I have an appointment with my pcp tomorrow to discuss WLS and I need his support. Has anyone had any good or bad experiences to share? I'm afraid of him telling me to just go on another diet! I don't think I could take it!

Actually, I was open and upfront with my PCP. I told him I was thinking about going to Mexico for a wls and he knew that I had been struggling with my weight, I was right on the border and my blood work was coming back just making the diagnoses of diabetes. I told him that I had been told by a wls place that Kaiser does refer for wls. I qualified with my BMI being low with a comorbidity. It might of helped with me being a mental health professional.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Also, it may help that I am physician & surgeon. I just need to think positively!

Just know that it's ok to ask for what you need, or else you won't get it. You can do this! Plus, you have a bonus of being educated in this field and you know the pro's and con's of wls. You will have no problems with getting a PCP to refer you. Let me know how it goes.

I actually had a pcp and obgyn suggest wls. But the insurance i had at the time wouldn't cover it. I started seeing a new pcp in October and had already been to an info secession with the doctor that did my surgery. So during my initial visit i told her i was looking into the surgery and would need approval. She asked me some question and had a few more at my next appointment but that was it. I recently saw another doctor in the practice and she stayed in with me for 30min asking all about my surgery and who performed it. I was the 1st patient wls she had seen and she was amazed by the weight i had lost after only 10 weeks.

thank you for asking that! i go to a new PCP on wednesday and an so nervous that the PCP will create hurdles rather than clear them out of my way. I have an *** so have to get a referral.

I've been with my PCP for 17 years. He is always ready to give free samples and only charges $35 per visit (we had no insurance). Tried various methods for weight loss surgery. However, when I was having problems with my feet and ended up doing laser surgery I hadn't seen him until afterwards. I could see the disappointment in his face like I had wasted my money and should have seen him first (BTW up until i started wearing heels again it was the best medical decision I made).

I am a low BMI. I've made this decision after doing a lot of research and talking with a friend who has been through WLS (not sleeve). I fail at every diet I've ever done. I know once I do this I can't go back. I know the complications. Bottom line, I'm not asking. Not him, not my husband, not the 4 nurses in my family.

I will see PCP before going just to update him incase of emergency and get prescriptions filled, etc. before leaving. I do not think he would be supportive. But he has also seen me baloon 60 lbs in 17 years, so maybe he would be supportive. Not taking the chance.

Well, primary care was 100% supportive! Yeah! I worried for no reason. He actually helped start the bariatric center and his sister is the head nutritionist. I couldn't be happier! Best of luck with everyone's doctor. My suggestion is... If they are not supportive consider changing to one who is. I am a physician myself, and I feel its really important to have a good rapport w ur doctor. That being said, it would have been hard for me if he had told me to try another diet. And it would have been difficult to change drs. But honestly I would have. It's that important!

Good job! If your PCP had told you to try a new diet, you would have went to another PCP no matter how difficult it was for you. I love asking for what I need!

My PCP called me in after labs and said what the heck are you doing. My numbers were horrible mostly weight related. After I told her of my plan to take the weight off, she was on board.

_{Hi Devon, I am also going to my PCP who is really not supportive. I am on the roller coaster for the insurance. I have to complete a 6 month diet and exercise program. Lost 7 lbs in 5 weeks. Dr. said it was not enough. However my insurance requires a minimum of 35.0 BMI with Comorbities. I have type two diabetes and rhuematoid arthritus. I am struggling with the fact that the PCP is pushing me to loose 15 to 20 lbs a month. Hello if I could do that I would not be asking for the surgery. I have been hovering around the 40 BMI mark for a minimum of 12 years. YO YO dieting it is rediculous and very tired of the struggle.}

Bmarion, sounds like ur pcp doesn't really "get it". Have u considered asking ur surgeon to refer u to someone else that they know is more supportive? I bet it would make this difficult part of the journey easier. And best of luck with ur insurance. I wish mine paid for it, but I am grateful there are less "hoops" with cash pay. Thoughts and prayers with u.

I'm going in on Friday to get my referral. I don't think I will have problems but I'm still ready for a battle lol

Minkywinks, I hope it is a breeze! And that u r pleasantly surprised. Good luck and let us know how it went!

Yes I have considered going to a different Dr., I am 6 weeks into my physical and diet evaluation and would have to weigh in again and start at a lower BMI. I am pushing the BMI limit now. Required to loose 10% of body weight. That is 21lbs and I would still need the 2 week liquid diet that will cause me to loose at minimum 10 more. Which would put me at 183. The BMI hits 35 at 185. I have to be very careful with the weight loss on the 6 months diet.

Insurance company regulation are rediculous. Wish I had $14k so that I could just pay out of pocket.