Hello all,

I'm new to the forum and thought I'd reach out for the first time.

I am 27 and used to be extremely active. However, five ankle surgeries over the past several years have left me in chronic pain and with limited mobility. After the recovery from my most recent surgery in December my orthopedic specialist actually recommended the procedure in trying to protect the integrity of my remaining peroneal tendon. While my parents and others do not necessarily understand why I can't just "go to the gym more," I am having this surgery to increase my health and quality of life while decreasing the pain and negative side effects of my many ankle surgeries.

I am just wondering how long your pre-op process took? I started with the program at CMC in Manchester, NH back in April at 244lbs. I am currently 228 lbs or 3.5 lbs away from my pre-op goal of 224.5lbs. With one more "lifestyle changes" class tomorrow and a psych evaluation on Monday I am on target to reach my goal and all requirements before I meet with the program director July 9th to gain approval for my sleeve gastrectomy. (My insurance will cover the procedure at 100% once I complete 90 days in the program which will be 7/9.) After that I would be set up to see one of the surgeons and book a date for surgery. As a teacher and coach, summer is really the only time I have to devote to the surgery and necessary recovery time. Hoping my open availability will help! How long did it take to schedule and have your surgery once you were approved?

Thanks!

Liz

You're going to find huge variations.

My first step was meeting my surgeon and discussing which procedure was best for me.

Then six months of nutrition visits and a psych eval (insurance requirements). My surgeon required a bunch of other tests, which I did over that same six months.

Once my six months of nutrition visits was over, my surgery coordinator faxed my paperwork in to my insurance. I had an approval less than a week later, I think. I called the surgeon's office the next day and the coordinator set the date for my surgery. I will see my surgeon again a couple of days before surgery for a pre-op. My surgeon is booked pretty far out. I'm set for Saturday, August 8.

I see a lot of other people not have to wait as long once they have approval. And some offices set a date without an insurance approval, gambling that they will get it before the surgery date (and rescheduling if it doesn't come through). Unfortunately, my surgeon's office doesn't do that.

I'm currently going through the process in Portsmouth, NH.

I went to my orientation seminar back in February. Then I had my first official appointment which kicked off my 90 days on March 10. I had my final weigh-in appointment on June 15 and fulfilled all the other requirements before then. I just met with my surgeon last Friday and they were supposed to have submitted my info to insurance that afternoon. Now I'm playing the waiting game and hoping to hear from them any day with my surgery date. My date should be about two weeks after approval.

It sounds like you can count on an August date. Fortunately NH schools start back fairly late, though you may not get as much recovery time as you're hoping for. Good luck!

Edited June 27, 201511 yr by MrsRoboto

Hey how tall are you??

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