PLUUSGRL

My surgery date is March 31st. Pre-op testing and start 2 week diet March 17th, education class March 20th, meeting with surgeon March 24th, then surgery March 31st. It seems like it takes so long to get to this point and then it's like BAM, surgery. Insurance approval was very quick, my paper work was submitted on March 6 and approved March 7th. My approval letter did not arrive however, until yesterday but I was able to call my insurance provider on Thursday and they faxed it right over to me. I then faxed it to my provider and they set me up with all my dates. I'm very excited (not so excited about the pre-op diet but no pain no gain). There were times that I thought I would quit the program because everything seemed to be at a stand still but it's moving quickly now. Glad I didn't quit. Hope all goes well with you alls' surgeries and recovery. See you guys on the losers bench!

I called my insurance company and got them to fax over my approval letter, then faxed that over to the doctors office and wouldn't you know... testing monday 3-17, education class 3-21, surgery date 3-31-2014... she is faxing over my 2 week pre-op diet plan today and said to start that on the 17th also...Beyond excited and terrified too.

Yes I called yesterday but today. I am planning to call back around 3 today. They just keep saying they have no word from the insurance company yet. It's kind of frustrating when you have called and been given the green light and the clinic stalls you.

Well guys, still no word from the clinic yet but hopefully they will be calling me soon with the next steps of the process. Anxious!

Just wanted to give those of you pre op in Central Mississippi or going through the Transformations Flowood, MS program a heads up on your psych eval. I went to one of the doctors on the preferred list and was told to pay my Co pay on the day of my psych eval ($134.00). What they lead you to believe is that everything is good after that and insurance will pay the balance after you have completed medically supervised diets if required BUT they don't tell you that you need the psych evaluation in order for the surgeon to submit to insurance and insurance won't approve without it BUT (yes another but) the doctor will not release the psych evaluation results to the doctor for insurance approval until you pay in full (another $561.00 that I was not prepared to have to pay). So how will insurance pay the claim if you need the psych eval in order for them to determine that they will pay which the doctor won't release until he is fully paid?They claim they will reimburse you when insurance pays, if it pays. I do understand that the doctor has to be paid, I just wish they would make it clear to you so that you can make arrangements to have that money set aside. It would have probably been better for me to go to one that takes cash ($400 range) where I could have paid half up front and the balance when I was ready for submission. I used Dr. Criss Lott in Richland, MS. As it stands now I will be going to see my pcp Monday to get the wls referral and paying the $561.00 so that I can get my psych eval results released. If all goes well I should have my file submitted to insurance next week. There is a big possibility that I will be denied because my 3 month consecutive medically supervised weight loss. I have completed it but during that time I had stomach ulcer problems and the doctor visits shifted towards that instead. Insurance could say the weight loss is not be documented enough. Im going to cross my fingers and see. But at least after it's submitted I will know what, if anything, I am lacking. I really just wanted to let you all know to be prepared to pay for your psych evaluation in full. Hope this info helps someone.

Anyone here from Mississippi or that have had surgery at River Oaks Hospital in Flowood, Mississippi? Just wondering about the doctors, facility, process and length of time between beginning and surgery..

Anybody ever been placed on phentermine during the 6 month pre op diet to lose weight?

Thank you. My doctor would like me to be under 300 lbs before surgery and because I was losing so slowly she suggested trying it. I have a week to decide. Your comment makes sense to me. Thanks again.

Prayers go up to you and wishing you a speedy recovery.

Thank you all for your comments. I will take it all into consideration. I am going to call my surgeon after he gets my referral letter this week and has a chance to check over my records and ask him about it. I love this forum!

Thank you. I was wondering because my pcp offered to write a prescription for it to add to my weight loss so that I can hopefully be under 300 pounds by surgery time

I have my first meeting with my surgeon or his practitioner today. Does anybody know what this visit normally entails? Just wondering what to expect.

