Need a letter from PCP

jcehlendt · February 11, 2017

My surgeons office nurse is recommending a letter from my physician to submit to my insurance company since I haven't been on my blood pressure medicine long enough. I have to think my physician will do this because what doctor would prevent you from being a healthier you. But my fear is he will want me to try their weight loss program in their office. I did look into it last year but I knew right off it wouldn't work for me because it requires weekly visits and their office is in another town so distance and time was an issue. I don't see him until the 20th so in the meantime my mind is going in all sorts of directions. Patience has never been my strong suit when I know there is something I want.

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HurricaneU · February 11, 2017

Yeah my PCP was against the whole sleeve operation. So we tried the diet for a few months and even thou I did lose some weight, there wasnt much focus on that, it was more of see you in a few months. I want a medical team thats primarily focused on me getting healthy and losing this weight. So ive been on a 6mo diet program with my Bariatric surgeon team and I havent told my PCP yet. Im only one visit away from getting approval. So Im going to let him know on my next visit that Im going through with the surgery and I want his support or I will just have to find a PCP that will. Its my decision and my life. Just let you PCP that you been researching and have been involved in discussions about the procedure. Ive been researching since May 2016, decided to do it in October 2016, and I havent looked back. Hopefully in April ill be sleeved!

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jcehlendt · February 11, 2017

I get so mad when I think that here I am 40 years old and I have ever to get permission from someone who doesn't know me and my struggles to do something to my own body. Flashback to my teen years!

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chryss · March 4, 2017

I was really nervous my PCP would not agree to write a letter. So I went to see her prepared. I wrote a sample letter for her, also put it on a flash drive and brought it to my visit. I brought all of information from Bariatric doctor as well. I didn't ask for her permission. I came in and said, "I have been seeing a Bariatric doctor for several months, I have also been seeing a Nutritionist for several months and we all agree that my health would greatly benefit from gastric sleeve. I don't want to be overweight and I don't want to be on HBP meds anymore. I want all of my doctors to be aware that I am getting this procedure and more importantly, I want your support. My endocrinologist, gastronologist, and OBGYN have all written letters supporting me to make this journey easier on me. I know you are busy, so I have a sample letter on a flash drive for you. You can simply print it on your letterhead and sign if that's easiest."
She said wow, you have done a lot of research. Then all the questions that she asked were questions about my surgeon and hospital. She wanted to make sure I was t going to a shady doctor. She told me she was happy I chose his facility and happily wrote her own letter for me. Her letter was awesome, she even wrote in the letter that she never had a patient that's she was so sure would be successful with surgery and would benefit from long term effects. It was great.

jcehlendt · March 6, 2017

That's awesome. I saw my PCP and once he realized I have done my research and have tried to lose weight in the past be wrote me a letter. He walked out of the room and I just started crying. So much weight was lifted in that moment.