From first visit to surgery... how long?

[pearlygirl 1]

Seminar first week in January...then all of the appointments/insurance crap...surgery April 23rd!!!!! So not quite 4 months for me.

[NicoleW8ing 0]

I'm trying to get an idea of how long this takes from my first informational seminar (I believe thats step 1, right?) to the day I would actually have surgery (given that my ins doesn't require a 6 month monitored diet).

So from the first seminar, nutritionist, psych, eval, all the way up to surgery.... what kind of time frame are we talking?

I get 10 hours of vacation time per month, and I've got about 20 accrued right now. I'm trying to figure out when would be an ideal month to shoot for because I've also got a few other things I need to do (that require paid time off) over the next few months... and I'd like to take a vacation in aug/sept at the latest.

PS- ya think if I'm a trooper I can have surgery on a Thursday and be back to work the following Monday?

5 months and 7 days. No pre-op diet whatsoever.

[VegasGrace 1]

I found an efficient surgi-center who had a surgeon, cardiologist, psychologist, anesthesiologist, etc....all on staff....or close by.

From the time I decided to go with them to when I went under for surgery was about a month.

[WhisperLightly 0]

I had to do the six month thing... but if I take that out completely..

I went to the first seminar... got an appt for like 3 weeks later to see if I'm a candidate. The first time I could get into a psychologist was a month after my first seminar (then had to come back in 2 weeks to go over the results.. and anticipate it taking 2 weeks MORE for him to write everything up and send it to the hospital)... The weight management team meets twice every month to go over a set number of "applications" into the program.. so that took a bit.

I didn't even get to meet with my surgeon until November (I went to my seminar in June).. so I just did all my other stuff while also doing the 6 month thing.

It only took like 9 days for insurance to approve me.. but it took 4 months to get a surgery date. And the surgery date was 3 weeks after that. So I mean.. minus EVERYTHING else I did.. and even after I got approval.. it still took almost 5 months to actually have the surgery.

But everyyyywhere is different. I've read of some people starting the process in like.. January and being scheduled three weeks later. It all depends. My hospital is the only hospital in this area that most insurances will approve to even do the surgery (the area includes ALL of upper MN, upper Michigan, Canada, and some of the Dakotas) ... and we only have ONE surgeon at this time. So that's prob why mine took awhile.

Good Luck!

[cathyalmond 1]

Hi there, it depends on the where you are having the surgery and the clinic you have chosen. I had my first surgical consult this past Wednesday. I am hoping to have the psych and nutritional consult on May 1 or 2/08 and the Dr. said that as long as there is 2-3 weeks to do the pre-op diet..surgery can be booked fairly quickly. I am hoping for mid-June. The kids are still in school, so I can rest during the day and I will be fully recovered and on solid food by mid-August when we have our vacation planned. You could potentially go from consult to surgery day within 2-3 months!! How exciting is that!

Cathy

[Luu2008 2]

I am surprised at how long it has taken. I'll post my timeline below. I do feel this should take some time but all these appointments not knowing if I will be approved for the surgery by my insurance or bariactic team is a bit frustrating. My insurance and surgery center require a 5% reduction in weight. I thought I would loose it quickly but it has been slow coming off...so in all reality I needed the extra time. I just wish I had a magic ball to see if I'll get approved.

02/04/2008-Attended Orientation/support group<o:p></o:p>

02/22/2008-First appointment w/ LNP Bariatric program <o:p></o:p>

(Weight loss goal of 12 pounds for insurance and <o:p></o:p>

Bariatric surgery requirements)<o:p></o:p>

02/22/2008-EKG <o:p></o:p>

03/18/2008-1^st appointment with the dietitian (gave me homework)<o:p></o:p>

03/18/2008-Chest X-Ray<o:p></o:p>

03/18/2008-Gall Bladder Ultra-Sound<o:p></o:p>

03/?/2008-EGD Digestive Disease test<o:p></o:p>

04/01/2008-Attended 2^ND support group<o:p></o:p>

04/08/2008-2^nd appointment with the dietitian <o:p></o:p>

(Went over post op diet and homework, weight was down 6 pounds!!!) <o:p></o:p>

04/23/2008-Meet with Surgeon <o:p></o:p>

04/23/2008-Psych evaluation<o:p></o:p>

04/25/2008-Follow up appointment w/LNP (will decide if <o:p></o:p>

I’m ready to be “presented” for lap band surgery)<o:p></o:p>

05/07/2008-Board of Psychologist, Surgeon, Dietitian, Primary <o:p></o:p>

Providers meet to discuss eligibility of patients wanting WLS. <o:p></o:p>

05/?/2008-Paperwork submitted to insurance company for approval <o:p></o:p>

(Assuming board approves me as a patient)<o:p></o:p>

06/?/2008-Will have surgery if all goes as planned. <o:p></o:p>

[lele 0]

My whole proccess took about 4 months.

seminar Jan 14

pcp for clearance Feb 6

Initial surgeons visit Feb 18

sleep study consult Feb 26

sleep study march 6- cancelled:angry:

sleep study march 16

psych eval. march 18

nutricianist march 18

paperwork sent to ins. wk of 25

approval on April 11

Pre-op May 16

Surgeon appt May 21

Surgery date May 28

I was supposed to have surgery on the 14th of May, but work made me feel guilty for scheduling is while some one else was on vacation. We are the only ones that normally do our job and there was to much of a chance of a mistake being made if we were both gone. So now I get to have it on a Holiday week which is a very very busy week at work, and now they have me and another co-worker off!!! Makes no sense to me!!:tongue: It will all be worth the wait!! Good Luck!:biggrin:

Edited April 19, 2008 by lele