I am so frustrated with my drs. office!!!! I can't seem to get a definite date from them. The best I have gotten is a tentative October 28, and now a tentative November 1. The only communication has been when I called the office, they never contact me. It seems to me that with either of those dates, I should already be going through some kind of testing. When I asked about it I was told, Well, yes there is testing to be done, but I couldn't get any more info. I called again this morning and the woman I spoke with was a real b*tch to me!!! She said she was sorry I felt like they weren't doing a good job (even though I NEVER said that). I told her that I had been working towards getting the band since June, I have had insurance approval for a month now and we have still not taken one step forward. She replied that I should keep in mind that this is all new to our community and it just takes time and that there are plenty of patients who have been waiting for insurance approval longer than me!

Is it just me or should I be looking for a new surgeon? Will I have to apply for insurance approval all over again?

I agree with Marie. And remember, the staff will be the ones controlling when and whether or not you get an appointment for fills, problems, etc. after surgery. It is crucial that you are able to work with them and trust them. Also, not to scare you at all, but I would still want to know how many bands he has put in. If he has done less than 100, I would go with one of the more experienced band surgeons in Texas. This is just based on statistal evidence regarding complications. I doubt whether switching surgeons will delay your surgery much, if at all. The hard part is already behind you.

You did say that you intend to have the band placed with him (because you are understandably eager to have it done ASAP!) and then if there are problems, switch to another doctor after surgery. Unfortuanately, it's not that easy. Most doctors will refuse to see patients if they did not place the band. There are many reasons for this: sometimes their malpractice insurance companies won't let them, sometimes their institutions won't let them, and sometimes they are just worried about appearing to be stealing another sugeon's patient which is a professional no-no.

I'm sorry that this post sounds like such a downer. I don't mean it that way at all. I'm happy for you! It's just that I've been reading this board long enough to know how important having the right surgeon and the right office staff can be.

Nancy

Whatever you decide to do, Blossom, I wish you the best. I know you are anxious to get on with the process. I agree about telling the doc about his staff. Most doctors don't have a clue that their practice is being handled with such callous disregard for their patients.

Blossom... your Doctor doesnt happen to be Spiegel????

Paula, no I am not going to Spiegel. Did you have a similar experience?

I am going to see my dr. this morning and I plan to tell him about the staff. I'll let ya'll know how it goes.