Jackson, MS attending River Oaks Transformations Flowood program My doctor is Dr. David Carroll. My insurance is BCBS state ahs network and Cigna/MHP

My appointment went well, it was with the surgeon's nurse practitioner. I lost 2 pounds! They just had me sign financial, collection, and privacy agreements. There was also a brief surgeon questionaire. I was weighed and my blood pressure taken. The practitioner went over my.medical records in detail, gave me the results of my previous labs and answered my questions. She said that as long as you have met your 6 month medically supervised diet (if required), had your psych eval and have your pcp letter of recommendation for.wls, then they submit to insurance asap. She said that there is still time to get the surgery before years end. I don't think I will meet the requirements before years end but it's good to know they are helping those to get in that have. She said there are no.further appointments until approval when you would then come in and.speak with the surgeon, attend an all day class, get your surgery date and start your 2 week pre op diet. All other tests (pulmonary function, ekg, abg & chest xray) will be performed day of surgery. Recovery is 2 weeks. She said the doctor doesn't like to go beyond 2 weeks but will based on the patient, because it makes it look like there were complications. I had to pay 25 for this visit.. I was advised to.start taking 5000 units of vitamin d and zinc. She said most people she's hair the first 3 months but it comes back quickly and the.zinc would help with this. (sorry if you read this twice. I posted this under both threads where I asked the question earlier and wanted to share my experience)

My appointment went well, it was with the surgeon's nurse practitioner. I lost 2 pounds! They just had me sign financial, collection, and privacy agreements. There was also a brief surgeon questionaire. I was weighed and my blood pressure taken. The practitioner went over my.medical records in detail, gave me the results of my previous labs and answered my questions. She said that as long as you have met your 6 month medically supervised diet (if required), had your psych eval and have your pcp letter of recommendation for.wls, then they submit to insurance asap. She said that there is still time to get the surgery before years end. I don't think I will meet the requirements before years end but it's good to know they are helping those to get in that have. She said there are no.further appointments until approval when you would then come in and.speak with the surgeon, attend an all day class, get your surgery date and start your 2 week pre op diet. All other tests (pulmonary function, ekg, abg & chest xray) will be performed day of surgery. Recovery is 2 weeks. She said the doctor doesn't like to go beyond 2 weeks but will based on the patient, because it makes it look like there were complications. I had to pay $25 for this visit.. I was advised to.start taking 5000 units of Vitamin d and zinc. She said most people she's hair the first 3 months but it comes back quickly and the.zinc would help with this.

Sure. My appointment isn't until 3 central time but I will post my experience immediately after.

Hello ladies. I have my first meeting with my surgeon or his practitioner today. Does anybody know what this visit normally entails? Just wondering what to expect.

Anybody ever had an abnormal EKG and have to be sent to the cardiologist for further testing? What type if testing does the cardiologist do? Should I be worried? Im praying it's nothing and that it's just one less test to take later.

So I had my follow up appointment with a cardiologist following my abnormal EKG and he said everything looked fine. He noted that there was some mild stiffening caused by the high blood pressure and obesity but that it was reversible with maintained blood pressure and weight loss. It made me so happy to know that everything was ok. I have been stressing over it and was pretty nervous at the doctored office today. I went ahead and signed the records release and had them forward their findings to my pcp and to the Transformations clinic just in case it was a test that was required for surgery and so that my pcp could write a recommendation for wls..If God says the same I will have my first meeting with the surgeon this week and my pcp recommendation. Hope all is going well with y'all too!

I look forward to it.

I have an appointment on the 30th to meet my surgeon, Dr. Carroll. I am very excited. I have been very satisfied with my Transformation's team and even though I am excited I am very patient with the process because I believe that everything will open when its time. They have been with me every step of the way and seem to be just as concerned about my.post op well being as pre op.

BCBSMS required 6 months medically supervised weight loss 3 of those months consecutive, within a 2 year period, a bmi greater than 40 I believe with no Co-morbid illnesses or bmi greater than 35 with 2 illnesses. The 6 months can be obtained free through active health, your pcp or through transformations (3 months $550). I actually have 2 insurances so I was told there won't be any out of pocket expenses with regard to the actual surgery. It could be that my primary insuarance bcbsms is the state ahs network. Im not sure but my secondary insurance is Cigna.

Hi everyone! I am from the Central Mississippi area. Jackson. Nice to meet all of you!

I am going through the Transformation River Oaks program as well!