain). To sum it up, BE
STRONG, call your PCP and ask for a referral to have a consultation with
the surgeon you're interested in meeting. Remember, YOUR HEALTH IS WORTH
FIGHTING FOR!
— Mary A.
July 25, 2000
Hi Sherry, I first approached my pcp about wls after meeting a woman who'd
had her surgery a few months before and was doing very well. His response
wasn't negative, but he did tell me that he didn't know of anyone
"around here" that did that type of surgery that he could refer
me to. So, I got busy and started researching on my own. When I finally
found a surgeon in Cleveland (about 50 miles away from me) who specialized
in bariatric surgery, I again approached my pcp with his name and a
notebook FULL of additional data I'd gathered from the internet and various
other sources. My insurance did not require a referral from my pcp, but I
asked him for one anyway (I figured it couldn't hurt). Well, not only did
he give me the un-needed referral, but he gave me his blessing and a hug to
boot! My suggestion is this: Go to your pcp with as much information IN
HAND regarding wls as you can gather. Find out from your insurance if you
actually NEED his referral. Make an appointment to "sit down"
with him for a few minutes of uninterrupted time and state your case as
simply and as straight forward as you can (remember, you're paying him for
that time) Let him know that this is not a decision you've come to
friviously or without alot of soul-searching and tell him WHY you've
decided to pursue this avenue. List your co-morbidities and quote as many
"numbers" (blood sugars, blood pressures etc...)as you can.
Document your years of weight loss efforts (and results) via conventional
weight loss methods. Know all the pro AND cons (and statistics) of wls and
be prepared to answer any questions he/she might have with educated and
informed responses. Don't be "threatening" (unless you have to
be), but be firm in your approach that this is something you not only want,
but feel sure that you need. Don't let him "bully" you and you
don't "bully" him either. Sell yourself and your decision. Good
luck and God bless. cj
— cj T.
July 25, 2000
With my insurance (Kaiser) I had already put out some feelers and found out
they were not terribly supportive of the surgery in general. So when I
went to approach my PCP, I told her I wanted medical help for my obesity
because I simply couldn't lose the weight on my own. I already had a
history of seeing the nutritionist regularly. She determined that the
medications available would not be an option because they would complicate
other health issues, so to my surprise, she was actually the one who
suggested surgery.
— Paula G.
July 26, 2000
Hi, I was fortunate enough to have a PCP who was knoledgable about WLS.
After being diagnosed and treated for diabetes and hypertension I told my
PCP I needed a referral for a surgeon for WLS. He was very positive and
said make the appointment and I will give you the referral. He was also
encouraging when he told me that if I lost weight my diabetes would
probably go away and my high blood pressure would probably go to normal
range. I feel if your doctor does not support your decision for WLS than
it's time for a new doctor! -Kim
— Kim F.
Click Here to Return