When I go for my appointments, everyone's super nice and friendly and helpful and bursting with information. But if I have a question outside of office hours and send a voicemail or an email, I get bupkis. No response.

I'm concerned about that. While I can get many of the questions I have answered here, it's still critical that I feel they are invested in my success too.

For instance: I need to set up a sleep study (though I don't have apnea), and they gave me the name of the doctor to call. I've been calling for two weeks and nothing. I told my bariatric center about the unresponsive doctor, and the office manager said she'd look into it and get back to me. And------no callback.

If I call and set up with another sleep study, will my surgeon/my insurance allow that? I mean, a sleep study is a sleep study is a sleep study, right?

I'm frustrated. I'm also really hungry today and no matter what I eat (and I'm being good, but boy--it's hard) I'm hungry again in an hour. Grrrrrrrrr.

Words of encouragement/advice?

Don't know what I'd do without this site!

I have only had one appt early on with my surgeon. I know 2 other people who have gotten banded by him and they just rave about all the attention (feel like family now, blah blah) they receive, so I am thinking and hoping I will have the same feelings after I am finally banded.

One thing he insisted on was that I go to a GP doc, and he gave me a huge list of pre-reqs as well. Being self pay I was a little nervous. My ins covers a good bite of all the tests, but still the deductibles and 20%'s add up.

Anyway, he was right about the GP, that's for sure. Instead of picking one out of the yellow pages I asked for a recommendation and I must say, I am very happy with this doctor. After my initial exam one of his staff made a ton of calls and got me hooked up for all the pre-req procedures, including the sleep study.

I feel for you PhillyGirl. I have had a couple of missed communications with my surgeons office, and though understandable, it just makes me feel unimportant to them when it happens. I know I shouldn't feel that way.. I think it has to do with the emotional rollercoaster I've been on since the start of this journey.

Hey, PhillyGirl. I totally get this.

When I phone my (potential) surgeon, I never get a person. He is part of a large group (like, 12 or so) of doctors and they have an extensive voice mail system. No matter which option I choose, I always end up leaving a message. It is weird because I feel like I have to be very specific so that my message gets to his (or his nurse).

Usually the nurse does call back in a day or less, but I really wish that a HUMAN would pick up the phone!!!!! I did call on Friday (as I had been told to do), but no one has called back yet. I am out of town from this afternoon through late Tuesday night, so maybe they'll call in that time. (I hope.)

Keep your chin up! Though I have no patience myself, I think that might be the key here. *sigh*