How Long Will This Whole Process Take?

[Fishy 6]

I went to the seminar on Thursday. I called for an appointment the very next day. From my first appointment to surgery date, what is the average time?

I have off this semester from school, so I'm really hoping I can have the surgery by December. I also have no deductible for the rest of the year, so my surgery would be completely covered if it's done before January 1st.

I don't think I'm going to have any problem getting approval. I have good insurance. I'm 24 years old and 427 pounds. I'm on 2 blood pressure medications and I'm still high. My BMI is 60. I have elevated blood sugar. I have sleep apnea.

Thanks for any info you can give!

[americas_suiteheart 53]

I went to the seminar on Thursday. I called for an appointment the very next day. From my first appointment to surgery date' date=' what is the average time?

I have off this semester from school, so I'm really hoping I can have the surgery by December. I also have no deductible for the rest of the year, so my surgery would be completely covered if it's done before January 1st.

I don't think I'm going to have any problem getting approval. I have good insurance. I'm 24 years old and 427 pounds. I'm on 2 blood pressure medications and I'm still high. My BMI is 60. I have elevated blood sugar. I have sleep apnea.

Thanks for any info you can give![/quote']

It took me less than 3 months

.:Never been plus size... only size SEXY:.

[americas_suiteheart 53]

Also depends on your insurance requirements as well as your surgeons !

.:Never been plus size... only size SEXY:.

[Fishy 6]

Thanks! i hope mine is less than 3 months as well.

[americas_suiteheart 53]

You're welcome

.:Never been plus size... only size SEXY:.

[LosingItForMe2011 320]

It's more dependent on your insurance than anything. Give them a call and ask them if they have any "special" requirements before approving RNY surgery. Some insurance require 6 months of Medically followed weight loss, others 3 months. Some it doesn't matter but, they want to see co-mobidities etc, which you've already mentioned you have.

You're insurance should be able to give you a hand with that though so you'll know for sure.

Your bariatric center should also be able to help you since they are used to dealing with insurance companies they already know "most" of the requirements of the insurances out there. I say "most" mainly because each plan and have differences from the norm depending on employer or school etc.

Good luck!

[rabrijumo 140]

Yes it depend on your insurance requirements. get with the surgical coordinator at the office and let her/him spell it out for you. Then get to work on the needed documentation. Like when did you have your last sleep study? ever had a colonoscopy or EGD? psych eval for surgery with a bariatric counseler(make sure its whatever you insurance requires ie psychologist vs psychiatrist) try to get copies of all testing to send in to your bariatric surgeons office to minimize things getting lost. I make them make a copy and keep a copy myself. set up a primary care doc medical clearance for surgery appointment but not more then 30 days before the surgery date itself. if you have cardiac or pulmonary comorbidities you will need appointments with those docs to to clear you for surgery. I went to my first seminar april 10th and my surgery is scheduled for 9/25 so a little ove 5 months . I had to do my three months of classes at the bariatric groups office and when it was completed they gave me a date 2 month in the future that was dissappointing but maybe if I had been more pushy I would have had them set a date in anticipation of completing the classes instead of waiting til they were done. good luck

[DLCoggin 1,788]

First meeting with my surgeon was on May 10, 2011 and surgery was on October 20, 2011. My insurance company did not require the 6 month supervised diet but by the time all of the testing was completed, surgery approved, letter of medical necessity, and general scheduling issues, that's what it turned out to be. The total time really varies all over the place. Whatever it takes, you're gonna love the new you!!

[lovealways 287]

What insurance do you have? I plan to get my surgery on winter break in between semesters as well. I had my seminar in June, met with surgeon in July, and learned I have to do 6 months of weigh-ins. I'm currently set up for weigh-in 3 in September. A lot of the pre-op requirements are time consuming, but can be done in 2-3 months or less depending on your work/school schedule. Good luck!

[tamihill 24]

My total time will be les than 2 months. But my insurance only required a Psych and Nut eval.

[michellenc 3]

My ins. Required a 6 month weight loss plan followed by a Dr. Once I did that my other tests were done so 6 months. Just waiting on more $ and I will have my surgery!

[Fishy 6]

Thanks for all of the answers everyone. I really hope it takes me less than 5 months, because I can't do it if it takes that long. Between my insurance spiking on January 1st and school starting on January 20th, I would be stuck. I would need to have the surgery by Christmas.

What is the testing you had to do? And how long did each of the phases take?

[lovealways 287]

Thanks for all of the answers everyone. I really hope it takes me less than 5 months' date=' because I can't do it if it takes that long. Between my insurance spiking on January 1st and school starting on January 20th, I would be stuck. I would need to have the surgery by Christmas.

What is the testing you had to do? And how long did each of the phases take?[/quote']

I am in the same position as you. I need to have it done around Christmas, but I know life tends to throw a few curve balls, so I am just hoping for the best. I know it should be right around Christmas if all goes well. My testing included sleep study to rule out any sleep disorders like sleep apnea, pulmonary function tests, cardiology consult and stress test, nutrition consult, gastroenterologist consult and upper endoscopy, abdominal sonogram to rule out gallstones, extensive blood work, psych evaluation to rule out any mental health issues not managed properly and I think that's it. These tests are hard to complete quickly because you are running on the doctor's schedule and sometimes it takes a month to get an appointment with these specialists. Also, most of these consults for me at least weren't just a one shot deal....for example with the sleep study, I will have been to them a total of 5x including 2 sleep studies done overnight. Usually there are follow-up visits, etc. and you are at the liberty of the Dr. who ultimately decide when they will give clearance for surgery. I can't imagine how anyone gets it completed in less than 2 1/2 months unless they're unemployed and have 0 obligations lol. So far I've been able to complete MOST of it in 2 months but still have the gastro/nutrition consult with upper endoscopy and cardiologist consult and stress test. It's also difficult to speed things up if any of the specialists find something that needs further testing, which is usually the case like with my newly discovered sleep apnea.

Good luck though and don't get discouraged. Ride it out and hopefully it goes by fast for us both!! :)

[Fishy 6]

I am in the same position as you. I need to have it done around Christmas, but I know life tends to throw a few curve balls, so I am just hoping for the best. I know it should be right around Christmas if all goes well. My testing included sleep study to rule out any sleep disorders like sleep apnea, pulmonary function tests, cardiology consult and stress test, nutrition consult, gastroenterologist consult and upper endoscopy, abdominal sonogram to rule out gallstones, extensive blood work, psych evaluation to rule out any mental health issues not managed properly and I think that's it. These tests are hard to complete quickly because you are running on the doctor's schedule and sometimes it takes a month to get an appointment with these specialists. Also, most of these consults for me at least weren't just a one shot deal....for example with the sleep study, I will have been to them a total of 5x including 2 sleep studies done overnight. Usually there are follow-up visits, etc. and you are at the liberty of the Dr. who ultimately decide when they will give clearance for surgery. I can't imagine how anyone gets it completed in less than 2 1/2 months unless they're unemployed and have 0 obligations lol. So far I've been able to complete MOST of it in 2 months but still have the gastro/nutrition consult with upper endoscopy and cardiologist consult and stress test. It's also difficult to speed things up if any of the specialists find something that needs further testing, which is usually the case like with my newly discovered sleep apnea.

Good luck though and don't get discouraged. Ride it out and hopefully it goes by fast for us both!! :)

WOW! They pretty much examined every part of you!!!!

[lovealways 287]

WOW! They pretty much examined every part of you!!!!

Lol yes! Do you know what pre-op tests you have to do yet?