Have waited 2 weeks to hear back from someone just to get this process started and have become frustrated and anxious! How long did everyone's process take? I work with kids for a living so was hoping to have surgery this summer for recovery time. I have BCBS of AZ and they don't have a 6 month wait period, but I need help knowing how realistic it is for me to have it done this summer.

I am not sure. I have BCBS of Alabama and the process was going to be too long for me with all the documentation needed. I opted to go to Mexico for mine. Alot cheaper and less hassle. I picked my date with no problem.

It took me about six months, which in retrospect was probably a good thing to help me wrap my mind around it, plus my husband's head as well. Even with that, he was still talking about kidnapping me out of the parking lot when we got there for surgery.

I went to a seminar on WLS in June and started chipping away at the required weight loss, plus the battery of tests to make sure I was healthy enough to do it.

I had my insurance approval and was finally scheduled for Nov. 29 and then my 87-year-old mother broke her leg in two places simply getting into the car. I needed to be able to lift her to get her into her wheelchair, so put it off until Dec. 27, 2011.

Aetna was great as far as approving my surgery. I have sleep apnea, hypertension, etc., and co-morbidities speed along that approval. Speaking of that, I'm off one BP med and an anti-inflammatory so far. My weight loss has slowed a lot and I'm frustrated with that, but really I have no complaints and would do it over again.

My two cents ...

Carol

I started the process on Feb 1 for my first visit with the surgeon, nurse, nutritionist and insurance processing lady. I completed all my tests by March 19. I also have BCBS of AZ, submitted on March 19 and approved on March 26. I got my surgery date scheduled for April 16. I'm going thru Banner Gateway in Gilbert, AZ. How about you?

Mine took over a year but I have Kaiser and they have the whole 6 month thing going on. Plus I had a totally incompetent nutritionist that cause me atleast another 6 months but that's a whole other story. By the time I have my surgery on the 23rd, it will have been almost 2 years from start to finish.

Mine took over a year but I have Kaiser and they have the whole 6 month thing going on. Plus I had a totally incompetent nutritionist that cause me atleast another 6 months but that's a whole other story. By the time I have my surgery on the 23rd' date=' it will have been almost 2 years from start to finish.[/quote']

Wow are we with the same Kaiser? I met with the nutritionist in November. She told me I wasn't qualified because my BMI was 38 and I didn't have any comorbities. I told her I have high cholesterol and my PCP that counts. The approval committee met in December and said I needed a 2 year weight history. I told her that my old records from my OBGYN were there just not scanned in the system yet and she said she would look for them. I guess she totally forgot this conversation because she called me two weeks later to see if I had my records. In the mean time I was trying to get records from a bariatric clinic I went to that also had an incompetent staff. Come January she said my records were in the system but she didn't look thru them all because it was a lot of pages. Wtf! And she was about to go on vacation. I tried to follow up with her and to this day she never called me back. I was like F this! I called my surgeon in Mexico chose my date and got sleeved last Wednesday. I couldn't be happier and am leaving kaiser when open enrollment starts.

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I started the process on Feb 1 for my first visit with the surgeon' date=' nurse, nutritionist and insurance processing lady. I completed all my tests by March 19. I also have BCBS of AZ, submitted on March 19 and approved on March 26. I got my surgery date scheduled for April 16. I'm going thru Banner Gateway in Gilbert, AZ. How about you?[/quote']

I haven't heard from anyone about having surgery! Like I said, it's been almost 2 weeks and I'm starting to become frustrated. I am not sure if they won't take me because I'm young (23) but I have all of the qualifications and proof that my weight has affected my health since 16. How did you start with banner gateway because I filled out a form online, should I just call. I just don't want to get the runaround because I need to know how to plan for things. Did you like your surgeon? How long were you in the hospital??

For people who went to Mexico, how was that? I'm kind of afraid to do that and my husband is extremely against it. Is there anything I can look at on the Internet to help ease either of our nerves. I have researched, and talked, and researched, and talked to my psychologist, husband, and doc about this and I'm full aware of what the surgery entails. I just need to find out the info that pertains specifically to me, but I can't do that if I can't get a hold of anyone! I'm not opposed to Mexico, would just like more info if I can't stay in the states.

