Hi all!

I began this journey in October 2013, paperwork was submitted to insurance in February, got approval February 19th but didn't get my next appointment with surgeon until March 24th to get my surgery date. My question is this appointment for my surgery date Pre-op? They told me that I will be there all day. I'm assuming that this is my pre-op & final appointment with surgeon before the actual surgery. If it is, then I'm assuming my surgery won't be too long after that, I hope...

Thanks in advance!

I was never asked to take a nutrition class nor have a seen a nutritionist. Is this required with most surgeons?

it depends of if you are self pay or insurance is paying. (and what country you are in) in the US, usually insurance requires you have some sort of nutritional counseling and track your intake in some way. self pay you could be required to nothing or the same stuff as insurance people. i went to a center of excellence and we were required to go to nutritional group counseling, see a nutritionist 1:1 at least twice and track our food intake for at least 3 months. we were required to be cleared by the nut before we could have surgery, (along with the psych and medical staff).

I have no waiting requirement but the HMO I'm on is SO backed up it's going to take a full year now. I'm beyond pissed off and somehwere between heartbroken and irate this week. Still - nothing I can do to change that, except complain almost weekly to their customer service number.

As for nutritional counseling, well--we have to pay $500 out of pocket for it, and expect to have four sessions. One is in the large group class (nothing that wasn't in our start-up packet) and then I just had my first one-on-one. The intake form asked what I hoped to get out of the session, and I listed three nutrition-related things I wanted to know. Never once did she look at those or answer them. She took the entire hour to read through the nutritional booklet I BROUGHT WITH ME and had already read, pausing only when i interupted with monor questions about her info not agreeing with what was written. Seriously - NO help. The idea of two more of these canned session, which I have to take off work for, it irritating as heck.

Long and short, don't feel too bad if a hutritionist isn't required. So far it's no help at all. And my three questions never did get answered. When I have my post op session i'm going to tell them in advance that I expect someone to address these, and that I will have read the material first, and so i don't need her to read it to me. (Though I'd likely get better and quicker answer by asking all of you wonderful veterans on this forum!)

I have no waiting requirement but the *** I'm on is SO backed up it's going to take a full year now. I'm beyond pissed off and somehwere between heartbroken and irate this week. Still - nothing I can do to change that, except complain almost weekly to their customer service number.

As for nutritional counseling, well--we have to pay $500 out of pocket for it, and expect to have four sessions. One is in the large group class (nothing that wasn't in our start-up packet) and then I just had my first one-on-one. The intake form asked what I hoped to get out of the session, and I listed three nutrition-related things I wanted to know. Never once did she look at those or answer them. She took the entire hour to read through the nutritional booklet I BROUGHT WITH ME and had already read, pausing only when i interupted with monor questions about her info not agreeing with what was written. Seriously - NO help. The idea of two more of these canned session, which I have to take off work for, it irritating as heck.

Long and short, don't feel too bad if a hutritionist isn't required. So far it's no help at all. And my three questions never did get answered. When I have my post op session i'm going to tell them in advance that I expect someone to address these, and that I will have read the material first, and so i don't need her to read it to me. (Though I'd likely get better and quicker answer by asking all of you wonderful veterans on this forum!)

it really totally depends on where you go. many people find that the nutritional counseling is very helpful, some not so much. the really important part is learning to track every bite you eat and learning which foods have how much Protein, Fiber, etc so you know what to eat after surgery and how to track what you are eating . if i were you, i would request a different nut. that might not help, but you never know.

To Katesucess,

I just had my surgery with Jeffery Landers on 2.24. They told us at the beginning it was going to be a long wait. I requested from my pcp on August 15th so it only took a little over 6 months. The time went fast. Spent it getting as much info as possible. It sounds like you are too. I hope it goes faster than expecte for you too.

I too was frustrated with the nut appointments so I made a long list for my post op phone appointment and she was much more informative. I still think 500 bucks is to much for 4 appointments and only 2 are office visits.

Although I had rny the experience was way easier than i expected. Landers is an awesome surgeon. I wish you the best. It has been totally worth it. Overall I have lost a total of 71 pounds, 50 was preop that i started on my own on 12.20.13. I am so excited for you.

Mo