Hi there! I'm brand new to this whole thing, and wanted to join this site for support and conversation through my journey. I have looked into surgery twice before but didn't have insurance coverage, and am now looking into it again since I have a fantastic employer with wonderful benefits. I have met with a surgeon and medically qualify, and am now jumping through the hoops to apply for authorization. I'd love to chat with people and hear about everyone's paths to surgery and after surgery, and am so excited to join this site!

Hi Lissa I have a 2 hour class tomorrow with a nutritionist and physical therapy. Then I have to call the caseworker to move on to the nextstep, which would be a one hour one on one appointment with the nutritionist and social worker. Last Friday I had a sleep assessment and am waiting for a call back to have a sleep study.. Phew after the appointments with the nutritionist and social worker I have to have another appoint with them. I will have to meet with the caseworker to see if all my goals are met then I can be scheduled for the surgeon and make a date. So I am about half way thru I figure. I am hoping to have surgery by March or April. I hope! Lol I already did a orientation class a 8 week weight management class and one support group so far. This sure takes forever. I am one of those that when I make up my mind I'm ready right then so all this waiting and so forth is hard for me. My husband says it will teach me patience! Ya right if I don't have it by now I'll never get it! Lol sounds like you have quite a journey as well.

Hi. I am fairly new to the site as well. As for the process well, tonight was my graduation from all the pre surgery crap. I have done 12 weeks of nutrition, behavior modification, blood tests, poop samples. I have lost just 4lbs shy of my 10% and as of tomorrow morning my referral to a surgeon will be processed. In 9 days I should have my 1st consult with a surgeon and surgery (bypass) will be early January. What a way to start my 2013!

I am available for chatting or support anytime. I think support is essential.

Lol we all have some hoops don't we!

Hi Lissa I have a 2 hour class tomorrow with a nutritionist and physical therapy. Then I have to call the caseworker to move on to the nextstep' date=' which would be a one hour one on one appointment with the nutritionist and social worker. Last Friday I had a sleep assessment and am waiting for a call back to have a sleep study.. Phew after the appointments with the nutritionist and social worker I have to have another appoint with them. I will have to meet with the caseworker to see if all my goals are met then I can be scheduled for the surgeon and make a date. So I am about half way thru I figure. I am hoping to have surgery by March or April. I hope! Lol I already did a orientation class a 8 week weight management class and one support group so far. This sure takes forever. I am one of those that when I make up my mind I'm ready right then so all this waiting and so forth is hard for me. My husband says it will teach me patience! Ya right if I don't have it by now I'll never get it! Lol sounds like you have quite a journey as well.[/quote']

Wow, it's interesting how different your process is. I have no classes and no social worker (unless I am totally missing the boat, lol) but a full six months of individuals with nutritionists and my PCP. I hear this is the worst part, that the waiting is half the battle. I certainly hope so!

Hi. I am fairly new to the site as well. As for the process well' date=' tonight was my graduation from all the pre surgery crap. I have done 12 weeks of nutrition, behavior modification, blood tests, poop samples. I have lost just 4lbs shy of my 10% and as of tomorrow morning my referral to a surgeon will be processed. In 9 days I should have my 1st consult with a surgeon and surgery (bypass) will be early January. What a way to start my 2013!

I am available for chatting or support anytime. I think support is essential.[/quote']

That's fantastic! January is soooo close! Have the nerves set in yet?

I probably won't have surgery for a couple more months. I'm hoping by March.

that's why im paying cash.

Fred Montana JR

I started the whole process in late October and I get my surgery date January 8th...

Fred Montana JR

That's nice! I wish mine would be that fast. Already has been since september 20th.

and the best part this is a graduation gift. I graduate school for HVAC and Refrigeration march 25

Fred Montana JR

Hi there' date=' thanks for the response! That's crazy that you had to switch surgeons, but I'm glad it worked out! I'm finding that some of the hoops are for the insurance company and some are specific to the surgeon. Did you have a similar experience?[/quote']

I had to change surgeons because of insurance. The 1st surgeon was a wellmark provider but not a wellmark "blue choice" provider. My initial exam was $350.. When I called them at the very start they said they were a provider and the Dr was also on the website as a provider. I had no clue wellmark also had different subgroup providers. Once i finally got through to their insurance lady, she even said he is a provider of wellmark but I asked why my insurance declined the initial exam.. and then she told me that he was not a blue choice provider. Insurance is very confusing! I had went thru their dietitian, psychological exam, everything to start the approval process.. I had read they needed 6 month of supervised diet even tho the first surgeon didn't believe they did.. I went anyway "just in case" wellmark does not release their requirements.. which also stinks! And..They did require it!

I had my final weigh in September 3 and surgeon office sent in paperwork right away. I was approved in 3 days. I worried about my weight because during the 6 months I fell below the 40bmi.. once approved I had a few more Dr hoops.. gall bladder test, surgery class, and nutrition class.

But now 2 months after surgery and everything is going so well that I only wish I would have done it so much sooner!

I know it seems to take forever and they don't really tell you everything up front. So far I don't have to do a 6 mos diet. Phew. I do know I will have a week or two of some kind of diet before the surgery.

I probably won't have surgery for a couple more months. I'm hoping by March.

I'm looking at May or June, I think.

and the best part this is a graduation gift. I graduate school for HVAC and Refrigeration march 25

Fred Montana JR

That's awesome, congrats! I wish I could afford to self pay.

I know it seems to take forever and they don't really tell you everything up front. So far I don't have to do a 6 mos diet. Phew. I do know I will have a week or two of some kind of diet before the surgery.

I'm actually looking forward to the liquid diet before surgery. Not so much actually doing it, but really seeing what it will be like immediately after. I've been toying with the idea of going liquid for a couple of days while I'm home over the holidays so I have a better sense of what Protein powder is like.