How involved is/was your bariatric team?

[BoiledDenim 9]

Just curious about everyone's experience and what/if there's a standard. Did your team help schedule pre-op stuff, or were you mostly on your own? Was there good communication throughout?

I feel like my surgeon's office has taken a more hands off approach, which I understand to a degree. Certainly they are very busy. Not every patient wants to put in the work and eventually gets scared off. The pre-op stage seems like a very anxious time for a lot of people, so I thought there'd be more contact, is all. Not hand-holding or constant communication, per se. Just an every once in a while "Hey, how are we doing? Where are we at?" type of deal.

Thanks!

[Hopep4673 120]

My office scheduled everything except appts with my PCP for the 6 month diet... I have talked to my patient advocate at least every other week to make sure things are on track

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[CrissCriss 97]

My doctor office schedule all my appointment. But now that I'm approve no one called to give me a date yet.

[Nancy MBGC 90]

Mine gave me the info as far as people I needed to see and I made the appts. When I called them and had question they returned my calls. They didn't hold my hand.

[BoiledDenim 9]

9 minutes ago, Nancy MBGC said:

Mine gave me the info as far as people I needed to see and I made the appts. When I called them and had question they returned my calls. They didn't hold my hand.

That's comforting to know. Thanks.

[sassy683 184]

My surgeon's office is great I communicate with my coordinator everyday anytime of the day no matter what questions I ask she gives me answers, tips n advice ...

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[Miss Topaz 300]

My surgeons office has been very responsive when I have questions and the surgery coordinator helped outline who I needed to see in order to fulfill my insurance requirements. I made all the appointments however, I personally think it's part of making us demonstrate the commitment required to do this, but that's just in my head and has never been said. That said, they did put in a referral for the psych visit, and the psych office called me to schedule. The surgical coordinator also came to the nutrition seminar and spoke personally to each and every one of us to see where we are in the process. Unfortunately, she also let us know that the surgeons are backed up going into the holidays so unfortunately, even if my insurance approval comes through quickly, my surgery likely won't be until late January. Argh! more waiting! She's taking care of all the insurance work now though, and will call only if she has problems or to tell me my pre-op and surgery dates.

Edited October 15, 2017 by Miss Topaz

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

My bariatric team is very coordinated. You signup for the seminar, attend, and they call you the next day to make the 1st appt. At the initial consult, they give you a 3-ring binder with surgery details, all requirements, education on reading labels, food stages, Vitamins brand lists, shakes lists, consent forms, a form for exercise, a list of possible required/required appointments and you meet the team, talk to the surgeon, and watch a video. They made all the appts for tests, handled the insurance referrals. They called the insurance the day of your last NUT appt and submit all paperwork, insurance approved in one day. Then you discuss dates for surgery, and schedule remaining pre-op tests (EDG, bloodwork), schedule last surgeon consult/instructions for surgery, and schedule next 3 post-op appointments. So - no complaints.

I could have had surgery 3 weeks ago - but wanted it for Oct 24th due to social events, and they were fine with that.

[Ironholly 7]

I'm in the UK so my experience is a bit difrent. The US sounds like you have to do a lot of leg work and find the right things and people because here we have the nhs and its like a whole package start to finish you are refered to the bariatric team and all there care is within each other surgeons nurses dietitions psychologists everything all the teaching and stuff and all the pre work , the surgery and care within the team afterwords for 2 years then like you can see a doctor if you need help with it forever basicly. Am I getting this write or wrong bit confused. We don't choose a surgeon your just automatically given one. Appoimebts are just sent out and if not convenient you can change them. You can ring anyone at anytime. But here you have to go through all the teaching and a psychological assessment before you can be put on the waiting list then/ he waiting list is 6 to 12 months but you carry on seeing them in the mean time ever like 6 weeks. I think my team was deffenatly involved.

[Nancy MBGC 90]

I'm in the UK so my experience is a bit difrent. The US sounds like you have to do a lot of leg work and find the right things and people because here we have the nhs and its like a whole package start to finish you are refered to the bariatric team and all there care is within each other surgeons nurses dietitions psychologists everything all the teaching and stuff and all the pre work , the surgery and care within the team afterwords for 2 years then like you can see a doctor if you need help with it forever basicly. Am I getting this write or wrong bit confused. We don't choose a surgeon your just automatically given one. Appoimebts are just sent out and if not convenient you can change them. You can ring anyone at anytime. But here you have to go through all the teaching and a psychological assessment before you can be put on the waiting list then/ he waiting list is 6 to 12 months but you carry on seeing them in the mean time ever like 6 weeks. I think my team was deffenatly involved.

Well here we can choose our own Dr as long as they are covered by our own insurance. The NUT and psychologist and dietician are usually in the clinic, or like in my case they are ones that they recommend. Once all of that is done, then in my case, I saw the Doc once a month x 3, then you send info to insurance company for approval, and as soon as that is confirmed you get a surgery date. To wait 6 or 12 months is usually not the case. The 12 month is never required by insurance!! Wow. That's a very long time.

[Starsmore 60]

I don't think mine have been overly involved. I went to the first seminar, then I had to fill out what amounts to an application for surgery. Then I was scheduled for my first visit with the surgeon. After the first visit i sat with the surgery scheduler and she scheduled the rest of the preop testing appointments (I think I could have gotten through this a lot faster, but I'm still new at my job, so I spread it out). After I finished testing, it was back to the surgeon and scheduled for surgery.

i did have to get back in touch for work paperwork after that and the scheduler was kind enough to forward it to my surgeon's nurse who got back to me same day. She was really fast in submitting my paperwork to the HR department, too, so I'm really happy about that.

I'm still technically waiting for insurance approval, so I might call this week to see if they've heard anything. I have this irrational fear that I'll be denied if I call the insurance company directly! Haha