When you self pay do you have to go through the psych evaluation, seminar and nutritionist visit? Or are all these things mandatory due to insurance company policies?

I will be meeting with my surgeon for my initial consultation on Tuesday and I am hoping to be able to accomplish all the things I need to do so I can get sleeved in December. Would you all think its realistic to do everything within 2 months?

Thanks and I look forward to reading your responses!

I think it all depends on the surgery center you use. For me, I am self pay in Milwaukee WI and my surgeon requires everyone to go through a pre-op program. I had to attend an educational seminar, a support group meeting, one appointment each with a nutritionist, psychiatrist for a psych eval, and a physical therapist to discuss exercise after surgery. I also had to have an EKG, pulmonary function testing, and a chest x-ray and labs. I am all done with that, it took me about a month to get everything in. Now I am waiting for a date. I have heard other self-pay people have a consult visit and be able to schedule, I have heard of others going through about what I did as well. I think it's realistic to do everything in two months. I had my consult in July, finished all my pre-op stuff in August, and am now just waiting to schedule. It would go faster for me, but the psych only works one day at the location I went, I had to wait a month to get in to see him. Good luck you!

I'm self pay, too.

My surgeon requires my local physician to order labs (EKG and blood work) and a risk form to be signed. I then had to fill out a fairly long psych questionnaire along with about 10 other forms. He also required me to watch some pre-op and post-op psych videos (I'm really glad he did - they helped). That's about it.

I did start my process going down the insurance route and met with a local nutritionist - I was glad I did. It was nice for someone to walk thru what post-op diet will be like.

Two months is probably cutting is close, but is probably possible. I'm looking at about 3 months, but probably could have cut that to 2.5 months fairly easily.

My suggestion would be to stay on top of things - I spoke to someone last week that had their surgery where I did and she said to keep calling and e-mailing if you aren't getting a response. This proved to be true this past week - after 2 e-mails and 2 voicemails, I received a call back. I know the patient coordinator is very busy and I wasn't mad, I just know now that I need to make sure my stuff is taken care of and if that takes a call everyday, I'm willing to do that.

Best of luck to you!

Thank you so much for your replies. I'm just feeling quite anxious and excited to get started!

I'm self pay and I had to have blood work (which i already had from PCP), upper GI, EKG, psych eval, nutrition appt, a nutrition class and attend 1 support group.

I called on a place in Dallas and they said they could get me in for surgery in as soon as 2-3 weeks.

It also doesn't hurt to ask if things are actually required or just offered if you want it. For example I called another doctor in the town where I live and they were talking about getting me in to the next seminar and when I asked if that was required before seeing the Doc the answer was actually no and I was able to get in to see him for a consultation the next day.

Good luck!

I definitley could have had the surgery a month after my first appt. I'm waiting for my insurance to kick in from new job in order to get the upper GI. I paid out of pocket for the psych eval.

I had to see the nutritionist and psych dr once. Blood work and seminar. Took me 6 weeks from start to surgery day!

I was self pay in Dallas. Had initial seminar and consult with surgeon, endoscopy, stress test, pre-op class, and quite a few follow spots with nut and some with doc.