Telehealth intake this morning, sharing how it went

Just finished my telehealth intake and honestly it was way less awkward than I expected. The whole thing took about 20 minutes, mostly questions about my history and what I've already managed to lose, which felt good to talk about. Curious if others found these video visits pretty painless too, or if some are more thorough than others?

Mine was quick too, maybe 15 minutes, and the provider spent most of it asking about my past attempts instead of lecturing me, which was a nice change. Sounds like yours went similarly smooth. From what I've seen posted here, thoroughness varies a lot by company, so consider yourself lucky.

Mine was on the longer side like yours, reply 2, probably 25 minutes, and the honesty-over-video thing rings true for me too. The provider asked why my last attempt fell apart and that conversation stuck with me. Down about 33 lbs now, and I think getting real during that intake set the tone.

Mine ran closer to 30 minutes but it was worth it since the provider dug into why previous diets stalled for me. That conversation actually helped me set realistic expectations, and I'm down 21 lbs since starting. Seems the video format makes it easier to be honest than an in-office visit would.

When my prior auth got denied the first time, what flipped the appeal was my doctor citing my hypertension and prediabetes A1c specifically instead of just weight numbers. Also ask if your plan has a peer-to-peer option, that call seemed to matter more than the letter itself in my case. Down 22 lbs since starting and I'd fight the same battle again.

Mine was similar, maybe 15 minutes, and the video thing made it easier to admit how many attempts I'd bailed on. What stuck with me was the provider asking what actually derailed me last time instead of just ticking boxes. Down 30 lbs since, and I think that upfront honesty set the tone for everything after.

Mine ran about the same length, 20-ish minutes, and the question that caught me off guard was what made me quit the last time. Being straight about that over video felt weirdly easier than it would've in person. Down 20 lbs since and I do think that first conversation shaped how the whole thing went.

Mine was quick too, maybe 15 minutes, but the part I remember is being asked why previous attempts fell apart. Admitting that over video was easier than I thought it'd be. Down 33 lbs now and I think that honest first convo set the tone for everything.

Mine went longer, closer to 40 minutes, but the same theme held -- they dug into what tanked my past attempts before anything else. Saying it out loud on camera was easier than I expected too. Down 56 lbs since, and I do think that first conversation mattered more than the paperwork part.

Mine was the opposite in length, closer to an hour, but the pattern holds -- the whole thing hinged on unpacking why my old plans kept stalling. Two years on the pill form later and 84 lbs gone, I still think that uncomfortable honesty up front did more than any of the follow-ups.

Same here, mine was around 15 minutes and pretty painless, though they zeroed in on my old patterns before anything else. Funny how every intake in this thread has that same center of gravity. Glad yours went smoothly too, 34 lbs in I still think that first honest convo set the tone for everything since.

Mine ran about 25 minutes and sure enough, the entire middle chunk was them pulling apart why my previous attempts fell apart. Weirdly the least judgmental grilling I've ever had, and 16 lbs in I keep circling back to stuff I said in that call. Seems like the length varies but the focus doesn't.

Mine was maybe 30 minutes and I remember being surprised they barely asked about my weight at all -- it was all about the years of restarts that got me there. Halfway to my goal now and I still hear myself explaining that call when people ask what changed.

Funny how consistent the theme is across all these replies -- mine was maybe 15 minutes and it was the same deal, barely any small talk, just them digging into what derailed me before. I was 40-some lbs heavier then and honestly those answers still come back to me at the grocery store. Glad yours felt painless too.

Mine ran long, closer to 35 minutes, because I had a long history of losing big then regaining and they really wanted the timeline of that. Down 40 lbs now and I still think about one question they asked about what I told myself after each regain. Sounds like the depth is the common thread even when the length varies.

Mine got approved after my doctor itemized each failed attempt with exact dates and duration, which sounded way stronger than a vague "tried dieting." If you have any comorbidity diagnoses on record, having them listed explicitly seemed to matter for my reviewer too. Took three rounds for me but the appeal was worth every form.

The thoroughness makes sense to me now -- my reviewer pushed hard on why my previous attempts stalled, and laying out those specifics is probably why I got approved first try. Down 58 lbs since then and honestly the intake questions still echo when I make food choices. Sounds like the longer visits are just them doing their homework.

Mine was similar, maybe 15 minutes, but the intake person zeroed in on the same stuff -- why past attempts stalled and what clicked this time. I'm down 44 lbs and honestly that question stuck with me more than I expected. Seems like the good reviewers all dig for specifics no matter how short the visit runs.

Mine ran long because the reviewer kept circling back to what was different this time versus every prior attempt, and I almost resented it until I realized answering that honestly was half the work done for me. Sixty-some lbs later I still catch myself using that same framing when things get hard. The short visits worry me less now after reading this thread.

Only a couple pounds down so far so I can't speak to the long game yet, but my reviewer also kept pushing on why earlier attempts fizzled, and being forced to say it out loud was weirdly clarifying. Guess the digging-in part is universal.