First Appointment!

[T_Hay81 4]

Hello all,

I have my first appointment on feb 2. I am very nervous. Can anyone tell me what their first appointment was like. How long did it take you guys to get an actual surgery date ??

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[HurricaneU 131]

My first appointment was a weight in, a review of my medical history, going over insurance coverage, and a meeting with the surgeon and nutrionist. I have to do the 6mos diet for insurance approval. I just completed the 4th appointment, so they are projected April or May for my surgery. I would suggest getting a list of questions to ask before you arrive. If you told anyone that you are having the surgery and if they will be there to help you through recovery, see if they can attend the appointment with you.

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[Detroit_25 77]

Following!

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[savyourdvine1 110]

I had no loops or hoops to jump through per my insurance. BCBS I was approved right away. I just needed to talk to my surgeon, phyc, and a nut However, my surgeon had me to do several things. From start to finish about 3 months. My first visit was very general weight, blood pressure, and temp and so on. Talked a lot to my surgeon.

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Edited January 12, 2017 by savyourdvine1

[Detroit_25 77]

I had no loops or hoops to jump through per my insurance. BCBS I was approved right away. I just needed to talk to my surgeon, phyc, and a nut However, my surgeon had me to do several things. From start to finish about 3 months.

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I notice that BCBS has 6 months documented attempts at non surgical weight loss. Did your Branch of BCBS ask this as well? Just curious, as per BCBS, this will be contingent on my doc signing off on the proof I have currently of these attempts

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[savyourdvine1 110]

I was never told that was a requirement. However, I was asked by my clinic what failed attempts had I made to loose the weight, and what was my struggles. I never produced any proof of anything. I hope that help.

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[Ipeek90 64]

Commenting so I can come back to this, but I'm at my 1st appointment sitting in the room waiting on the surgeon now.

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[T_Hay81 4]

Good luck. Let me know how it goes!!!

[kell911 62]

I have been in contact with my surgeons office for the last few months. I have my first apt Monday the 16th. I have completed 2 months of three month supervised diet. I have my last weigh in Feb 2 I only have Blood work and Nut visit left to do with an EKG at my last weigh in. I am hoping to be approved with a date mid to end of FEB. This last 3 months have been so long. I have BCBS FED and they only require 3 months.

[T_Hay81 4]

I have been in contact with my surgeons office for the last few months. I have my first apt Monday the 16th. I have completed 2 months of three month supervised diet. I have my last weigh in Feb 2 I only have Blood work and Nut visit left to do with an EKG at my last weigh in. I am hoping to be approved with a date mid to end of FEB. This last 3 months have been so long. I have BCBS FED and they only require 3 months.

Lucky you. I have a feeling I'm going to have to do the 6 month supervised diet. Good luck with everything. Keep me posted if you don't mind.

[kell911 62]

@@T_Hay81 Good luck to you as well. My first insurance was BCBS texas and they required the 6 months but then my insurance changed to FED and it went to 3 months diet. I have been blessed with that for sure. I really hope the best for you...

[T_Hay81 4]

@@T_Hay81 Good luck to you as well. My first insurance was BCBS texas and they required the 6 months but then my insurance changed to FED and it went to 3 months diet. I have been blessed with that for sure. I really hope the best for you...

Thanks I have Medicaid and I reside in NY. I called Medicaid directly and they stated they don't have any specific requirements and that my surgeon would let me know. So i guess I'll just have to wait

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[Ipeek90 64]

Commenting so I can come back to this, but I'm at my 1st appointment sitting in the room waiting on the surgeon now.

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So here is how it went.

My appointment to speak with the surgeon was at 10 quickly followed by an appointment with their dietitian. I knew I had to pay for the dietitian but I was not told about anything else, so today ended up costing me $220. My guess is the DRs time and like new patient fees or whatever, unfortunately I neglected to ask. Thank you HSA account!!!

When I got there and signed in I was asked for my driver's license and insurance card, the lady gave me about 5 or 6 new patient forms to fill out. They were the normal information and previous health forms, one asked which surgery I wanted and some other minor questions, the others were the normal HIPPA related paperwork that goes with the office needing to request your previous medical records and such, and then the last one explained that my co-pay/deductible/maximum out of pocket that the insurance didn't cover would be due prior to surgery. (Eg My insurance only covers 80% after I've met my deductible). I sat in the main waiting room for perhaps 15 mins before a nurse came to get me.

The nurse took me to a little triage room where she weighed me and got my height. Now when you're in here make sure they out all your info in correctly, this nurse typo'd my weight and it showed I had a BMI of 47.2, which is wrong, she had my weight at 371 as opposed to 471. She also gets your temperature and blood pressure. After speaking with her on was taken to a patient room where I waited until the DR came in.

I waited for about another 10-15min when the DR who would be performing my surgery knocked and came it, introducing himself. He first asked me if I had any questions about the online seminar I took, which I did not, and then proceeded to go over my medical history. He asked which surgery I was interested in and then had me lay back on the table and pull my shirt up so he could listen to my breathing or something. After that he asked if I had any other questions, which I could not think of on the spot.

After seeing the DR I was then taken to see the dietitian, I sat with her for probably 30 or so minutes as she explained portion size and a very general idea of the post op type of diet and things I would need to work on(more chewing, no drinking during the meal and x amount of time before/after etc..) then she got some goals from me and asked if I had questions. This is when I asked about a pre-op diet for surgery, if I needed to loose a certain amount of weight and what the liver shrinking diet would look like, that's also when I realized they had my weight wrong because she said "with a BMI of 47 the DR does not require a liquid diet before the surgery" to which I asked more about what they listed as my weight and she corrected it. I do not have to loose any certain amount of weight before surgery, I just can not gain any before my last weigh in. But I will have a 2week pre-op diet that consists of mainly liquids, but not all liquids.< /p>

Lastly I spoke with the patient and insurance coordinator who gave me my options of a 6mo/4mo pre-op plan that the insurance required. I opted for the 4mo and she explained what was needed(blood word, upper GI(per doc), psych eval, letter of medical support from another Dr/nurse practitioner, setup physical therapy appts and maybe a few other things). I had her triple check my initial weight and she explained the items she needed in order to submit it over to the insurance company.

All in it was a good visit, aside from the typo of my weight but that was resolved.

Hope that helps!

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Edited January 12, 2017 by Ipeek90

[Olive22 13]

That was really helpful! My first appointment is Jan 30th. Thanks for posting!

[T_Hay81 4]

T

Edited January 12, 2017 by T_Hay81