So my surgery date is set for May 16th,all things are turned in and bam i hit a massive speed bump in this road to healthy lifestyle change YESTERDAY!!!!My primary doctor doesnt want to sign the surgery clearance letter because my diets Ive tried over well lets see the last 10 yrs have not been documented!!!But she agrees that the apband surgery is a positive step for me to take????WHAT the Heck???So now I have my facilitator talking with her to get her to rewrite the letter that is needed for my insurance(which my insurance does not require DOCUMENTATION of my diets)...Just so freaking PISSED and frustrated!!!I dont know what to do!!!My surgery is just about a mnth away!!

That is so stupid..how can she say she agrees with the surgery for you but then wont sign the necessary paper work..ugh one of the reason i'm gald I was self pay...I hope ur doc comes to her senses soon and signs ur papers...best wishes

I'd tell her she is your Dr and can have opinions about what she thinks is necessary or not, but you're the one living in your body and know you need the surgery to be successful.

THAT IS CRAZY...I THINK YO DOCTOR MAY BE JUST TWEEKING...SEE IF ANOTHER DOCTOR CAN WRITE THE LETTER YOU NEED, OR HELL TRANSFER TO ANOTHER DOCTOR WHO WILL LOOK AT YOUR RECORDS AND HELP YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY...BUT GOING OFF SUBJECT...I AM NEW TO THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND AM TRYING TO GET BANDED... HAVE A QUESTION: YOU SAY YOU'RE SCHEDULED FOR MAY TO GET YOUR SURGERY...HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING>??? BETTER YET, WHEN DID YOU FIRST GO TO THE SEMINAR??? JUST TRYING TO SEE HOW LONG I HAVE BEFORE I MAY GET THE SURGERY??? THANKS IN ADVANCE!

That is riduculous! I am sorry to hear your doctor is being that way. I would find another doc that puts my health and consideration first!

Hi Lulu, im not banded yet either but i started my journey in Nov of 2011 only because i was required to do a 6 month supervised diet required by my insurance...my last one was May 10 this year..so now my advocate will be faxing my paperwort to my insurance..so it really depends on what your insurace requires...so for looks like i will be banded by end of may beginning of June..so thats how long the process takes again it depends on your insurance and the place were your r getting it done..hope this helps.

Ask your surgery center to refer you to a doctor. That's what I did. My first doctor did the same thing to me. I took a copy of my medical records to the new doctor, she looked it over, talked to me for about 20 minutes about dieting, etc....then she faxed the referral letter to the surgeon. Good luck! My date will be in May so I am getting really excited.

Well in response on how long Ive been waiting..NOT long..Since March 19th.My insurance doesnt require documentation of diets just one co morbidity.Which I have 3!!!Diabetes,sleep apnea, and arthritis in both knees!!!.I have to go to Las Vegas for my surgery which is 1800 miles away.I would travel to the ends of the earth if need be,but anyways...I will attend my seminar in Vegas,but I have attended a seminar on my own here close to my town with the dr whos gonna do my fills.My ficilitator informed my today that my doctor will write her own letter but shes not gonna sign the form the facilitator..Duh shes not to bright I dont guess but hopefully the letter she writes will be sufficiant for my insurance..still waiting though...