How Long Was Your Process?

[Flyingsaucer 9]

I'm pretty excited about all of the things going on in my life right now. How everything seems to get getting better and better for me. I wanted to see how long was your process from your first consult with the doctor to your surgery date. I'm super excited about my process and want to see about how long it will take me.

[Pam2011 26]

I just started this process about a month ago. The program I am going to, Memorial Bariatric Services told me it would be 6 months to 2 years for a surgery date. That is fine with me so I can work on stuff before I have the surgery. They require people to do psychsocial visit, nutritional visits (indiv) group nutritional classes, monthly weight loss visits with your primary care dr (even if not required by your insurance) along with a bunch of lab work before the surgery to get a base line of where you are at. I would rather do it this way than super quick and not be prepared for everything before and after surgery.

[fitforlife 18]

I started in May 2011 and had surgery January 23, 2012. seemed like forever. but it's Kaiser out here in CA. they also required a 10% body weight loss before too

[Tif 2.0 141]

I started August 2011 and my surgery date was January 27, 2012. I had to fulfill a 6 month medically supervised weightloss period for BCBS Texas before they would approve.

[AliveAgain 283]

I had my consult on 12/21/11. But due to the holidays, I didn't start my paperwork until 1/5/12 (pre-op psych eval, etc). Approval came back on 1/14/12 - less than 24 hours after they sent it off! I had surgery 1/30/12. Working with Anthem Blue Cross of CA was super easy! I feel like one of a lucky few who don't get put through hell for this wonderful surgery.

[takingmylifebacc 21]

I started in June 2011 and had my surgery Jan 25, 2012, so a lil over 6 months. The center I go to requires alot of things to be done prior to surgery. I had to attend 3 support group session, attend a nutrition class, had ekg's and chest xrays and ultrasound, leg ultra sounds, psych consult, tons of blood work, visits with nurse practioner I had to lose 10% of my body weight it feels like I am leaving something out, but at any rate I had to go through alot of stuff and it was all good though. I appreciate the center I went through for having the pt go through this made me feel like they were really trying to put our saftey first.

[Shells 40]

I started Oct 20th and my surgery was Jan 25th so three months, I'm a Kaiser baby and I did a lot of things quickly and kept in touch with my surgeon.

[MzPecanBrown 86]

I had REALLY easy insurance. If you meet the BMI requirements, you're good! No months of supervised weight loss program or anything of that sort. My process went like this:

October 12 - Initial and NUT Visit

October 27 - EKG, Echo, Barium Swallow

November 2 - Psych Visit

I had to get clearances from 2 specialists that I see which I did within the month of November.

December 9 - Received call with surgery date!

January 4 - Pre Op Consult with Surgeon

January 6 - Pre Op Class and IVC filter placed (I had this due to a previous clot)

January 10 - SURGERY!

[Lyra 43]

I haven't had surgery yet but my first appointment was 1/20. I have already done my blood work (luckily I'm pretty healthy so I dont have to do sleep tests, ekg, etc), gone to my first informational class 2/8, my NUT/Psych eval is tomorrow 2/15 and my support group is 3/8. My surgery will be probably be scheduled in April/May as the my doctor likes there to be at least a few months where you can think things over. The week before surgery I have to do a pre-op and one last class and then I'm fully cleared. So all total it'll probably be around 3 months.

[Flyingsaucer 9]

I have Aetna. They changed their policy from last year. Last year I needed a psych eval and this year I don't. I already had my second appointment with a dietician and I already have 2 years of documented obesity. Everyone has to go through the blood work right? And what about the sleep test? They never mentioned anything to me about any of that stuff. They only told me about a four month diet and two year obesity thing. I must call my caseworker tomorrow to find out what else I need done.

[Priscilla Johnson Wright 9]

My information session was 12/21

My first Consult 1/3

Psyc Eval 1/6

NUT Eval 1/13

Approval Letter 1/24

Surgery Date 3/21

This was the first available date at my Dr. Office.

My husband insurance with Anthem expires in June due to lay off so I am SUPER BLESSED to have gotten this underway quickly!

[Bedhead 158]

It was less than three months for me from my information session (mid november) until my surgery Feb 6th

[101driver 46]

Mid-November I had my consult; Jan. 30 was my surgery. Good luck to you!

[Pam2011 26]

Thanks for everyone's information. I am hoping to have mine surgery possibly this summer and by that time I will have bult up vacation time from work to use during my time off. I am kinda worried though, I woke up Monday morning in horrible pain due to my left knee. I went to the knee dr and he is saying I need to have a knee replacment! I have had knee problems for about 9 years and had a knee scope on this knee 7 years ago. It still bothers me off and on and usually a cortisone shot will help and I only get one about every 9 months at the most. My knee had been kinda bothering me the last couple weeks but I just figured it was due to needing a cortisone shot since the last one was in June of 2011. I tried some Zumba exercise to dvd on Sunday morning at home and modified alot of the moves cause I know I can't move my knee like they do or twist it, was ok all day Sunday went shopping and no pain till I woke up Monday morning. Having to take rx pain killers to manage the pain and see the knee dr in a month. He gave me a cortisone shot this morning and rx to see Physical therapy once/if the pain gets better and I can handle moving it without being on painkillers.

I asked him if loosing weight will help me to not have to have the knee replacement, he said loosing weight would help but wouldn't change the structure of my knee and I would still need it. Although I am obese I am very active and this really upsets me. I started to cry as I was walking to my car after the apt. but kept it together and have at work so far. I have a psych social visit today after work and will ask her if needing a knee replacement will jeporidize getting a surgery date. If so, I will have the WLS first and then do the knee replacment.

Sorry so long just need to vent. Having a crappy day and on top of it someone brought valentines days Cookies to work! I haven't ate any though so I am trying to be strong!