I am so so so angry and need to vent with those who understand, hopefully

[Anewme24 0]

I decided in October of last year to have WLS. My doctor recommended the surgeon I'm currently seeing. When I went to the info session he seemed like a personable guy, good credentials, thousands of bandings under his belt. I was excited and made all my appointments right away as I was told. I met with the nutritionalist twice, the pulmonologist, my PCP, cardiologist and psychologist and made further follow up appointments as I was told. Along the way little insignificant information wasn't told to me and that should have been my first clue especially when I got the, "Oh you didn't know?" answer more than once. The lack of information wasn't a big concern because it delayed other appointments but I was still weeks away from a surgical date. Well now the little insignificant information has turned into a major miscommunication.

My insurance carrier requires I see a nutritionalist for 6 months. In the info packet from the surgeon I was told I needed to see my PCP for 6 months and follow a doctor prescribed weight loss program. Well that's not true. My insurance carrier requires I see a nutritionalist not my PCP. So now my surgical date will be delayed for another 4 months, (I saw my surgeon's nutritionalist twice in two months).

The lesson to be learned here for anyone contemplating WLS please learn all that is required of you. Call your insurance carrier yourself and ask. Make sure you call your surgeon's office often to make sure all the information is correct and accurate. Don't trust the answer of one person. Make sure you ask for comfirmation from someone else in the office. Interview the office help before you decide on your surgeon.

I have an appointment on Monday with a different surgeon. I'll interview his staff and may change doctors. Problem is he prefers gastric bypass. At this point I could be talked into it very easily.

[Melody2006 1]

The lesson to be learned here for anyone contemplating WLS please learn all that is required of you. Call your insurance carrier yourself and ask.

I'm so glad you posted this. THIS IS A MUST.

Please don't consider Gastric at this point and get a new surgeon ASAP.

Don't let someone cut you open that you can't trust their words.

[Anewme24 0]

I hate to be delayed any further by getting a new surgeon but you're right. I worry about dealing with them on a regular basis with fills. And what else haven't I been told?? That's got me wondering. What other information am I lacking. I've read a lot, read this forum often. I've asked questions but still there's that nawing feeling that can I trust I have all the info I need to make a good decision. The surgeon I'm going to see on Monday does both banding and gastric but he prefers gastric and that's his speciality. I'm very confused right now. I know banding is right for me. I know I can have success. I can feel it strongly. I need the weekend to sort it all out and I'll make a good decision. Thanks for the reply. I needed support and nurturing. Off to make numerous errands now in the rain bummer. From bad to worse huh. Maybe I'll see a rainbow :thumbup:

[areellady 1]

Not only is the a very important post for people to read, but also people need to research the band too!!! Too many people go into this with their eyes shut, evident by the amount of posts that say something along the lines of, " I didn't know I was going to have five scars", or " I didn't know I couldn't eat solid food for weeks after surgery". People really need to study and read as much as possible. I knew so much about this surgery that I was telling the staff things that they didn't know!!!! Thank you for posting this!!!! Everyone, check out every single thing!!!

[kmytime2008 0]

I understand your concern. I had my consult with my surgeon on July 2 and was told my paperwork would be mailed to our insurance company the following week. Yesterday, one month later, I contacted the doctors office and was told that they had not yet heard from my insurance company and that I might want to call them and make sure they had received my paperwork. And if not, to get their fax number and they would fax it to them. When I called our insurance company, they said that they had never received anything from the doctors office. I got their fax number and called this morning at 9:30 and left messsage at the doctors office for them to please fax this. I called them back at 2 pm to make sure that they had faxed it and they said, not yet. I told them I was going to call my insurance company back this afternoon to confim that they got the paperwork and so I needed to know when they were going to fax the paperwork. She put me on hold and came back and said that it would be sent before they left work today, which is 4:30 pm.

I called insurance company back at 4 pm and they had received it late this afternoon. I feel like I have just wasted 1 month of time that the insurance company could have been making a decision. I am concerned that when I do have surgery and have to contact them if I have problems, will they handle it efficiently and promptly? When I first contacted them in the beginning requesting information, they told me that they would mail me a packet, which I never got. I am sorry I am rambling so long, but my suggestion to anyone waiting on insurance approval is to call them and make sure that they get the paperwork in a timely manner so that you at least know that they have it.

[neverB4 2]

Being an RN and working for a major insurance company, I will say do be careful to know what your insurance requires first. Then meet with your surgeon to fit it all together. Reason being, he/she see so many diff people so you have so many diff insurance. The doc and his office can not keep it all straight. You'll see in some of the insurance threads, that people are successful without time delay when they learn what all their insurance requirements are so they then can get their surgeon's office rolling.

[msmonafly 0]

Just wanted to say to you all that the approval does not take as long as you think... I know that everything will work out fine for you...... Just keep the faith and know that when it time for you to be banded you will be... I know this is not what you want to hear but.........." EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON"