When can I expect to have surgery?

[beaglemom 0]

I will be doing my 4th month of medically supervised diet next week -- 6 months is required by BCBS of Texas.

I have my history on the case managers hands.

I have been under the care of a psychristic for several months who has agreed to do the psych evaluation -- I'm going to ask him for the paper work in the middle of March at my next visit.

I have been diagosed with diabetes and am on an insulin pump. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and on a CPAP machine.

Thus I have the co-mobilties, plus weigh over 300 pounds.

My last medically supervised visit with be the first week of May, can I expect surgery in May?

[Lighterload 0]

I totally understand what you are going through. I have BCBS of Tennessee and they put me through the hoops and hurdles but you have to be persistent. It took 6 months for me to get approved and I had all the dieting and requirements done. I started pursuing this last Sept. and I just got approved last week. My surgery date is March 25th. Just keep on doing what you are doing, it will happen, be patient.

[sil 0]

hi i had to do the six months supervised dietian classes i started in april of 08-my last weight in was sept 3rd 08,had to wait because of the holidays over i was banded on january 13th 09. thats exactly 10 months. good luck on your new journey.

[Fluffy Jen 0]

I had to wait about 8 months from my first supervised diet visit until my surgery. I was banded Feb 25. So far everything has been really great. Good Luck!!!

[Band_Groupie 3]

The best person to ask this question of is the insurance/billing person at your surgeon's office and the scheduler (the same person does both at mine). Unless you find someone here with the same ins. and same surgeon you'll get a HUGE variety of answers on this one. Some ins. co.'s take a few days to approve, some take 4-6 weeks. Some docs schedule tentative dates before you've even completed your 6th month and some won't schedule anything until you've been approved. Some docs have also have a backlog and I've seen people have to wait a long time after approval even. This part of the process seems to have a huge variable of issues and a wide range of timing from what I've seen here.

I finish my 6 mo. on April 2, as soon as I get the last paperwork in, my surgeon's office will give me a tentative date (she said it MAY be in April, but more likely May). My ins. co. always approves within 72 hours.

Good luck, and see you on the other side! -BG