Hi Brenda,
Like the other posters I can say that the wait is of course a challenge but it's part of the prize and yes it's worth being patient. It's easy for me to say that, here on the other side, but it's seriously true. I spent over a year and a half doing research, going through the steps, even finding a surgeon and having my insurance company say "no not this guy, go to THIS guy." I'm very glad they made this decision, now, but back then I was PISSED. It's not easy, but it is more likely than not going to be worth it. Small words of comfort, I realize, but honest.
Your post made me think back to the first two years after surgery. I could have really used the kind of counseling your PCP is saying you need. My doctor never suggested it. Perhaps if it had been required then life would have been easier postop. I'll never know. But when I read this requirement from your doctor I thought how wise it was. I had to deal with a huge amount of the things he's saying food may be for you. I did get help, but the time between surgery and getting help was difficult for me and others in my life.
I'm hoping that this "requirement" will reap benefits you might not see right now but will someday...that's the best it seems we can hope for when we face challenges that we hate at the time. To later see them as good things that didn't look so good at the time we faced them.
I hope this came out right, it's meant with encouragement and a bit of a voice of experience. I can't answer about what BC/BS will require, but you'll only find that out along the journey. It sounds like you've had a rough patch with some struggles, and I'll bet that's made you stronger than you were before right? Well I'd say that's good training for THIS
