I started this journey at the end of December, and I am now being told that I cant even schedule the appointment with my surgeon until I meet with the NUT....and even then I could have to see her 1 or 2 more times before I see the surgeon. Im starting to feel like this is just going to take sooo friggin long and I am getting so impatient. The worst part is, is that I am under 40 BMI and I am afraid that I will drop below 35 BMI. Ive been able to lose weight in the past but it never stays off for long. I am so tired of yo yo dieting and Ive been really hungry following what I learned at the NUT seminar.....I am thinking maybe I should try the other hospital in my city that does bariatric surgery, but the hospital that I am working with right now is like the best for this surgery in my area....I am so scared that I wont be able to get this surgery that I really do need

I want to clarify some things before I give any advice. Are these nutritional visits for you to apply for insurance or are you self-pay?

for me to apply to insurance...

I just dont see the point of meeting with the NUT so often before I can even see the surgeon...

I have been to an informational seminar lead by my surgeon, and have met with him once. I have to see NUT every month for6 months, go into DR. office monthly ,attend monthly support groups(and a year after), have a ultrasound of my liver, endoscopy and pscyh eval(half done). ALL of this is for INSURANCE ..SO I think you are just being put into the process by meeting with NUT. It will be worth it!!

I have heard a lot of surgeons do that. My surgeon actually makes you attend the informational seminar and fill out the personal information packet and they review it and then they contact you to schedule the first appt. Normally at the 1st appt. you meet with the surgeon, bariatician, nutritionist, and psychologist all in one day which could be a 4 hour appt! However, due to my insurance (BCBS H M O) they would only give the referral to see the surgeon and if he agreed with my PCP that the surgery was medically necessary then they would give me a referral to see the bariatician and nutritionist. I had to complete the psy. eval. before my PCP would even authorize the referral to the surgeon (so I don't have to re-do that). A lot of surgeons seem to want to get the requirements before they meet with you. It shouldn't be that way, but they probably spend a lot of time with patients and for whatever reason they either don't get approved or have a change of heart-most people probably can't afford to private-pay for the surgery. (I know I couldn't so although the hoop-jumping is extremely annoying and the process seems to take FOREVER, I'm thankful I have insurance that actually covers WLS!)

I just dont get why I need to meet with the NUT before they submit to insurance, especially when I might not require 6 months of seeing the NUT. My PCP filled out the paperwork for the surgeon's office noting the diets that I have tried....they wouldnt even know if I needed the 6 months of NUT until it was submitted. And then I am afraid that if I do follow the diet plan, I will go below 210 lbs, especially since they want you to try an exercise routine. Losing the weight is great, but I know in the long run it wont stay off. If I dont follow the diet plan then I might not qualify then....so its a catch 22. I guess I will just have to wait till I meet with the NUT 1:1...I think I will give a call to the office tomorrow to get more of my questions answered. I just spoke with a receptionist today who wasnt able to give me any useful information.

I started the process July 17 2012 . I just got my surgery date yesterday. March 27 is the day. To get approved I had to do weekly weigh.ins with my PCP, cardiac clearance, ecg, Stress test, pulmonary Clearance, upper GI, abdominal ultrasound, psych eval, nutritionist clearance, monthly pcp visit to discuss diet and exercise for six months, physical, complete blood panel with urinalysis, two chest x-rays, and submit six months of daily food and exercise journals. All of this just to get approved by Blue Shield of California. you have to want this. It's a small price to pay For potentially adding years to your life. Plus I've been heavy a lot longer than the eight months it will have taken From initiating the process to the date of surgery.

look into private hospitals, they can usually push things through a lot faster.

The insurance requires it to make sure you are educated about the process and have a chance at succeeding. The same reason for the psych too. They are investing their money in you almost as a wager, if you are successful, then they pay less overall from the health benefits of the procedure itself.

The insurance requires it to make sure you are educated about the process and have a chance at succeeding. The same reason for the psych too. They are investing their money in you almost as a wager' date=' if you are successful, then they pay less overall from the health benefits of the procedure itself.[/quote']

I had to do monthly checkups too. It seems like they want to discourage people by giving them so much to do in order to get approved. But I'm sure they just want to assure the patient is serious and educated enough for them to invest their money. But it is very tedious waiting on appointments and results not knowing if they are going to deny you.

I don't personally know how comfortable I would be with that. I met my surgery at my first doctors visit concerning the surgery and he examined me. He also completed my EDG and led my seminar. I would just need to be more connected with him before surgery. I'm sure it may depend on the hospital. Maybe he has a very large practice and is very busy. Best of luck!

Yeah, the practice is very large....I just get imaptient seeing everyone on here getting approved and getting their surgery date, I want that to be me too!!

So I am a little more relieved....I called the surgeon's office today and spoke with the NP that did my first eval. She reassured me that once I have my first NUT appointment, the process with my insurance (BCBS) should go quickly especially since I am under 40 BMI. She advised me to talk with the NUT about my worries regarding losing too much weight and that they will work with me so that does not happen. I can't wait to meet with the NUT and get the ball rolling...I think I will be a lot more relieved once that happens, but regardless the NP does not have any doubts to me getting approved