New and I have a couple questions...

[Guest guest]

My best friend and I are in various stages of our weight loss

journeys. I am meeting with the surgeon next week and she's at step

one.

She really wants to get bariatric surgery. Her PCP told her they

wouldn't refer her because she would be denied. Her BMI is 43 and she

shows no comorbidities other than rashes under her gut. However,

she's never been tested for a lot of the different things people

suffer from being overweight, so she may have comorbidities that

haven't been diagnosed yet.

According to her PCP, she isn't unhealthy enough to qualify for the

surgery and instead she should try " South Beach Diet " or " optifast "

and if she continues to have the rashes, the Dr. will submit for

approval for a tummy tuck.

This line of thinking just doesn't make any sense to me. My friend

was very upset when she was told all this. She's at the same level of

frusration I was at when you just feel like you've tried everything

and nothing seems to work. She's having trouble being supportive of

me because she has reached this barrier.

Does anyone know what steps she can take with Kaiser to at least be

considered for the surgery? Is it a matter of switching PCP's ? Does

anyone know of a PCP in San Diego that is a little more " weight loss

surgery friendly " ??

Thanks so much!

Geneva