Going to PCP in 15 mins!!!

Allison · April 17, 2008

Alright, I'm really really nervous about going to my PCP. I'm really bad at starting "tough" kinds of conversations. She brought up the idea of WLS a long time ago and at that point I had never really heard of it. She said she wasn't sure how she felt about it but it was always an option. So at least she knows about the idea, but she had no idea what types were available or anything. So now I have to go to an appointment to ask her for a letter of medical neccessity. I'm going to bring the big book about lap band with me so I at least have something to reference. I'm afraid she'll still be weird about it, everyone else is! Anyone have any good stories or advice about all this??? I have so much going on today and tomorrow and I'm sure before each appointment I'll be really nervous. Thanks!

kozlosap · April 17, 2008

Hi Allison! My process is exactly the opposite - I have to get pre-approval before I can make an appointment to see the surgical group! Your PCP will be supportive, after all you've done all of the hard stuff already. Let us know what your outcome is! April in Northern Cal.

losingjusme · April 17, 2008

hope you had a good visit.

IAmWithTheBand · April 17, 2008

I love my band. I am about 3 weeks out of surgery and I have lost 24 pounds. It might as well have been 100 pounds because my confidence is through the roof. Everyone is telling me it looks like I lost weight and I look great... none of my clothes fit... I'm so glad I'm with the band.

mbanja · April 18, 2008

I hope all went well post us on how it did go. I am totally with you on getting the hebies when having to have a serious conversation with my pcp. I think it is because I totally respect her and she is a very good pcp. My problem was not with weightloss but depression. For weight loss I knew I had no comorbidities and my BMI was just shy of hitting 40 so I didn't even go thru her, I self payed and went to mexico. Before and after banding I had had trouble with depression due to a bad case of post pardum. Before and after the band my pcp had me on several antidepressant that were just not working. So, on the side I did research into my situation and condition and self diagnosed myself with anxiety. So I scheduled an appointment to see the pcp to discuss the anxiety..........boy was I ever anxious about that visit. I didn't want my pcp to think that I was just wanted drugs. Well, the visit went great and my pcp was ever so supportive and very proud of me for doing my research on the different medication options and we worked and are still working together to get my meds straight. The point I am going around the bush to make is that I personally think that a pcp especially if they have been your pcp for a while, will be more supportive if they know that you have done your research and are not jumping into anything blind. I personally think that they respect you more knowing that you are taking a serious and active roll in trying to solve you problem. I hope it went well and that your pcp was like mine and realized you were actively trying to become knowledgable and get the ball rolling to becomming a healthier person!

Allison · April 18, 2008

Thanks guys! She was pretty interested, she has never had a lap-band patient before and only 1 bypass patient... So she was a little wary, just because she didn't really know anything about it. I tried explaining a little but she said she was really interested and would love to do some more research on her own, I'm hoping she gives the surgeon the go ahead!