Next Wednesday I have an appointment with my pcp and i'm going to discuss to him about my weight issues for the first time ever and its my first time ever meeting this doctor. My question is how do you go about telling your doctor about your weight issues and for him to give you a referral to a surgeon? I've been overweight almost my entire life, ever since I gave birth to my son 3 years ago my weight increased dramatically and it won't go down. SInce then i've have horrible back pains causing me to have bulging discs on my back, it makes it harder for me to workout. I've tried many diets and some diet pills and nothing. I don't know what feeling full feels like. My knees feel weaker each and every day and my weight is getting in the way at work, causing me to get horrible chaffing in my thighs. I have also noticed i'm almost out of breath doing the simplest things, its starting to effect my kids as i can't be as active as i want to be with them I can go on about different reasons why i need this weight loss surgery but i feel pathetic telling my dr some of these things cause i feel there not as extreme for him to recommend me to a surgeon but I can at least try, right? I would really appreciate you sharing your stories on how you told your doctor you needed weight loss surgery.

5 minutes ago, Octobermommy3 said:

Next Wednesday I have an appointment with my pcp and i'm going to discuss to him about my weight issues for the first time ever and its my first time ever meeting this doctor. My question is how do you go about telling your doctor about your weight issues and for him to give you a referral to a surgeon? I've been overweight almost my entire life, ever since I gave birth to my son 3 years ago my weight increased dramatically and it won't go down. SInce then i've have horrible back pains causing me to have bulging discs on my back, it makes it harder for me to workout. I've tried many diets and some diet pills and nothing. I don't know what feeling full feels like. My knees feel weaker each and every day and my weight is getting in the way at work, causing me to get horrible chaffing in my thighs. I have also noticed i'm almost out of breath doing the simplest things, its starting to effect my kids as i can't be as active as i want to be with them I can go on about different reasons why i need this weight loss surgery but i feel pathetic telling my dr some of these things cause i feel there not as extreme for him to recommend me to a surgeon but I can at least try, right? I would really appreciate you sharing your stories on how you told your doctor you needed weight loss surgery.

I just told my doctor that I’d tried losing weight. She knew I had taken pills and lost and gained. Done weight watchers. I asked for a referral to the bariatric surgeon in town. My doc was very understanding about it. She went through everything with me before I talked to the surgeon. Good luck!

Thank you for your response, fingers crossed my doctor is understanding and can hear me out on my issues.

1 minute ago, Octobermommy3 said:

Thank you for your response, fingers crossed my doctor is understanding and can hear me out on my issues.

I’m sure your doctor will be - that’s what they’re there for - to make you feel better!

I wish you luck with your journey. I never had any luck with my pcp. They always tried talking me out of it and telling me to keep with the diets and exercise. I eventually had to locate a bariatric program on my own. I hope you have an understanding doctor, but if not know that there are other means to get the process started

You start with your regular doctor.

You go in and get weighed. You ask the doctor to tell you what your BMI is. If it's over 40 (or 35 with other weight related health issues), ask the doctor if you would qualify for weight loss surgery, and state that you're interested in investigating it as an option.

It's really that simple.

If your doctor doesn't like the idea of you having weight loss surgery, ask him why. Do you qualify? What would prevent you from being approved?

If his objection amounts to purely feeling negative toward the surgery, ask if he knows of another primary care physician who is willing to work with people wanting to pursue WLS.

You don't have to justify or qualify your desire for the surgery.

You either medically qualify, or you don't. And if you don't like the answers you get because they seem prejudiced by opinion rather than fact....a second opinion never hurts. That said, you must also accept the answer No if you don't medically qualify.

The occasional stinker doctor out there...will not refer even qualified patients. If you have one of these? Pick a new primary care doc.

Good luck:)

Edited January 17, 20188 yr by Creekimp13

I had a job switch in January last year and when my insurance switched to a different care provider I had to choose a new PCP. It turned out to be the best thing for me. My new insurance covered my bariatric surgery and the doctor I chose in my new network was very supportive of my wanting surgery.

I made my appointment and on my first visit I had a referral to my surgeon, I did already have a surgeon picked out that I wanted the referral for. I was open and upfront with my doctor about how my weight has affected my life and my health. He was understanding and agreed 100% that bariatric was an option for me.

Sometimes it’s hard to initiate that talk, and I think sometimes as patients people get defensive when confronted with their weight. I know I was obese for years and my previous doctor was never overly concerned, or was too concerned with what my reaction would be if he mentioned it.

Good luck!