Hiya all! (in research/planning phase)

Sunmaid · April 12, 2007

Hiya everyone!

I've been looking into weight loss surgeries for quite some time, but bypass just scares the heck out of me. Banding seems doable and less messing with internal organs is always a good idea in my book.

I'm 5'9", large frame, 35 years old, mother of 2 boys, and weigh 272ish pounds. Haven't gotten on a scale in a week, but it was 272 a week or so ago. I've tried Weight Watchers (1.5 years, lost 25 lbs), Atkins (1 year, lost 72 lbs), and a variety of other low fat/carb/cal diets and exercise plans. All of the weight from all of the diets just comes back on plus some. So...I'm thinking something more permanent that can serve as a constant reminder might be a good idea. Hence my presence here.

Anyway, I live just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and have Health America as insurance. My company seems to have opted to add in the bariatric inclusion option to the plan, so I'm hoping that means banding is covered (haven't checked yet).

Any advice on the insurance process or surgeon recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I just called my new PCP (old one retired) and they're not scheduling physicals until June! I asked if there was anyone they recommended for the surgery so I could at least get started on the consults, and she said no, so I'm at a bit of a loss.

Thanks!

SillyWillyMommy · April 12, 2007

Huh?? Sounds like you need a new PCP. My PCP is completely anti-wls, in ANYCASE. She's kind of closed minded when it comes to stuff like that, and everytime I bring it up, she's like "Why don't you give Weight Watchers another try?"... HOWEVER, I am fortunate enough to live very close to a bariatric center, who (it seems) is handling it so I don't need to go through my PCP, and so far everything is covered, and my final paperwork will be submitted in 3 weeks. Maybe there's a different doctor YOU could try?

Sunmaid · April 12, 2007

Yup, trust me, I'd already started looking around for another new PCP. It's really funny, this is the 3rd time I'm changing this month. My old one retired, so I thought I might as well find a female doc this time around. Found a practice near my house that had 2 female docs in it, switched to them and called for an appointment. Both female docs moved to the practice and hour away. So I changed to another practice with 2 female docs, and they're the ones who aren't booking physicals any sooner than June.

I just found *another* practice and called ahead this time before switching. They said they actually have an opening on Monday, so I switched to them. Watch, after the change goes into effect and I call them back, we'll see what happens. :rolleyes