FAMILY DOCTOR

[Kellgees]

Hello Board!!!
I am posing a question to all members who have successfully obtained a prescription for Phen from their PCP. I am off work for the summer and I am feeling guilty about spending the money on the weight loss clinic. My BMI is 34.3 my waist is above 35 inches. But I feel like I need to prepare an argument before going on Friday. I have been seeing my doc for more than 10 years so he has witnessed my gradual weight gain which is about a steady 10 lbs a year. So I am asking the board for two things:
1. If you get your prescription from your family doc(PCP) what were your stats(weight and BMI, etc. ) and your argument ,if you had to present one.
2. If you tried to get as prescription from your PCP and he/she refused you what was he/she's argument and what were your stats.

I think that my PCP argument will be that besides the weight I am in great physical condition , my Blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels are excellent. My insurance will pay for the drugs and my co-pay would only be $3. Also I feel like the grade of Phen would be BETTER than what I get at the weight loss clinic. So please I am interested in all of your thoughts and suggestions. Please answer even if the 2 questions don't apply but you want to give suggestions. EVERYONE'S HELP IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED:)

[Vik28]

My family doctor prescribes Adipex. I was 252 at the time she started asking me to look into losing weight, I was actually their for a sore on my foot. I actually started with meridia which didnt help me any. So I went to a WL doctor my sister told me about and got Adipex, so for the refill I went to my PCP and she had no problem prescibing it. It really just depends on the doctor.

[Kellgees]

TY Vik. Did you feel any difference between your pills from the weight loss doc and the ones that were prescribed.

[Kellgees]

BUMP
I really would like help with this. TY

[cashmonkies]

I got mine from my family doc.

I thought I might have a thyroid problem. So I went in, and told him, I need help losing weight. I said for some reason, no matter how hard I try I am not getting anywhere. The more I try, the more I gain. Then I told him, I would like to have a thyroid test done, becuase it runs in my family, so I can rule that out. He said no probelm. He then said, if this comes back negative, I have something else we can try. So the test all came back and said negative, so that was good. He says, okay, lets try this pill, it will help you supress your diet and also told me to go on a 1200 calorie diet. And he gave me some paper work on that as well. So I didnt even know anything about this pill, he was the one who suggested it.,

When I went in, I was 260 pounds. I am 5'5. Dont know bmi or anything.

[Kellgees]

TY CM,
My doc is old school. He feels you only have medical intervention for weight management if your health is in immediate danger due to being overweight. I want to continue with phen but I feel so selfish using the money when things are so tight.

[mendogirl]

Hi I'm new here,
I have been taking phen for 1 month now and I love the results!!!!

About 2 1/2 months ago I went to my PCP and asked for it {because I weighed almost 190 with my waist being well above 35 inchs} he told me he had NEVER wrote a perscription for weight loss and that he NEVER would, diet and exercise was the only way to do it.
Last month I went to a weight loss clinic and got the medication for $75 a month, I was very happy but that price is little tight with my budget right now.
So a week ago I went to different Dr. and showed him my perscription bottle, told him I had been taking it for almost a month wth great results, that I had done all my home work before hand and that I was focusing on changing my eating and exercising habits now so that I don't have "rebound" weight gain when I stop taking it. I basically told him the truth, that I was going to continue to take it but that money is tight and that I could get it for at least $50 cheaper if I could get a perscription from him. He said that he is not a "fan" of this medicine but since I did seemed informed and willing to make lifestyle changes he would give me a perscription for 3 months. ( I was able to get it from his pharmacy for $10)
Hope this helps a little. - Thanx for listening!

[Kellgees]

Mendo,
TY I am going to say all that you are said to my doc. I think I might cry if I have to. I hate the fact if I went in there and said that I was depressed he would give me an type of ant-depresssant in a heartbeat but will prescribe Phen. It would be sooooooooooooo much cheaper with a script.

[Vik28]

Kelgees, nope I didnt feel a difference at all. I went to the same pharmacy too get them filled and both were for Adipex.

[mendogirl]

Yeah, I know what you mean it is very frustrating. We are asking for help with something we obviously need help with and there is medication available, so why does it have to be so hard or expensive to get? I don't know about anyone else, but being overweight affects me physically, mentally, and emotionally so even though I'm not in "immediate danger" from my weight I don't see the reason behind waiting til it gets it that point in order to receive help since I have so many negative effects from it now.

I really hope he can understand where you're coming from and be willing to make it easier for you!!!!

