Today was my 1st set of appointments. I had my lab work and EKG done and met with the nurse. Then I had my bariatric assessment with the Dr. , followed with the psych eval. All cleared me to go on to the next step. Ok its sinking in this is going to happen.

Today was my 1st set of appointments. I had my lab work and EKG done and met with the nurse. Then I had my bariatric assessment with the Dr. ' date=' followed with the psych eval. All cleared me to go on to the next step. Ok its sinking in this is going to happen.[/quote']

Mine is in a few weeks I'm right there with you can't believe I made the call I'm still having doubts hope they can clear alot of things up on my first appointment got 3 million questions to ask good luck to ya

What next steps do you have to do rose?

I just joined and this is only my second post. Although in reality I spent half my life thin, half obese, took two years to decide to get the surgery and 3 months in process; it seems like 10 min thin, a lifetime obese and a thousand lifetimes waiting for this process! What is advice from people for waiting between appts and tests and steps?

Exercise more. Walk at least 30 minutes a day. Quit smoking if you do. Start eliminating caffeine and sodas. Start taking if not already multivitamins. Also a great tool to help is download the app myfitnesspal best thing I ever did besides downloading this app

What next steps do you have to do rose?

I have to do a total of 5 phone appts. with my insurance each has to be 2 weeks apart. I had the first 1 this morning. I also have another set appts. at the bariatric center. At that set I will see the Dr. again, a dietician, and a physical therapist. I am super excited. As long as everything continues to go well, We should be able to submit to insurance for approval around Nov 12 th.

Phone appt with the insurance? Never heard of that. Like what did they say or have you do over the phone?

I thought it was weird too. They sent me a pedometer and a huge booklet of info about pre and post op. I have to read a few chapters and answer questions then when the dietician or exercise specialist from the Health Partners( my insurance) call I discuss it with them and set mini goals to accomplish every 2 weeks. I guess its there way of making sure I fully understand whats involved and that I am ready to make some changes. My mini goal this time is to lose 3 lbs by Oct 15 th and to eat better and get more exercise. Its funny because basiclly its like they are reviewing what I discuss at my Drs. appt. as far as eating and exercising. However, I don't think they could probably tell me much about the actual surgery or what all is involved. Sorry for the long answer : )

No such thing as long answer. It is unbelievable how the insurance companies are making decisions and doing the work that should be between us and our doctors

New on here but have been following everyone for about a year now. I to have started what seems to be the never ending appointments. I look forward to having the support of the members here, I have read some of the most encouraging and caring post from people going through this transformation. I am possibly going to be in the December Dates. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Arrrrggg... the endless appointments - I remember them well - LOL I was VERY LUCKY in the fact that I had no involvement with my insurance company what so ever. My surgeon's office handled everything, I just delt with my Dr.s insurance coordintator. I first had to go to a class about WLS, in which they explained all the different procedures, if you were interested when you left the class you could make a consult appt. with the surgeon. Which I did at that time you discuss what type of surgery you want and he tells you what is best for you. Then he makes a list based on your age, health, etc. on what "extra" tests you needed done. Since I am 53 and never had a colonoscopy he required that along with the endoscopy. He also had me go for a sleep study which I wore a monitor on my head at home for two nights and of course 1 nutrition class, 1 physc. eval, and 1 nutrition appt. with a nutritionist. At the consult is where we set my surgery date which they gave me 2 months to get all my appt. done, at first I did not think I was gong to make it but I did and the last two weeks before surgery I could sit back and relax with no dr. appts.

I never once had to speak to the insurance company. Once I got all my tests done that they needed for insurance submission, it was a requirement from my surgeon to have my primary doctor write a letter stating why I needed surgery. The surgeons office provided a draft of the letter because they know what the insurance companies want to hear so all my primary had to do was copy it to his letter head and add info. if he wanted. I sailed thru the approval process, they submitted on a Friday and I had approval on Wed. morning. I did not have to do any diets or anything.

Its ALOT of running and appointments but you get thru it, now I am 6 months post op and feeling fantastic !!! Best decision I ever made !!!! Hang in there... it is all worth it !!! Plus you really get a good physical during the process so you know that you are in pretty good health too !!!!

Alright got the Behavorial and Exercise class meeting done. Chest x-ray, EKG, and Pulmonary. I found out that I have lost another 4lbs. Will they set my date after I get through all the tests or can they do it before?

It's usually after all your appointments have been met that they give you a surgery date. Then need to give you one because they put that on the paperwork to submit to the insurance company. if the insurance company doesn't approve it right away and the office can't submit what the insurance wants in time then the surgery is pushed off to another date. That's what happened to me. Then the insurance approved it once all their requirements of paperwork were met. The second date stuck and I was on my way.

I am so afraid that I will do all the requirements, take all the tests, restructured my eating habits to get me prepared, and taking the ugggg vitamins only to have the insurance companies say no. That will just suck!!! If both approve it then I should not be that much out of pocket for it. That is the plan anyway. Thank you for the information.

I finished all of my mandatory appts. Now I'm just waiting to hear back with a date for the Dr. and/or any other appts they want me to do. I gave the dietician and nurse the dates I'm able to take off of work so I'm *hoping* they'll be able to schedual me for that time. Crossing my fingers for December!

I am waiting too. Got all my final stuff done last week. Called insurance coordinator at surgeons office to make sure she has everything and if she already submitted or fixing too. Left a message so waiting for her to call back