help! I don't know how or where to start!!!

[MeNext 0]

hello all,

last thursday I went to a wls seminar at a local hospital because I have been interested in gettin lapband for the last two years. Now that I am done with school, have a good job and insurance(CIGNA) I can begin this process. so, i made an appointment with a new pcp because one of the girls at the seminar mentioned that he referred her. well, my appointment is on tuesday and I am really nervous about bringing up lapband surgery and wanting to get started with the 6 month physician supervised diet because he doesn't know me. did I mention I have never seen a pcp before and im 24? so I am guessing this process will take forever being that I have no history. sorry, if this is all over the place:rolleyes2:

Is there anyone similar to me?

I'm just afraid that the pcp will reject me because he doesn't know me and it's too soon.

[JeweI 2]

One thing I always do is put up roadblocks. When I set my mind to do something I assume that everything is going to go against me getting it done. Usually, I am wrong. So when my Doc suggested the band I was surprised when everything fell into place for it to happen. Anyway, my point is we tend to put up all these roadblocks in our heads and worry about things that are never going to happen. If you do have a PCP who doesn't want to work with you on losing weight then I would recomend you try another. Your not automatically locked in to seeing this PCP. Just think of it as you interviewing him/her to see if the 2 of you can work together.

I went to a doc one time because I had acne all over. I had never had this before so I knew something was not right. I had just moved to town so didn't have a PCP yet. This doc told me I needed to go to the dermatologist and learn proper hygiene. So I decided she wasn't the right doc for me. My current doc did some test and discovered the acne was from PCOS, put me on metformin and now my skin is clear.

You have a choice in who is your PCP and in your own treatment.

[RiahRiah 0]

I had been thinking about weight loss surgery for probably two years and always nervous about mentioning to my PCP. She has been on me to try and loose weight before and I always felt guilty that I hadn't lost anything when I came in. My last physical (October 09) I mentioned to her that I still hadn't lost any weight and that I was really frustrated- She brought up the Lab Band and refered me to a seminar. I was totally suprised and so releived. Since you haven't seen a PCP before I want to say not to be nervous PCP's are there as a HUGE part of your healthcare tream. They are there to help you find the right specialist and usually are writing your referals etc if you have a managed care insurance plan. If you don't feel comfortable with that PCP then they may not be right for you. You can always call CIGNA or go onto the mycigna web site and see who all of the different PCP's in your area are. It is really easy to switch online if you feel that you need to and you can see all of the doctor's credentials etc. Another thing is that I'm sure the surgeons office works with many different pcp's they may be able to recommend someone as well. I bet your PCP will be glad that you have your healthcare in mind and that you bring up your concerns- it only makes it easier for them to get you on the right path if you are willing to contribute to your own success.

[Apples2 19]

One thing I always do is put up roadblocks. When I set my mind to do something I assume that everything is going to go against me getting it done. Usually, I am wrong. So when my Doc suggested the band I was surprised when everything fell into place for it to happen. Anyway, my point is we tend to put up all these roadblocks in our heads and worry about things that are never going to happen. If you do have a PCP who doesn't want to work with you on losing weight then I would recomend you try another. Your not automatically locked in to seeing this PCP. Just think of it as you interviewing him/her to see if the 2 of you can work together.

I went to a doc one time because I had acne all over. I had never had this before so I knew something was not right. I had just moved to town so didn't have a PCP yet. This doc told me I needed to go to the dermatologist and learn proper hygiene. So I decided she wasn't the right doc for me. My current doc did some test and discovered the acne was from PCOS, put me on metformin and now my skin is clear.

You have a choice in who is your PCP and in your own treatment.

Great post, Jewel!

[Floridacocoon 0]

Hello MeNext,

I don't know if your question is still relevant as I just joined this forum and am not sure where to find the dates on posts, etc.

My situation is not exactly the same as yours, but I can tell you that I was very worried about bringing this up to my pcp because I was sure he was just going to tell me some version of "Get in gear and push yourself away from the table." I think I expect everyone to say that. But I can tell you that he surprised me by being completely supportive. So maybe your fear is like mine ... based in thinking that I was just a diet buster or at least that's what the pcp would think. I think maybe that's just our own sense of shame coming back to bite us. We certainly feel the disdain of others anyway.

So here's hoping your pcp surprises you, as well. Fingers crossed for you ...

[panfisher 0]

Don't be nervous about talking to the pcp about the band. Thats whats he is there for. You can bet he has heard it before. Do you have a high BMI? Do you have any health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea? If yes to any of these questions then it should be no problem. Even if you don't have any of these problems he may still give you the letter of medical necessity. Just keep plugging away you will get your surgery.

[shadst8 8]

I had gotten a new PCP--we had the conversation on the first visit. Do not be scared to ask because you think the doctor is going to think you just need to just stop being so lazy or something like that. You have a right to have input about your own health--we do not give up this right to a doctor. You are the expert on you, they are just experts on medical treatment. If mine had not been so supportive and getting me referred, I would have found another one.

[MeNext 0]

thanks for your help everyone I know feel more confident about bringing it up on tuesday. I do have a hight bmi about 50 and a family history of high blood pressure, so im sur i will be a good canidate. I will update you on how it goes. thanks again!

[outside*looking*in 0]

MeNext - It sounds as though everyone had a fairly good response from their PCP's. I had the oppisite. I, like you, was new to my PCP as I had just recently moved. It was on my second visit that I mentioned to him that I wanted to do Gastric Band (first visit I got the your too fat and need to join WW lecture - so I did WW). I really just wanted his opinion on the surgery and perhaps a reference for good bariatric surgeon. It was at that appoinment I got the, "if you would just get up every morning at 5am and go jogging you would lose weight" lecture. He also said that since I am self-pay for the procedure, what he thinks really does not matter since he will not be a part of it. (RED FLAG) So, I made an appoinment with the surgeon and found out what all pre-op appoinments I needed. One of those pre-op things is a simple note/script from my PCP saying that I am clear to have surgery. So, I made an appoinment with my PCP (for a different issue) and while I was their mentioned to him that I would need an approval script from him. HE FLEW OFF THE CHAIN!!!!! He said that he would have to do test and can't just right me off for suregery- I explained that as part of the $$ I have to pay for the surgery I will be getting and EKG, X-Ray and Blood Work and I can bring all of those results with me. He then said, that is nice for them and their little package deal but what does he get out of it (RED FLAG 2) He has to sign off on me but is not included in thier deal. So I explained that I am willing to come in and do whatever test he wants but I don't want to pay for it out of pocket again. SO he said, " Don't worry about that I can be creative if I need to be" (DING-DING-DING RED FLAG #3) So he is my hold up. I don't want to go back to him. SO I have to figure out how to get the letter of approval. I did talk to the surgeons office and they are willing to help me the process. I imagine if you have any troubles, your surgeons office will be able to help you out as well. Good Luck:thumbup:

[MeNext 0]

:smile2: wow!

outside that is horrible! I'm hoping that it will go good with my pcp being that he already referred a patient to this hospital. and if not I will ask my surgeon . thanks for your input.