PCOS and surgery approval

[Fox-E 27]

Question...I have PCOS, and the only way to lessen the symptoms is to lose weight. PCOS makes it EXTREMELY difficult to get pregnant. At this weight, I am pretty much guaranteed not to get pregnant.

Could having this speed up the approval process of having the Lap Band done...skipping the 6 month waiting period?

[JerseyGirl80 12]

I have it too, it didn't move my process along any faster (although my insurance didn't require a 6 months waiting period, I only needed 3 months of visits) all it did was add to my list of co-morbidities to help me get approved. I don't think it will speed up the process for anyone, if your insurance requires a 6 month diet or any kind of "waiting" period you will have to follow their requirements. I haven't heard of anything rushing this surgery, this is not the kind of thing someone should rush. As someone that's already had the band, I think waiting 6 months is probably the way to go to get used to the idea and start your lifestyle change.

As PCOS is considered a co-morbidity, it doesn't warrant a rush on surgery and is not seen as something as, for lack of a better word, important, as other ailments a person may have. Even patients with high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes ect, have to follow the steps required by their insurance. Keep in mind that PCOS isn't well known, it's not until recent years that it's even being taken seriously by doctors that don't specialize in it. I work in the medical field and have delt with my share of doctors and nurses, I have mentioned PCOS to them and I get "what's that?" as a response from them. A few times when I dicussed it with my previous doctors before I was diagnosed, they just dimissed it as if I didn't know what I was talking about. So just imagine what insurance companies may think of it, most of them are not medical professionals, they're paper pushers.

Good luck to you and be patient, 6 months will go faster than you can imagine.