Let me start off by saying I REALLY want this surgery, but I started this journey a few months back. I have been anxiously doing all of the steps to get my surgery approved. I finished finally finished everything and my doctor's office submitted it only to find out my insurance won't approve the hospital my doctor works out of. Found out on Monday I had to switch doctors, and called the only doctor that does bariatric surgery at the only approved hospital within a 2 hour radius. Now, they are making me jump through alot more hoops. I have been looking forward to this surgery for more than a year, and finally got everything lined up to get it done, and now I feel like I am starting all over. Has anyone else had to go through this? I'm just not sure how I feel about it if I have to go through another 4 months of appointments before I get to have the surgery. I really do want this, but I am feeling a little defeated.

In your sig it says you lost over 100 pounds without the band? Is that true!?!?!? Wow I envy you!

Let me start off by saying I REALLY want this surgery, but I started this journey a few months back. I have been anxiously doing all of the steps to get my surgery approved. I finished finally finished everything and my doctor's office submitted it only to find out my insurance won't approve the hospital my doctor works out of. Found out on Monday I had to switch doctors, and called the only doctor that does bariatric surgery at the only approved hospital within a 2 hour radius. Now, they are making me jump through alot more hoops. I have been looking forward to this surgery for more than a year, and finally got everything lined up to get it done, and now I feel like I am starting all over. Has anyone else had to go through this? I'm just not sure how I feel about it if I have to go through another 4 months of appointments before I get to have the surgery. I really do want this, but I am feeling a little defeated.

All the tests you had run should still be valid, along with any pre-op diets.

What else are they requiring, and who is requiring it? I could understand the surgeon wanting to meet with you, and perhaps he might want you to meet with people on his team. But how could it take months?

OMG, that sounds like my story...I had planned this for 2006 after my beautiful baby was born and Diabetes stayed. I was given all these hoops, and thought I had everything ready. My husband changed jobs, and they couldn't schedule me before the insurance expired. It was such a mess. I was totally not happy, and couldn't get the credit since I have alot of student loans, and am on my second degree.

A year ago, I started talking to a rep of a doctor in Mexico. I have the money, and surgery date and feel extremely excited and comfortable about this. My surgery date is May 4th, and my husband is going with me while my family holds on to our toddler girls. The various ways that all my immediate family has helped get this together is amazing and validates I am doing the right thing.

If I waited for America, I would not be getting ready for this.

On Saturday night I did the last ride I needed to ride on top of the Stratosphere, Insanity, the swings, and the emotion, and excitement took over me. I have a bucket list, and crossed another thing off of it. May you find the drive to see this through, and don't hesitate to take things into your own hands.

I was really lucky, I started seeing doctors March 2, went to a physician group referred by my insurance company and they are very knowledgable, I had my approval in five days of submission, and the doctor had a cancellation, and I had my surgery on April 9th. My process went so fast, that i missed alot of key elements in my decision making process, but I am clear that I made the right decision, time is your friend. I realized that my insurance approval was fast, because from a medical perspective I truly needed the surgery, so that made it bittersweet. Most of us approach this from a cosmetic, aesthetic perspective when in essense it's truly life-saving. Stay encouraged and allow yourself the necessary time to make the right decision, and follow your heart. The good thing is, with the exception of some pains, and a few minor things, I feel perfect!!!!

I have had a similar story of delays, and it is discouraging, but I'm hanging in there. At this point I'm hoping for latter May, but have a couple of new hoops to jump through and still don't have insurance approval or a date.

May we keep our eyes on the goal!

Thanks everyone for all of the comments.

I have not lost 100 pounds, but I am hoping to. I am really new and not sure where to go to change things yet.

This new doctor is nothing like my old one. I had to attend a seminar, and the want you to see their phsycologist, dietician (for 3 months) and physical therapist. They also want all of that paid out of pocket, even though my insurance has already paid for me to do all of those steps. I did get to talk to the office manager yesterday, and after I explained my situation she said she would talk to the doctor and see what he said, but she had a strong feeling that he would want me to follow their program with their people.

I have had a very similar situation myself. I was referred by my PCM to see one surgeon. Called my insurance to make sure I was good to go. Usually I get an approval letter to let me know I can go see the surgeon, but I didn't so I thought a verbal confirmation from them was good. WRONG. I was going to the wrong surgeon. Didn't catch this until I was viewing claims online, and realized they weren't being paid! I had the psych eval, nutritional visit all done. I was on the verge of having them submit papers for approval, when I found out. So now I am starting over with a new surgeon. THANK GOODNESS he accepted all the paperwork from the previous surgeon. I just have get the endoscope done, wait for approval and schedule a surgery date. I truly believe this is worth the extra work and of course the long wait.

I do have to say that I was soooooo upset over this, and I felt like throwing in the towel from the aggravation, but I REALLY need this. So I pulled up my boot straps and trudged forward. I do have to say, I like this surgeon better, so it was a mini blessing despite the aggravation. :thumbup:

Thanks Army Wife! I am trying not to give up hope, and they are supposed to tomorrow, adn let me know one way or the other. I really need this too, and Im trying to be positive. This surgeon is the top bariatric surgeon in the state, so I do have comfort in that. He just has a certain way he likes to do things, which I get, but I jsut dont want to have to start over. I am more optimistic today than yesterday. I just keep telling myself " I am not giving up. I am doing this for me!"

I too am going through the same thing now. Fortunately my new doctor says i already fulfilled all the requirements with the other doctor so i am currently waiting for my surgery date. Should be any day now :thumbup:

You would think the insurance would tell you in the beginning you need to see somebody else GEESH!!