neeni

I was told the same as DeAna. I was nervous because my BMI is 40 and they told me I should lose at least 11 lbs preop which would bring me under 40. They told me it didn't matter because they go by my first weigh in.

I just had my first visit with the nurse practioner, dietician and insurance specialist. I have to see a gastroenterologist for an endoscopy, their psychiatrist, the surgeon that will be doing surgery, my primary care, have to get a chest xray, the dietician again and a cardiologist for medical clearance. I was surprised I have to see a cardiologist. I don't have any type of cardiac issues. Is this typical? I have everything already scheduled except the cardiologist for during July. I don't have a cardiologist so I'm afraid I won't get an appointment for July since I'll be a new patient and I would really like to get the surgery done in August because I have a lot going on in September. My insurance doesn't require a supervised diet so once I have gone for all these appointments everything will be submitted to insurance for approval. I was told it usually takes about a week for my insurance company to approve. Just curious if others had to see a cardiologist for clearance also. I thought usually the primary care does this. Also, I have already been given a diet to start by the dietician...one protein shake in place of a meal and two other meals consisting of 3oz of protein. If I really need a snack I can have a fruit or nonfat plain yogurt. After a couple of weeks I have to go to 2 shakes and 1 meal. If I have to wait until September for surgery I may starve!!! Just kidding. lol but today was a tough day! Thanks for your input.

Thanks! Now that I see all of the appointments you all had to go to I feel a little better. Mara005 that's how I feel! Good luck on your prop diet! It'll be hard but I'm sure we'll both do great!

My appointment is on July 5th too and I'm excited and nervous also. I have BCBS too and am hoping I have an easy time getting approved. I am also hoping to get banded in August. I'm in New York. It's hard waiting so long for the appointment. I've done a lot of research and want to get the process moving already!! Good luck to you.

Congratulations...that's great news!!

I've enjoyed reading the posts in this forum and have gotten such good information out of it. I have my first appointment on Tuesday and am excited to begin my new weight loss journey. I've been on so many diets since I was a teenager and have gone up and down so many times I've lost count. I really need to stop the madness and get healthy once and for all. I would love to be able to wake up in the morning for once without thinking about how heavy I've gotten!

Well I had my consult and was super excited to get started. They even scheduled me for appointments for tomorrow and then I get a call from the office telling me that they take my insurance but aren't in network so I wouldn't be covered. UGH! I wish they had realized before I wasted my time. They told me when I scheduled that they accepted my insurance. I will be double checking from now on...lesson learned. I was really dissappointed but I had already made an appointed for a seminar for Thursday with another surgeon in case I didn't like this one and luckily his practice really does take my insurance!!

Thanks, I have all my questions ready and am excited for tomorrow! I have BCBS too! Good luck with your appointment on Wednesday! Janine

I hope the approval process doesn't take too long. After the consult I was told it only takes about a week to schedule the other appointments which are done in one long day and then it is submitted for approval, but I guess a lot depends on my insurance companies policies. Rainenroses did you ask a lot of questions at the consult? Do you know if the insurance company goes by your weight at the first appointment? I'm curious because my BMI is 40 and if I lose anything I'll go under 40 and I want insurance to cover this!

Thank you for the welcome. I'm so glad I found this group! I'm excited and nervous at the same time about my upcoming consult on Tuesday. I've told my close family and a couple of friends about it and have gotten a mixed reaction. A friend said but you've lost some many times you can do it again and I told them that was kind of the point. I can't keep it off!!! My husband is very supportive though.