AlwaysCruising

You are as bad as me ??? We would've been diamond on our next RCL cruise (now defunct). My parents cruised when we were children, wasn't fun back then like it is now for kids though. We are doing a side 2 side (Miami and Fort Lauderdale in late October, we haven't done one before). We sail on RCL and NCL, what about you?

That is your opinion, and it's a negative judgment, that is my point. You are indeed saying it's invalid or wrong. I just asked a question, your judgement isn't helpful to anyone. What if someone said to you it's just my opinion but you got your size because you are X, Y, and Z? Does that person have a right to have that judgmental opinion. My guess is you would say no, since they know nothing about you and are making a lot of assumptions based on their view of life if you were being honest. Just because you have an opinion on everything doesn't mean you need to voice it every time. Just saying. I know a lot of psych providers who do these assessments and they are many months behind due to covid-19. So if it's a matter of waiting for an in-network provider to be back in the office in 4 months or doing it with a provider by telehealth cash out of pocket rather than be delayed with your surgery another 6-8 months, some might choose the latter. it wouldn't be crazy or indicate their lack of patience and maturity (the we didn't get here overnight thing). Maybe you haven't noticed, but there has been quite a delay in some people's appointments and procedures with this nasty virus going around. I'm not going to keep on with this, there was no negativity here until you brought it. You created a problem where there wasn't one - maybe it's what you like to do but I don't find it a lot of fun. I'm not into drama. Have a nice day.

Just way better not to judge people I think, you can't know their reasons ? And sometimes surgeons aren't clear with people that there are things they have to get on with booking and then when they do it's months beyond what is workable. Just because you don't understand it doesn't make it an invalid or wrong choice. The question had zero to do with patience or people not being willing to wait, it was just a question. Please don't read things into it that weren't there and create unnecessary negativity where there was none.

Hi ? I would not pay for surgery since insurance covers it, but sometimes people make a decision to pay for some things out of pocket if it will take too long to get an insurance based session (insurance authorizations can take a while, etc etc). So some of us choose to pay for certain things vs. waiting for insurance (or dealing with it). It is a matter of someone not being patient enough. Even though some people responded about paying for their entire surgery, but if you will read my original post the question was what would someone pay for those small expenses. That original post wasn't about getting around requirements or anything even close to it. This topic wasn't about people trying to get something overnight, most of us are mature adults and understand things as well as the next person.

We love, love, love cruising! We just lost two (March and June) but rescheduled for oct 2020 and april 2021. I told them we needed to make sure we got my surgery between or before dates LOL

Cool. But for those of us using insurance, I was wondering what those who are opting to pay out of pocket for a few of the prerequisites in order to get it all done faster are paying for those requirements ?

Did you pay for the prior requirements out of pocket? Was just wondering what those costs (like the psych eval). ?

I am going to guess you mean for the entire thing? It was a grouped package?

Yeah, not all psychologists do them (like physicians they have various specialties) and a smaller town is likely to have no one who can. I have some friends who put it off until the end and had to drive a long way (I know lots of people who get nervous driving into the city, I lived in the city a long time so I'm use to the madness). My surgeon told me I needed the cardiac clearance, but didn't specify it had to be a cardiologist (at least not that I recall and the written form doesn't say that). Most physicians can do an EKG - but I figure that will be too pricey without insurance. Was it a pain finding someone to do it? So glad you got it all done and through! I wish I had a date.

With two insurance policies, I pretty much had to use mine for the surgery! How much did you pay for the two items in my tiny survey? ?

I'm in ATL and none here yet from my surgeon. Some of the hospitals here started back with surgeries on May 11th, but clearly my surgeon is not doing that as yet. No date known yet (and I wasn't scheduled, had just gotten approval at the time they stopped them, so no idea how much lag there will now be).

I've been going through the pre-surgical process and have everything now done except the release for surgery. As I have scheduled the various appointments required before surgery, I have found myself wondering how much people would be willing pay to just get these done faster with less hassle! It's my mini survey of the day (I guess I have more time on my hands than I thought ?)]. These are my most recent, so... How much would you pay out of pocket for the psychological assessment if it could be done soon and without you having to drive to get there? How much would you pay to get a doctor's clearance letter for surgery? Happy Mother's Day to you and yours and stay safe!

That is standard. Don’t forget the psychologists need to take the information you gave them, score and analyze the results from any testing you did, synthesize that all together and write up usually a 3 to 4 page report (it’s written separately for each person, not a canned and short report that is dictated to someone). That’s quite a lot of work to be done in an instant. It’s unfortunately something too many people put off to the end and then want immediate results, not meaning you but meaning, it’s not like walking in to a hospital and asking for a chest x-ray (and even that takes time for a report). To those who find it all laughable, anxiety and other psychological problems can have a huge effect on bariatric surgery. Remember that when a psychological evaluation is done they are going to put the general results in addition to the specific results. It is quite relevant to surgery whether someone has psychosis, too much stress in their life to safely undergo the surgery, is not intellectually able to truly care for themselves, and other such issues. It may seem funny to you, but it can be a life-and-death issue. They are being not required just to irritate you. All the prerequisites are there are a reason, usually a really good reason. P.S. While some providers have fewer requirements, you risk having your assessment rejected by an insurance company since there are some clear bariatric standards set for for what kind of testing and other procedures should be done. For example, psychological testing is always a necessary per guidelines (test results offer some objective data beyond the Provider’s opinion). Using a provider willing to cut corners or someone without experience with these assessments means you risk wasting a lot of time and money (and having a delay in surgery).

