My first seminar for WLS was at the end of July, and my first consultation with the surgeons office wasn't until August 5th. It wasn't until my consultation with the surgeon that I found out I needed an actual letter, not just medical records, from my PCP.

The bad news, my PCP retired and closed his office on July 31st.

Now I don't have a PCP, and I'm not so sure that if I find one, the first question I should be asking at my first appointment is, "will you clear me for bariatric surgery?"

Has anyone gone through a situation like this? It's really my only hiccup in this process so far:(

Yup. My doctor retired the week before my appointment and I had to go to a new doc in the practice. I marched right in, told her my history, told her with confidence that I needed a letter and walked out with one. End of story.

I WISH the office was still open, the other doctor in the practice decided to move out of state, so they completely closed their doors. I guess I'm going to have to do it though, no other choice.

I called one doctor that a lot of friends referred me too. The first physical they could line up was in February! WTF! I just called my insurance coordinator and left a message, hoping she can refer me to someone who will help.

Do you go to any other type of Doc? I go, regularly to an Endocrinologist, I don't see a PCP on a regular basis. The Endo was ON BOARD and wrote me the letter that same day. If not that can be a part of your visit with the new PCP, it may happen on the 2nd visit, and if they are scheduling that far out, check your in-network docs and find one that is taking new patients immediately. It takes a bit of work, but persistence pays off. Believe me I do this for a living, I'm a Patient Advocate and we get people in all the time, you can even suggest to be on a cancellation list for them to call you and in the meantime call daily for any cancellations!