My Primary Doctor and Referral Letter! - ThinnerTimes

BlessedTwice · 11-23-2007, 11:54 AM

Hello,

I'm just starting out with. I made an appointment to see my Primary Doctor and he stated that he would write me a referral letter according to the WLS Doctors Letter.
But then he stated that he was also going to write in the letter that "I need and appointment with a counselor to understand eating and its relativity to anxiety, depression, and food to make you feel better!"

He totally freaked me out. I went to a few counseling session to deal with my DH. I'm not working right now ans stay home with my two boys, 21 months and 32 months. My DH was just a jerk to put it mildly about me being home and not working. I did licensed cildcare but at the end of the summer my children went off to Kindergarten, Preschool and another mom decided to stay home and work opposite her dh. I live a ways out so I have never had more that a couple kids at a time except for the Summer months.

Any way, my doctor asked me if I had went to conseling dealing with food and depression. I told him No, not recently(10 + years ago) but that I had went to DR.******** do help me deal with my DH. But that I could not afford it after a few sessions because even with my BC/BS We had to pay out of pocket since it only covered a portion.
I told him that I was going to start going to a womens counseling center that had a pay scale.

He told me he didn't hink I understood my anxiety and depression were because of my depression.

I went on to tell him I understood my eating and depression.
I teh told him I did not have any Anxiety until after my youngest son was born and again I wasn't working because he was 10 weeks early and at a hospital 1+ hours away.
My DH was on me about not working then also. It was very stressful, but things are a better.
I also told him that I do eat when I'm depressed etc....

I should have told him to look at his notes from 2+ years on me...

My question is this: Since I have done everything needed for the 12 months according to BC/BS of Michigan PPO and he is going to write this up and he can document all diets exercise, diet pills and exercise etc.

Is BC/BS going to make me go to counseling for more than one session?

Or will the Physological Evaluation be enough. I'm going to go weekly to the women's counseling center if I can and get this in incase it is what I need for insurance.

I cannot call my WLS Doctors Office until Monday so I'm just sick to my stomach over this.

can anyone give me any insight on this problem? Thank you all. You have all been such inspirations.

Brenda

LyndasRoom · 11-23-2007, 08:32 PM

Brenda, sweetie.
There is no reason to get anxious and upset about this. It sounds like the women's counselling center will be great for you! Only your doc knows what he's going to do...and this is a long journey, so get used to taking it one step at a time. It's important to remember that the only way to GET through this is to GO through it! It's for your long term good health and welfare, so take it moment by moment, and you'll do great!

kittens4 · 11-24-2007, 08:00 AM

Like Lynda said, it's a long process, but it is soooo worth it. You will get through it, and it's amazing how fast it all goes. It seems like forever when you are waiting for approval and a date, but it does go fast. Really, from the insurance companies point of view, they are paying $30,000+ for you to have this surgery, so they want to be sure you are ready and doing it for the right reasons. It's a very risky surgery. If you have small children, or live check to check, you really need to consider all aspects. My kids are grown, and I had savings thank goodness..but I had major complications. I was hospitalized 3 times in a month! I developed a blockage 1 week out, then, after 7 days of bowel rest (no food, just iv), I had to have a 2nd surgery, I had to have a pik line put in my arm twice, (for each additional admission) my veins were non-existant, then I developed pneumonia after being released from having the 2nd surgery, I was on home oxygen for another month after that. It was pretty serious stuff!!! I thought I'd be out of work 1 week, and was off for 10 weeks!!!! I am doing great today, but last year at this time, I had major buyers remorse! So, the moral of my long post, is to not stress about it. If it's meant to be, it will happen, and you will be fine. Just make sure you've tried every other thing, and prepare yourself that this surgery has risks, and isn't always the answer.....read posts from Janie..and others here. People have problems after, and sometimes don't bounce back....there is a wealth of info on this forum, good luck to you!!! Sorry to ramble!

jerseygrl684 · 11-24-2007, 08:48 AM

Trust me, its worth the wait. If you really want this, you will wait. Some people want it ASAP, and it makes me think that they are just lookin for another quick fix.... it took me 6 months since the start to finally get where I am. Now, thats not a long time compared to others, hell i think i saw someone who said it took her 4 yrs. For me, however, it felt like 6 yrs rather than the 6 months it actually was. IT FLIES BY though! i can guarantee that much,

Phoenixfire · 11-24-2007, 03:45 PM

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

BlessedTwice · 11-27-2007, 06:09 PM

Thank you all for your input on this. I wrote that within a few hours of seeing my Primary Doctor. I was stressed and in the mind set that I would have to wait even longer for approval. Now that I'm had time to think about it and talk to my Surgeons Office, I'm calmer and realize I have to do whatever it takes to get approved...I'm in the begining stages...

I just need to relax and patienty wait for it to all fall together

I talked to My Surgeons office and she told me that I would be seen for the Phyc Eval and that that if after seeing him/her if he thought I needed more behavior Sessions I would do so then. She said that just the one might be enough. I'm a SAHM, but do work one day a weekend when my DH is home now. My DH and I have decided its best for us for me to work part time when he's home with the boys. I'm currently trying to pick up a few houses or offices to clean

I need to be healthy for my boys and I know I can get through all of this and become a healthier and happier person. I'm still going to go the the Women's Center in case I do need some documentation for insurance. I think it wil help me in the long run.

I have my paperwork finished for the surgeon and I'm just waiting for my Primary Doctor to send on his referral letter. I'm going to call on Friday, and see what is going on with that.

Thank you all again,
Brenda