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I have finally decided that this is what I want for myself. The only problem is...I have no idea where to begin. I have an appointment with my primary care doctor on Tuesday to tell her I intend to undergo WLS. I guess I was wondering if that is where you started? Or...did you find a surgeon in your insurance network and contact them yourself first? I have no idea what I am doing. How do I start the process of getting my insurance approval? Does the surgeon or family doctor help with that?

Thanks in advance.

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Yes, I started with my Primary Care doctor who referred me to a surgeon. Whether or not you have a referral you can attend a seminar. Most surgeons have frequent free information seminars. Look for a Center of Excellence.

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I went to a seminar put on by one of the hospitals near me. You might look up your hospital's website to see if their hosting Bariatric surgery seminars. That's where I heard about the different types of surgeries and the risks to each one. Afterwards, I talked to my doctor about it and it turned out that his long time nurse who I love and trust had previously worked at a Bariatric surgery clinic. She was a great resource for me and offered the name of a couple of surgeons to research. I did and settled on one I liked. Before I could go any further though I had to get insurance approval so at the same time I called my insurance and got that process started. It took me 8 months total to jump through all the hoops but so worth it! Good luck on your journey!

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I knew my insurance was accepted at the major hospitals. I investigated 2 in my area. I went to one and talked to the surgeon. I wasn't impressed. I then happen to run into a friend who had gotten bypass and asked who her surgeon was. I had to attend a seminar before I was allowed to even schedule an appointment but once I did I knew he was the one. I don't think I even told my primary until after they received a copy of my insurance approval letter about three quarters of the way through my pre-op testing.I wasn't worried as I knew she would be supportive and she has been.

The seminars are a great way to see if this is an option for you. It will also help you to decide which type of WLS is best for you.

I attended the seminar at the end of April, had my first surgical appointment in May and had surgery in September. It would have been August, but I had to take a month off for family vacation. The process can take anywhere from 3months to 12months depending on the program requirements and protocols for pre-op testing.

Edited by BLERDgirl

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Thank you everyone for your answers! I found a seminar being offered on Thursday.

Awesome! They should have someone there (some kind of patient or insurance coordinator) to answer any other questions you may have and help steer you in the right direction. Keep us posted!

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Went to my seminar and sent in all the pre consult forms. Now I am just waiting to hear back from the center and move on to the next step :)

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I started with a seminar that was being given by a doctor that did my mom's co-workers surgery. I liked him set up consult and everything went from there

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I started by checking in my insurance to make sure I was eligible. Then I checked the insurance network and located several doctors near me. One doctor worked with the same group who had performed my hernia surgery the prior year. So I attended her seminar where I also met the clinical psychologist and nutritionist. I was leaning toward the bypass, but when I met 1:1 with my surgeon, she though the sleeve was best for my situation.

I also called my insurance company to obtain their specific approval requirements. Your insurance requirements are very important and you need to make sure you follow them to the letter. Many surgeon's offices keep very good track of all the information they'll need to provide to the insurance, but I recommend you double-check that they're putting together all that your insurance company requires. With so many patients, information can be misplaced or forgotten.

My PCP also vouched for my surgeon and I was very impressed with all the information her staff provided, so I actually went with my first choice.

Best of luck on your journey!

Edited by AlwaysVegas

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I called the bariatric center and they ran my insurance for benefits, and I was seen 2 weeks later! Super easy process for me! Good luck!

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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