Doctor Supervised Diet...

[ShirleyJ84 41]

So I went to my seminar on Monday and everything was great, I'm very happy with the surgical staff and both the surgeon and his p.a. are absolutely amazing.

So I get the lovely letter in the mail today from the surgical group stating what all I need to do before my insurance will cover my procedure and it is the normal psych evaluation, 5 year weight history and then the lovely 6 month doctor supervised diet (mind you my previous pcp was amazing and I never had trouble getting in to see him but the new doctor is crazy to get in to see and has waiting list for appointments).

So now I'm trying to rack my brain about how to proceed from here. Basically which of my doctors it's going to be best for me to see to do this 6 month plan.

Sorry for the rant I just needed to get it off my chest.

[anniesmommy 26]

The place that is over my bypass offers the 6 month supervised diet. Basically I go in and see them once a month and it counts. 6 months with 7 doctor visits. If you are in a bariatric program, ask them about seeing them once a month for the supervised diets. They should have you see a nutritionalist anyhow. I was told I wasn't expected to lose any weight on the supervised diet, I just had to be the one to schedule my monthly appointments and show up.

Insurance approved me.

[ShirleyJ84 41]

Thank you for the reply. I have considered that but where I am having my surgery is over a hour away from my house so it is not totally out of the question but I am not sure if I want to travel down and back for 6 months (and having to worry about taking lots of time off of work).

I figure this has happened for a so I can relax and get all the nasty stuff I was eating out of my life for good and talk to my employer about adding a std rider encase I am out longer than I expect.

I am at a place of understanding now but on Friday I was aggravated and ticked off. Plus it gives me more time for research and such

[DevilBlueDress 189]

I saw my PCP in January. He referred me to a dietician, who saw me for the 6 months supervised diet. around month 4, the dietician recommended that I contact the surgeon. I happened to have an appointment with my PCP at that time, so his office made all the calls to set up the initial surgeon, the bariatric dietician (different than the one I had been seeing for the 6 months) and the psychologist. Those appointments were in June plus an upper endoscopy. Then I only had the mandatory classes given by the bariatric team before the pre-approval request to my insurance. I took the boot camp class (3classes in one day) on Aug 2, but there was a little delay in submitting to insurance because I needed to change to COBRA coverage. Everything was submitted last Monday the 12th so hopefully, I'll hear soon. After approval, they will set the surgery date. I'm expecting it to be sometime in September. Before surgery, I will meet with the dietician to go over the liquid diet and other issues. Then all the typical pre-surgery appointments and another appointment with my surgeon.

Back in January, I thought it seemed like 6 months was a very long time. Now, I realize that it was time well spent. I originally wanted a lap band thinking it was less invasive. Now I am very ready and willing to have RNY. I was able to slowly change my eating habits, so many of the things I must do for the best outcome are now so much a habit that I don't have to remember, I just do it. I've had time to research, join forums, go to support group meetings and to prepare my family. I've made freezer meals for my family, so early on I won't have to cook for them.

Good luck on your WLS journey! I hope that you also find the six months fly by and are helpful.

Molly