Can anyone relate or share there story on getting the preop testing done? I have not had a primary care physician for the last couple of years, so I do not have a pcp to give me a recommendation for surgery, which is required for approval w/Humana. I also have to have a upper gi xray and a cardio pulmonary clearance given along w/of course a pscyh evaluation and a one time visit w/a dietician. My concern is, I can't find anyone in Bowling Green, Ky willing to do these tests. The only thing I have considered as medical records for my weight is WIC papers that I have gotten from the WIC office and it has my weight history from 2004-Nov 2005. If anyone can offer any advice on how to get these test so I can get my band, please let me know. The dr doing the surgery is over an hour away so they really can't offer any assistance w/ my preop testing that Humana is requiring. Please help, beginning to feel hopeless just like the insurance companies want. But I don't want to give up this easy, I have been overweight for years now, I can push through and get these tests out of the way and be on my way to a life of successful weight loss.

Can you ask friends for a recommendation on a pcp? It's a good idea to have one anyway, and you can just tell him/her that you want to start the process. Chances are if you are significantly obese they will be willing to start with you wherever you are in the process.

Emily

I don't know if you know any nurses, but I have found the best doctor recommendations come fromnurses and other hospital workers. They get the low-down on everyone.

Clearly your first step is to get a PCP and have a physical. What are you waiting for? There must be some primary care doctors in Bowling Green. Any one of them can order the tests you need and write a letter of recommendation supporting the surgery. Your WIC notes will support the fact that you've been overweight since a certain date, but you must have a doctor's notes as well, I'm sure. The sooner you get started the closer you'll be to surgery.

I was in a similar situation. I was mid-application process when my company changed health insurance and I had to start all over again. Like you, I hadn't seen a PCP in over 10 years. Basically, I picked a PCP and scheduled a consult (not a physical. I found that it's a lot quicker to get in for a consult than a physical and you'll need to have a physical shortly before the surgery anyway, so you might as well wait.)

Anyway, I went in for my consult armed to the teeth with all my research and a scrapbook that had photos showing the extreme fluctutations in my weight, photos of all my diet books, workout videos, and exercise equipment, photos of all the diet pills and diet foods in my fridge. I also had a list from the surgeon's office of all the tests I needed referrals for. Basically, I went in expecting to fight. Turns out I didn't have to. My new doc is awesome and very very helpful.

If you walk in there like you know what you're doing, I think the doctor is more likely to help you.

Just wanted to leave an update. I went to a pcp in my area, Dr. Tapp, and it was a very horrible experience. They told me they didn't want to come in on the middle of the process, they only would offer a recommendation based on yrs of providing care for me. I even mentioned some people have to do a six month monitored diet and that would be okay, but she (nurse practitioner) said they could prescribed me phentermine again, (which I had taken Dec 04), no I don't want anymore diet pills, they do not work for me. So, I left there very discouraged. My lap band dr advised I still try and get the other test done at the specialist office if possible, so after several phone calls I found a cardiologist, Dr. Gott, who would see me w/out a referral from a pcp. His staff was awesome, they offered me sooo much assistance, I cannot quit bragging about them. They have gave me the referrals I need to get the upper gi and lab work completed. And the cardiologist wrote a letter of referral for bariatric surgery based on my decreased energy levels and I have an apple shape so I am more apt to have heart disease, diabetes, and other heart related diseases b/c of the type of fat I have in my abdominal area. Okay, it may just be my opinion, but I think a cardiologist specialist will be a pretty good reference as far as the ins company goes, possibly even better than a pcp's reference, I don't know yet, but I am hoping. So after Feb 20th all my appts will be complete for preop testing, dietician, and psych evaluation, so I am hoping and praying for a surgery date in March. Wish Me Blessings and I will do the same for all of you.....

I would suggest really having a very complete physical before even thinking about banding, especially if you have not seen a regular doctor for several years. My good friend has spent the last 6 months getting all the stuff in order for her ins to pay for her banding. She had dietary consults, a cardiology eval, lots of lab tests, the shrink consult, and more. She was finally banded 2 months ago - and just found a breast lump 2 weeks ago. she has not gotten her mammograms for 4 years, and didn't see a doctor for most of that time. She has breast cancer now, and just spent $22,000 self-pay for band surgery. Her weight and the band is the least of her problems now, as the cancer is not localized. The mammograms would very likely have showed the cancer years ago. I hope we all learn from this.