New to the process - help?

[natalie132 2]

Hi everyone! I have a doctors appointment tomorrow to let me doctor know that I do want to move forward with the weight loss surgery. How long did the process take for you once you said yes let's move forward? Thanks in advance!

[beautysleeve559 69]

I started my process on July 3rd,2014. My insurance only required me to do a psych evaluation, blood work and attend a nutrition seminar. I am done with all 3 and am currently waiting for approval from the insurance company. So as of now it's been almost 2 months. But of course it depends on your insurance and what they require of u. Some require 3-6 month supervised diets. But good luck to you on your journey

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

Hi everyone! I have a doctors appointment tomorrow to let me doctor know that I do want to move forward with the weight loss surgery. How long did the process take for you once you said yes let's move forward? Thanks in advance!

Your doctor's office will tell you tomorrow. What you will learn here is that of the thousands of members on Bariatric Pal, each of us have different doctors, different eating plans, insurance requirements, tests, pre-op classes, nutritionists, psych appointments, but once you get the ball rolling it moves quickly. Best wishes as you go through the process. Listen, learn, read, ask questions and get prepared! Happy for you!

[Katcloudshepherd 630]

Hi everyone! I have a doctors appointment tomorrow to let me doctor know that I do want to move forward with the weight loss surgery. How long did the process take for you once you said yes let's move forward? Thanks in advance!

I would write down questions you want to ask the doctor. This worked well for me. In the excitement you can forget things you meant to ask--at least I could.

Everyone's requirements for approval and surgery are different. I was fortunate in that I had Humana Federal Employee PPO, not an Health Maintenance Option, (***) and it only had minimal requirements. I had a two month supervised diet with my surgeon's office. I started the process in September 2013, (9/30/13 was 1st appointment) had surgery 12/11/13.

good luck,

Kathleen

PS. this is the 3rd edit--it kept putting asterisks in for H-M-O--I don't know why?

Edited August 26, 2014 by Katcloudshepherd

[Bring It On 55]

Everyone is definitely different. Depends on the surgeon and your insurance company. Even people on here with the SAME ins. company have slightly different requirements, depending on what part of the country you are in. I am Tricare (military). I said "YES" to the program on July 7. Since then, I have had a nutrition counsel, exercise physiology counsel, psychological counsel, and after everything was turned in to insurance, they wanted a Pulmonary Function Test, which I had today. My last nutrition counsel is tomorrow. Hoping my ins will give me the thumbs up by the end of the week. The only thing I would suggest is the more co-morbidities that you have, the better. (Diabetes, HBP, high chole., sleep apnea) the easier the process. I have Diabetes, so I had my PCP write a letter of medical necessity to my ins. company, and I think that helped quite a bit.

Lastly, the higher your BMI, the longer you may have to be required to have a special diet BEFORE surgery. This process shrinks your liver, so it can be retracted easier to get to your stomach. I know, TMI. Good luck to you. Keep us posted!!!

[ready2B 263]

I only had one month of requirements, but now I am waiting on insurance approval and then to get on the surgeon's schedule. I heard he is scheduling 6-8 weeks out, so that sucks since I am more than ready to get this show on the road!

But, I will say I think it is a good thing that it takes a while to go through the process because it gives you some time to mentally and emotionally prepare yourself. This is a life-changing step you are making, so take advantage of every minute between now and your surgery to learn everything you can, to start changing some bad habits now, to work out any issues you might have with your relationship with food, to get your support system in place, etc. Good luck to you!

[Summer Rain 245]

Congratulations on your decision to get healthy. Good luck on your journey.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Summer Rain

[natalie132 2]

Thank you everyone! I went to the doctor today and she will be submitting her referral to the surgeon! I'm very excited about starting the process! Blood work on Friday!