I just did the psych eval, next step is nutritionist but soonest appt. is a month away. Is this normal? I can foresee things leading to surgery getting done too close to the holidays, and I don't want to go through the roughest part of this thing during the holidays. How long between steps did some of you experience?

I was self pay and it took me less than a month from first appointment to surgery. I used True Results and the whole thing felt like cattle call. I do not recommend my experience to anyone.

Thanks for everyone's comments, good points and good info, I guess it just takes as long as it takes. As far as the whole holiday thing, I just want to keep this transition temporarily low key and I'm thinking the necessary changes would elicit too many questions. But I see what you mean, holidays,, time of year, occasions can always be just another excuse. Lots to think about while I wait.

Started February surgery tomorrow

My Center says it is a minimum 3 months with all the classes and appointments you need to attend. I ended up waiting 6 months as the insurance required a 6 month monitored diet. Seemed like it was taking forever at the time but wow that was so long ago now. I wouldn't change a thing with this journey except maybe have done it sooner...

I called on a Thursday, started the pre-op diet the next day and was banded two weeks later.

I just did the psych eval' date=' next step is nutritionist but soonest appt. is a month away. Is this normal? I can foresee things leading to surgery getting done too close to the holidays, and I don't want to go through the roughest part of this thing during the holidays. How long between steps did some of you experience?[/quote']

My first appointment was 6/15 and my surgery date is 10/22. My insurance required 4 pre-op appointments 30 days apart (6-15, 7-15, 8-15, 9-16) then we submitted the paperwork and I got the approval today. Pre-op diet starts tomorrow and two-weeks later I'll be on the table!

Man some of you go quick. I got my approval on Friday, thought I would get a date today......now they only do pre-op classes once a month.....but have to have a surgery date for that. Can't get a surgery date until all pre-op test come back normal.......I wasn't told about those until I had the approval. This wait is almost more painful then the silly 6 month PCP visits UGH!!! I am suppose to host Thanksgiving to a family who has no idea I am having surgery.....any guesses to how this will play out

I just got my approval. Now I am doing the cardio and pulmonary clearances. Halloween and my birthday are right around the corner and then comes Thanksgiving and Christmas. I too am tossing around the best time to band. I want it done by the end of the year, for insurance purposes. I don't want to use any of these events as an excuse, I'm just trying to weigh out the least disruptive time! lol Who knows when the pre-op class will be, I may be a Holiday Bander after all!

Hi Vince, I know how hard the waiting feels -- and all out of our hands. Hate that! My process was a mandatory info session (8/6), meeting with Program Coord. a few weeks later, then Psych eval. and nutritionist appointments the same day -- took a week for them to call for a date with the surgeon. Got right in. Surgery then scheduled for 11/5 so I guess for me it was just about three months.

Started in Feb With insurance Reqs and banded middle of Sept.

Don't feel bad I've started this journey last month . I've got 5 more visits , February being my last one . Then still got to wait June for them to even submit my paper work. That's 8 months away. And that's even if my insurance approves it. But in the mean while I'm going on with my everyday life and trying to make changes now. Also to prepare my self mentally also. I'm also looking at it as I'm going every month to see a doc and getting test that I would like to see anyway like the EKG and my liver . Now that I'm getting older I'm like to know what going on with my self anyway . So good luck on ur journey ...

Interest meeting in march. 1st of 6 appointments started in April and I am scheduled for surgery Nov 29th (yeah day after Thanksgiving????). I also had to go to a nutritionist, psychologist, and physical therapist. Nutritionist took a month to get me in.

I started my journey in mid July, that was my first consult and nutritionist appointment in one, after that I met with the psychologist and and my evaluation early august, I just received my insurance approval. My insurance didn't require any sort of dieting plan or six month period like some people have stated. I have my pre op testing on October 18th and am getting banded November 4th!