My process began in Sept of this year with the initial consult and ended this month. My surgery date is next week and the approval process for me was less than a week's time. I have UH for Railroad employees.

For people who went to Mexico, how was that? I'm kind of afraid to do that and my husband is extremely against it. Is there anything I can look at on the Internet to help ease either of our nerves. I have researched, and talked, and researched, and talked to my psychologist, husband, and doc about this and I'm full aware of what the surgery entails. I just need to find out the info that pertains specifically to me, but I can't do that if I can't get a hold of anyone! I'm not opposed to Mexico, would just like more info if I can't stay in the states.

Mexico was great! I was sleeved by Dr. Ramos Kelly a week ago today. I did alot of research on these and other boards and websites. If you need a defense for your husband, tell him that the surgeons in Mexico have been doing bariatric surgery longer than the ones in the US, specifically the sleeve. The surgeons in Mexico have done thousands, while the "experienced" ones here have done a few hundred. I'm not knocking US surgeons, I was just VERY confident in my choice of surgeon. Also there are several youtube videos of people that went to Mexico. Everyone raves about how the hospital care is better in Mexico. That was my first hospital stay so I really can't compare it, but I was pleased. I had no pain, just a little nausea. The morning after I just kept telling my friend I can't believe this is an outpatient surgery in the states. In choosing your surgeon, just make sure you look at experience and complication rates. Either way, you have to feel comfortable with your choice. It's already stressful enough going through the surgery, you at least want to be confident that you chose an experienced one. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Wow are we with the same Kaiser? I met with the nutritionist in November. She told me I wasn't qualified because my BMI was 38 and I didn't have any comorbities. I told her I have high cholesterol and my PCP that counts. The approval committee met in December and said I needed a 2 year weight history. I told her that my old records from my OBGYN were there just not scanned in the system yet and she said she would look for them. I guess she totally forgot this conversation because she called me two weeks later to see if I had my records. In the mean time I was trying to get records from a bariatric clinic I went to that also had an incompetent staff. Come January she said my records were in the system but she didn't look thru them all because it was a lot of pages. Wtf! And she was about to go on vacation. I tried to follow up with her and to this day she never called me back. I was like F this! I called my surgeon in Mexico chose my date and got sleeved last Wednesday. I couldn't be happier and am leaving kaiser when open enrollment starts.

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Apparently so. I could go on and on for pages about how incompetent she was but I won't. I ended up having to write a longggggg complaint letter to Kaiser about her and then miraculously, I was approved 2 weeks later. She was the worst!!!! I refused to go down without a fight and pay for it out of pocket. It was a long wait/road but I am finally here and will be getting it done for "free" on 4/23. I swear I believe Kaiser puts you thru a bunch of mess hoping you just give up. Not me buddy! With all the money I pay for that insurance, I was determined I was going to reap the benefits and get this surgery on their dime! LOL

I haven't heard from anyone about having surgery! Like I said' date=' it's been almost 2 weeks and I'm starting to become frustrated. I am not sure if they won't take me because I'm young (23) but I have all of the qualifications and proof that my weight has affected my health since 16. How did you start with banner gateway because I filled out a form online, should I just call. I just don't want to get the runaround because I need to know how to plan for things. Did you like your surgeon? How long were you in the hospital??[/quote']

I was approved in two weeks and I'm going with Banner Gateway too! You will need to attend an information session if you choose Banner Gateway. They also have a few preop requirements, but they can be finished within a month or less. I'm scheduled for April 27th!

I had my consultation June 6 of last year and had surgery July 20. The only thing my doc required was a psych eval which I had done the same week of the consult. I have BCBS of MI and the insurance department of the hospital just had to "call to confirm my benefits" and I was approved.

I think everyone's journey is so different...its hard to know what to expect. Good luck with everything!