Hi, this is my first post...I hope I found the right way to proceed. I have been to all the preliminary meetings, saw my doctor, (Dr. Pitt, in Columbia, MO) and was very impressed with him. Everything is a 'go' so far, and after talking to the insurance, it seems that all will go smoothly. How long did it take any of you for the insurance approval, and eventual surgery date? I'm hoping by September I'll be banded!!!

By the way, I have been reading many of your messages and have been encouraged, and can relate to many many of your experiences with wt. loss and re gainining it again. I'm confident that this will really help me.

Thanks to all of you for your honest postings, they have answered a lot of my questions!

Thank you!

pjv

Welcome to our group! I met with the surgeon for the first time in early December, 2005. I went to the required support meetings, met with both the psychologist and the nutritionist twice. I heard from the doctors office that I was approved at the end of February and had my surgery on April 6th, so it took a total of 4 months from start to finish.

disneynut:

i live in the springfield area and was interested in pioneer valley surg. center. my friend is getting gb done on the 20th. can you give me a little more info on your overall experience with them?? what should i do first?? what insurance do you have?? sorry to bombard you but her experience is a lot different than what i want to do. what do i do first!?!?!?!?!?!?!?:help:

Cinderella.

I have had a wonderful experience with Pioneer Valley Surgical. My dr. is Dr. Fiallo. My sister on the other hand has Dr. Haag and she has been fighting her insurance company for approval since April. She could not get anyone to return her numerous phone calls and when the insurance company requested additional information from his office, they never sent it and she was denied (that wasn't the only reason she got denied though). My insurance is Health New England and I got approved very quickly. The surgeon's office has informational seminars for people who are looking into banding at the Best Western hotel in West Springfield. I don't really know how often they have them so you could call their office or go to their website and it should tell you when the next one is. After the seminar was over, I arranged for a call back to get an appt. and it didn't take long at all as I said approximately 4 months from the date I went to the seminar until I had the surgery. Good luck to you!

my friend has dr fiallo and said hes great. she was orig. going to go through baystate and the wait was rediculous. her first appointment with them (consult) was going to be on the 20th..and her surgery with pvs is on the 20th..lol. thank you for your input. im going to call there tomorrow and see what i can do. i heard health new england is one of the best for bariatric sur. i also have hne. will i have to supply a list of medical problems and diets/drugs ive tried?? im getting all that info together now so ill be set when i get an appt.

thank you for your info!! Ill keep you posted..Marissa