[Kellgees]

Yeah. I think that they are scared to prescribe something with adverse effects. But my argument is every med has the potential to have adverse effects. I think it boils down to seeing obesity as a pathology and something that the person can control. In class we had a discussion and so many people feel that being overweight or have any addiction is a choice and that you are weak if you need interverntion or assistance.

[Vik28]

Networking is the best way to find a doctor. Its amazing how many people around you are taking weight loss pills. I dont know about where you live, but we have a lot of family doctors that will give it for overweight people. Since I have been taking adipex I have met quite a few others, I didnt know we had that many different places.

[Kellgees]

I guess that is an option. I really like and respect my doc I have been going to him for over 10 years. However, I need to do what is in my best interest and right now being prescribed Phen is what I need.

[Vik28]

You have lost 33lbs in less than 2 months, you are doing awesome. Are you currently taking phen?

[Kellgees]

You have lost 33lbs in less than 2 months, you are doing awesome. Are you currently taking phen?

TY!! The 33lbs is over 4 months I lost 20 on my own and the last 13 in 5 weeks with the help of Phen and Phen-D(I went to Miami for four days the week before last)

[cashmonkies]

TY CM,
My doc is old school. He feels you only have medical intervention for weight management if your health is in immediate danger due to being overweight. I want to continue with phen but I feel so selfish using the money when things are so tight.


I completely know how you feel. I dont work outside the home. My husband is the one who works his butt off for this family. I work online, but dont make a lot of money. We are a family of 5. Money is always tight to. I wasnt going to go to the doc, because I never spend money on myself. Never. I always do for my kids and my husband first. Just like most women do. My husband actually started getting mad. He knew I wanted to go, but I wouldnt becuase I dont have any insurance. So everything is out of pocket. My husbands point, which made a lot of sence, My health is probably the most important in this house. What would this family do if I wasnt here? I cant take care of my family, if something is wrong with me. And being over weight effects everything! (we thought I had a thyroid problem, thats why he wanted me to go so bad), but you know he was right. My health is important. So because money is tight, why should we feel as if we shouldnt take care of ourself? I could see if you were going on some kind of spa week at an expensive hotel or something, but your not. Your trying to make yourself healthy and feel good. And by doing this now, you are helping your family. If you wait, what can happen? Weight causes a lot of things. Back problems, leg problems, heart problems, etc, So long term, could mean a LOT more money and a lot more time away from your family. Just try and think of it like that some.

[Kellgees]

CM,
TY for the kind words I needed to hear them

[mapgirl]

I didn't have a family doc before I went to my doc. I went to a doc in the box clinic. He is now my family doctor though. I went and told/showed him that I was having problems with my weight. I had logged everything I ate and what kind of workout/exercise I did (and how many minutes) for a month. I showed this to him and explained that I knew what I had to do food wise, but for some reason I just couldn't do it. I would do well for 3 days and then gain more and couldn't hang with the program. I explained that I had been trying to lose weight for 10 years and in that 10 years that I was an aerobics instructor teaching up to twice a day.
So he prescribed Phen and gave me his personal trainers' number. I met with the personal trainer and had already known him from when I taught aerobics. So, he gave me an outline and wished me good luck.

My weight for some may not have been a huge amount, but for what I was putting in and burning up was "off". I was 175 to 180 when I started Phen.

My health is important. So because money is tight, why should we feel as if we shouldnt take care of ourself? I could see if you were going on some kind of spa week at an expensive hotel or something, but your not. Your trying to make yourself healthy and feel good. And by doing this now, you are helping your family. If you wait, what can happen? Weight causes a lot of things. Back problems, leg problems, heart problems, etc, So long term, could mean a LOT more money and a lot more time away from your family. Just try and think of it like that some.

Sometimes depression will result when you are overweight. You wouldn't just ignore it and not take medicine for it would you? Even if you didn't take medicine, you would at least spend money on herbal stuff or other things to help it, right? You are doing this for your health and to me that can be made into the budget. And boy sometimes that budget hurts, but my family knows that I, we all of us make sacrifices for each other; be it in time, groceries, clothes, ect...

[Cmarie123]

My PCP prescribes my Phen. When I started I was 222 lbs. He says he will continue to write my scripts as long as I continue to lose weight. It only costs me $21/mo for my Phen, plus my $25 co-pay each month for my weigh-in. I definitely couldn't afford to get it from a weight loss clinic!

[ceubanks]

if anyone knows of a doctor in or around fort leonard wood, mo