Yesterday I went to see my GP to finally finish all my paper work required by my ins. company and the surgeon's office. My GP refuses to write a letter of support for my candidacy for Lap-Band surgery. He just does not believe in bariatric surgery.

I feel like this is such a huge road block. If I had known this 6 months ago, I would have switched doctors back then. I even wrote a letter for him to sign...in case writing the letter himself would be too time consuming. I can't get over the fact that he just won't do this. He says he will provide any info I need and not stop me from doing the surgery, but he cannot put his name on something he does not believe in.

So, there we have it, back to step one.

Christine

How disappointing for sure...time to cut your losses and get a new doctor. Unless your surgeon is willing to address him doctor to doctor.

Oh bless your heart...I am sorry to hear about this..I know you must be so disappointed...

Chrstine

I went through this EXACLY how you feel! I found a new GP and was upfront with them at my first meeting what my intentions were. I was honest and open and told the new Dr I expected NOTHING less from her. Good news is she wrote it and is a great Dr. Everything happens for a reason. Obvisouly your Dr now would never support you, so cut your losses! Find a new Dr sweetie! Good luck!

Christine,

this is wonderful news! It's lousy timing, but at least you now have the opportunity to find a new doctor who will be supportive as you travel this new path. You've done all the hard part, you only need that letter. Great! Contact the surgeon, explain the situation and ask him/her to recommend a GP who has given consent in the past. Or just ask the receptionist for a GP other have come through.

It should take a week at most to get through this hurdle then you're on your way. Best of luck

Thank you all for your encouragement. I have called the surgeons office and they gave me the number of a group of doctors who refer to them. I will be calling them on Monday. It was such a disappointment when my Doc said he would not write the letter, but you are right, everything happens for a reason and maybe it was simply time for a switch.

Thank you!

Christine

Yesterday I went to see my GP to finally finish all my paper work required by my ins. company and the surgeon's office. My GP refuses to write a letter of support for my candidacy for Lap-Band surgery. He just does not believe in bariatric surgery.

I feel like this is such a huge road block. If I had known this 6 months ago, I would have switched doctors back then. I even wrote a letter for him to sign...in case writing the letter himself would be too time consuming. I can't get over the fact that he just won't do this. He says he will provide any info I need and not stop me from doing the surgery, but he cannot put his name on something he does not believe in.

So, there we have it, back to step one.

Christine

Hi Christine, I am very new here, just a few minutes ago, but want to share with you a bit of my story. I started this process in April of '07. I was going to go through OHSU in Portland Oregon. I went through all the pre-op stuff on time very efficently. There was one test I was horrified to take. I had the test scheduled the same day I had a colooscopy scheduled. Long story short, I found out that the hospital where I was having the test done did not require me to have the horrible test so I switched hospitals. I did pay a bit for that though. I had to re-do several of the tests I already had and finally I have been approved for surgery on February 26th, almost a year after I started the process. But not without a few complications. I was denied at first because my insurance did not have the "paperwork they needed". I thought they needed a Dr's. approval letter, no. What they needed was proof that I had been trying to lose weight without success prior to surgery. Have you been on any diets they were charted anywhere? For many that is what they need. I hope this helps. Good luck!!

Hi miss Vicki,

I have to have the letter of physician support for my insurance company as well as the surgeon. I also have to have 6 months documentation of physician supervised weight loss. I have that. I am hoping that by bringing my history with me to a new bariatric surgery friendly doctor I will be able to get the letter pretty quick. I pray that it works out. Thank you for your support.

Chrisitine

I will be praying for you as well Christine, good luck. Let me know how it turns out. Vicki

Don't give up my GP was in total support and submitted everything bu my infant footprints and my insurance said his letter wasn't"substantial documentation". submit all his notes and write your own letter in support of yourself

I was able to get an appt with a GP that refers to NYU (the hosp where I plan to have my surgery). The appt is tomorrow. I am so psyched that they were able to get me in so soon and they were so nice on the phone! I have to sind someone to pick up my eldest son from school, but my two younger kids are taken care of for the appt. The only drawback is that this doctor is in NYC, so I have to take the train to get there. It's a 2 hour ride there and a 2 hour ride home. It will be well worth it if I can get this surgery done soon!

Christine