Update- blossom aside (nothing against it, but it and similar clinics are not the norm and so just updating for those dealing with the customary fast track version ? I got approval 4 days ago April 24, although she emailed Monday. My first visit with the surgeon was in mid Feb. I had the 1st nutritionist visit that first day, the second mid March and the 3rd mid April. They submitted the fast track request within 1-2 days and so my approval happened in around a week’s time. I have BCBS of IL and they are one of the insurers that allow for this “fast track.” I had made sure to get a move on with it and so had my psychological assessment, group meeting, and nutritionist’s requirements (e.g., purchasing vitamins) done by the end of March. Now I just have to wait on the elective surgeries to begin and them to get through the backlog (they stopped doing procedures in ATL about March 17th. At least the approval is done and now it’s just a waiting game. Good luck everyone!

In my experience that is the most common fast track scenario for those with insurance (several of the BCBS policy types allow an early decision - so like 3 months dietician/ weight loss (w all the other reqts done, like psych eval) vs the standard 6 months. I know BCBS of IL Is one of those - I’m now awaiting word of whether I will be approved - fingers crossed! i know paying out of pocket is faster, but I don’t want to fly some place for this surgery and with two policies (since hubby is retired USMC) it would be insane for me to trade many 1,000s of dollars to avoid waiting a couple of months (especially now when no surgeries are happening here anyway).

That happened to me, well the hands part, when I had a thyroid disorder (which I think got far worse after my weight loss/calorie restriction). I see posts all the time where someone thinks they are cold due to weight loss and I constantly think to myself “more likely it’s about being hypothyroid via Hashimoto’s or other cause!” I was freezing all the time when I lost a lot of weight (not Bariatric surgery loss, but still a lot of weight) - I was cold when it was hot, I wore long sleeves in bed and socks, I was extra irritable, and even my nose was cold! Asked your doctor to run a thyroid antibodies test (not just thyroid). Mine is better now with meds. @S@ssen@ch your pcp may not be that Knowledgeable on this issue - I had to fight mine and until we did an ultra sound for another reason and he saw I had a goiter he didn’t order the antibodies test and it was in the 1,000s. Mine kept saying mr thyroid was low but normal (which is what it likely would be even if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Angers crossed that I have the same path if you did! Fingers crossed that I have the same result tat you did! Thank you ?

Thanks for sharing! We are due to travel during that time for me so I am worried it will ruin the event for me! ?

The esults of the biopsy during the scope last Friday showed there are a few h. pylori critters nesting in my stomach (“several” specifically). ☹️ I have not had any GI symptoms other than some minor increased gas in the last several weeks and there were no ulcers found. I would love to know your experience if you had the same happen to you. My Gastro ordered the 3 usual meds - amoxicillin, claritbromycin, and Protonix (although I do not yet know how many days it’s for, it could be 7, 10, or 14). 1. How many days were you prescribed the medications? 2. Did they get rid of the bacteria? 3. Did you feel rotten or was it not that big a deal? 4. How did your Bariatric surgeon react/or what did he/she say about it? 5. Did it delay your surgery? Were you required to retest? i would so appreciate any info you can offer. I have been busting my butt to get everything done as fast as I could because some travel pre-paid may put me in a surgical squeeze play! But now I am worried this bacteria will slow me down ( I was told that they could fast track me once I got 3 dietician visits (weight loss) completed, the scope / biopsy done, and the psych evaluation (the last two are now complete). THANKS ?

I wish you lots of luck. ❤️?? I have PCOS, I have had it since age 12. But I was able to lose weight, in fact I lost 100 pound w PCOS and a thyroid disorder in my 50’s. But 4 years out and I have regained about half back. And I’m not gonna lie, I ate way too much in the kind of foods that I ate were not healthy foods (I was losing weight I ate very little bread, almost no pasta, and lots of fruits and vegetables). I am speaking only for myself; but there is no doubt that for whatever reason I am hungry more and eat more than is normal.

In my view if you weren’t having any thoughts like you are then you would not be taking it all seriously enough. It’s normal.

I didn’t realize that surgeons/insurance companies would consider anything under a BMI except for a band. Has that changed?

I realize this was a whole back but... That is more normal, ink blots are part of what a psychoanalyst does for therapy - you likely had an mmpi-2 (300+ items but takes just 45 min) since insurance companies want to see objective data with the report and that is the one recommended by the committee that sets the standards for Bariatric evaluations. ?

Hi! Would you mind sharing with me where you did the online psych avail? I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and I live pretty far out from the city. Thanks!!

I encourage you to walk because you got no choice, if you try to lay down it’s like the Jolly green giant sit on you ? the nutritionist was super nice. Trying to decide who to do my psych (let’s just say bc of what I do for a living I may have to go out of state or something (those details for a PM ?). My scope (and colonoscopy) is a Friday.