Switching surgeons

[Dignity 26]

Has anyone switched surgeons/ bariatric clinics due to scheduling delays? I started my VSG journey May 2013, went to required psychological testing, completed my bloodwork and endoscopy, completed my 6 month supervised diet as required by insurance, been approved by insurance, and cleared for surgery by my surgeon, BUT my surgery date is projected not to be until April or May 2014!!! WTF !!! This is unacceptable to me!!! It has already been 7 months!! Docs office says their schedule is full up and can't be done any sooner. I was wondering about changing surgeons and hospitals to get an earlier surgery date. Has anyone ever switched surgeons/programs mid-stream like this???? I am frustrated beyond belief!!!

Edited December 29, 2013 by Dignity

[GotItDoneInHarlem 302]

I'm so sorry to hear that. It must be incredibly frustrating. Are you on the top of the waiting list?

Will your insurance approval transfer? That's the first step. Also, you may have to go through a new doctor's "program" as well. May be more work than it's worth. I think I made it through my process as fast as humanly possible without self-paying and it still took 5 months.

[Dignity 26]

Good question. I am calling a new program on Monday. The 6 month supervised diet was pretty generic but BCBS approved me immediately after completing it 12/10/2013. The surgeon's office insists they have no earlier dates!! I have several comorbity issues, and needed this surgery as soon as I could have it, per my family doc. Arhhhhhh!! It will be at least 11 months by the time of my anticipated surgery date . We are talking next April or May!!

Edited December 29, 2013 by Dignity

[ribearty 544]

I would check with your ins. co. also especially since it is so close to the end of the calendar year and make sure any past meetings will count if you switch surgeons. They may also be able to recommend a surgeon.

Good luck. Sorry you are in such a bind.

[SnowDaisy 73]

How did all this work out? I have a similar enquiry.

Xx

[Dignity 26]

Ok, hope this is not a double post...

I did contact another program and surgeon who could have scheduled me for a late January 2014 surgery, after completing her pre surgical program. I was very excited, much better than April or May 2014! My 6 month supervised diet with my original surgeon was acceptable with my insurance...apparently all they needed was proof of 6 months of a supervised diet with a doctors office. So, when I told my original surgeon that an April or May surgery date would not work for me and I could get a January 2014 surgery date with a different surgeon, they scrambled to get me an earlier date...go figure....i am now scheduled for February 25th... still a month later than the second surgeon could do, but definitely a lot better than a April or May surgery.

So I'm sticking with my original surgeon and planning a February 25th surgery! Yay!

[lauri407 29]

Glad to hear that your original doctor could work something out, Dignity! I know you wanted the surgery earlier, but it will be here soon enough for you! I did end up switching surgeons after the dates/times were much further out than I wanted. I still ended up having a surgery date about a month later than what I wanted, but I feel that in some ways it helped and let me get my head wrapped around some things. That being said, it still was a huge reality check during the two week pre-op diet. I have more one week left of it to go. Use this time to get yourself and other support people around you ready to go. Good luck!

[Dignity 26]

You know, until I was given the 2/25 surgery date, it is like I believed my surgery would never happen.....it seemed like a fairy tale, just out of my reach. Now the reality is really setting in! I am an organizer. Now I can start planning!! I am getting very excited!