Doing all the pre surgery date requirements!

[DazyKrazie 4]

I just joined this forum a few mins. ago. Trying to figure it all out. I met with my surgeon for the first time at the end of October. He asked me when I thought I wanted to have my surgery. I told him that maybe the end of May or first of June would be good. I am a teacher and I thought having the summer to recover was a good idea. He told me that I didn't need a summer to recover from this and he thought I should look more towards the end of December! I couldn't even believe it!! This is all happening so much faster than I could EVER have imagined! I got my EKG, blood work, met with the nutritionist and saw my regular doctor. I have an appt. for my pulmonary function test and can walk in anytime for the chest x-ray. That leaves two things left to do.....upper g i test, which freaks me out because of the barium drink and meeting with a psych!!

Did anyone else have trouble finding a Psych? I can't even believe how difficult it has been. My family doc referred me to one. When I told them why I needed one, they said they would call me back. They never did, so I called again and I got the same answer. The person I needed to talk to would call me back. Still, never did. Meanwhile, I got pre approval from my insurance co. Finally, I got to talk to the person who handled people needing WLS and she said they could not see me because I am a PPO and they do not have a contract for that. My surgeon gave me several pages of Psych's to call, and I didn't have success with one of them! I really think this is weird and strange. Not what I expected to be an issue. Next week, my goal is to find someone to see me. I guess I will have my ins. co. refer me to someone. I have had zero success with this, but also now that I am on Thanksgiving break, I can devote more time to it. Just curious how others found their Psych.

So, what is an Upper G I like? How much barium do you have to drink?

[myrori 55]

Weird, I had the Psych office calling me for an appointment within 2 days. I would call the PPO ask for and administrator and have them set up an appointment while on the phone with you. If your PPO won't do it like that request the same of the referring doctor.

[DazyKrazie 4]

Wow!! You were so lucky! I will for sure take you advice and call my PPO! Thank you!

[myrori 55]

Wow!! You were so lucky! I will for sure take you advice and call my PPO! Thank you!

Any luck?

[M2G 1,836]

Also you might consider doing self-pay for your eval. (if your insurance is okay with that.) The lady I saw was on a list from the surgeon's office and came highly recommended. When I looked online (at my insurance benefits) it said she was not listed as being covered by my insurance. Then when she and I chatted she said she could take my insurance, but that it would be at least 2 separate visits.

I opted to self-pay and just see her once. lol. It was $220.

Good luck, you definitely won't need an entire summer to recover. I felt pretty well normal about 10 days post-op.