Hello everyone my name is Kim I'm 28 yrs old four boys 290lbs 5'8 I have acid reflux , hernia ( 2nd time do to weight ) Pvc's and joint pain ... Ok. So my pcp I've been seeing him for four months now and when I first saw him I told him I was interested in having the sleeve done and the reason for seeing him was to get healthy and the sleeve ... I ask him would support me is that something he believe in if not I find another doc that would help me .... So i did all my blood work test and other requirements ... So make a long story short two and a half weeks ago my doctor nurse called and said he would write the letter ... So today I call to find out how was it coming along the nurse said I'll call you back w the answer so she called me and said my pcp said he's not going to write the letter ....what!!!!! That I needed to diet and exercise .... What and you just told me you gone write it now u changed your mind and didn't call me to tell me this just has me thinking for two and a half week that you where working on it ... Oh !! That's not it had his nurse tell me this but didn't tell me why she said he made his choice .... I said if you say yes then no and you don't say why that's not rt I have the rt to know why he changed his mind .... I have to found another doctor and start over I can just walk in doctor office and say I want this the pcp doesn't know me ... Please if you have any advice about what I should I be glad to hear them

I guess it depends on your insurance. I have a PPO, so I don't need a referral from a primary care for specialists. My insurance also doesn't cover bariatric surgery, so I was self-pay. I went to the surgeon first and then to my primary care because the surgeon did want my primary care's "clearance" for surgery. When I went to see her, I just told her that I was having the surgery and needed her clearance. She did not really agree with me since the sleeve is not reversible. However, she did know I had been trying to lose weight for over the past year and wasn't very successful. She did an EKG in the office and that was abnormal, so she said I had to see a cardiologist before she'd give her clearance. I did that & the cardiologist did a stress test and said I was fine. They sent all their info to my primary care. She basically couldn't say "no" at that point because I was fit enough to handle surgery, so she faxed her "clearance" to the surgeon's office.

If you have a PPO, I would go see a surgeon first and go from there. Maybe the surgeon could talk to your PCP about it. If you've tried in the past to lose weight and have been unsuccessful, maybe you could show that information to your PCP to show him that you have tried.

If you have an *** and need a referral, then I'm not really sure what you can do other than showing your PCP that you've tried in the past, and just pleading with him to reconsider a consultation with a surgeon.

If you've only been seeing your PCP for 4 months, he might not realize your true history. I had been seeing my PCP for 3 years and have been working on my weight for about 18 months and she knew of things I had tried and how I had done with different things. Although she didn't really agree with me, she knew I had tried other things.

If you're religious at all, pray for your doctor's heart to be opened and softened to your situation if this surgery truly is the right thing for you and your family.

I've worked in healthcare for over 10 years. I can tell you that some do tors are either really for or against wls. Just like some doctors won't get on board with prescribing diet pills. I feel like they really just don't understand our struggles. I'm glad you moved on. I feel like your old pcp could have used this opportunity to familiarize himself with the pros and cons of wls, before jumping the gun. Then he doesn't even have the balls to face you himself, what a coward.

Yes I was open w him from the beginning my heart doc is on board w it I have recommendation from him my pcp even asked me once how did my heart doc feel about it ... But to answer your Q my insurance company pays for it my surgeons nurse would to find that out in the beginning to even continue on w the process and I've calls several times ... Yes it's only been four months but I told him in the beginning that we could build a patient doc relationship and he had his nurse call me and say he would do I just think he should tell me why he's not and I don't want to pay a copay to found out he's my pcp he should just call me

My insurance covers it I had to find that out first my surgeons office required that ... I just think he should call me and tell me why and I think it's unfair to pay a copay to find out

That is just plain out WRONG!!! You should schedule an appt to see him let him know that what he did was sooooooo wrong and coward like. He should be ashamed of himself! JERK!

I was worried about that when I went to my surgeon since I had only been with my primary doc for a few months due to us moving. He said that some primary docs are very against it, but that if she wouldnt write a letter for me, then his office could help me find someone that was more supportive. Luckily, my PCP did write the letter with no problems. I would talk to your surgeon and see if they can help. Good luck!

You know what that's not a bad idea ... Thank you can I call you MK ....

Sure! I hope it all works out for you, I dont know why WLS isnt covered by every insurance company and supported by every Dr. Even aside from OUR health, is saves them tons of $$!

My insurance called VSG a " Cosmetic Surgery"

Where do you live?

Definitely ask your surgeon's office for a referral to another pcp. And you may not have to do everything all over again. Most insurance requires that you do a supervised weight loss/regular check ins with a doctor or nutritionist and that you get a letter from your primary care provider recommending that you have the surgery and clearing you for surgery. But they don't HAVE to be the same doctor! For many insurance plans you can do your weight loss with one doctor and your letter of recommendation from another. Make sure all your records get transferred from your old doctor to your new doctor so that he or she can properly review them and refer to them in writing the letter.

Of course, this is not true for every insurance company and you should check the requirements of your own plan. Good luck!

Can you have your surgeon ir his office call your pcp and explain the benefits of this surgery for you. Another option would be to send a letter to your pcp certified, return receipt so it looks official stating just what you told us. Why you went to him, how he agreed when you first saw him to write the letter, how he said the letter was being written and then backed out. I would probably give him an out in the letter and say something like I just wanted to remind you of our first conversation. I figured after speaking with the nurse that maybe you forgot our conversation (if you remember the date include that). Maybe say something like because I'm sure you wouldn't intentionally go back on your word, waste my time, money, etc. I would try before trying with another doctor. He may just need some persuading. Good luck.

Hello everyone to up date u guys I have found another pcp and I'm now doing my supervised diet. W him and he okay w me wanting to get sleeve and he's helping me I'm on my third month w him and my diet .. And yes I got all my records sent to his office ... I also use u guys advice and ask my coordinator of a list of docs so it all worked out wish me luck cause after this on to get my approval

Let me just tell you, when i read the title of your thread i was like "WHACHU MEAN HE CHANGED HIS MIND?!?!? YOU SHOULD SLAP THE FOO" my inner voice is kind of ghetto lol. But seriously? what a coward hiding behind his nurse. You should confront him about it,but then again maybe you shouldn't waste your time. People like that are so annoying they think some chemicals will somehow make you drop 100 pounds (without killing you) yeah not gonna happen

My insurance called VSG a " Cosmetic Surgery"

those punks!