hi i'm new here, this decision was extrememly hard for me to admit I needed help. i finally agreed and begun the long process through HealthNet (anyone else) i have to wait 6 months for all the hoops. I have my nutrician appt on the 1st of Sept and already did the Physical Therapy. I guess they just need to see that i'm capable of working out. I do this anyways. I am discouraged by the whole 6 month wait thing. My referring doctor dosen't have an appt with me again until late Jan? then will schedule me with a surgeon. I guess i'm to continue with the nutrician classes and then am I to schedule the upper GI myself or does the doctor when i go back in Jan? Same with the physc? i'm so confused. I wish I knew more what to expect. Maybe the nutricianist helps me with this? Not sure....can anyone advise me? feeling....blue

Edited August 20, 201511 yr by oceangirlpc

Every doctor and facility is different and will require different things. I can tell you that even without a waiting period, by the time my paperwork and all testing was complete, it was about a 4 month process for me, so not much less than yours. I know it seems endless to have to wait 6 months, but trust the plan that they are setting forth for you. Six months is nothing compared to the permanent new you once you are able to have the surgery. Pass all of their requirements with ease and take this time to prepare yourself and research. Don't get discouraged. Let this decision empower you!

Thanks, I Needed That!!!!

I too was a little discouraged after finding out all the hoops I have to jump through to get my insurance co. to pay for it.

But I have been EMPOWERED!!!

In the six months you will prepare yourself mentally and physically for your new life. Six months may seem like a lifetime but It has gone by rather quick for me (I have a 7 month wait) I'm already entering month 4! Hang In there!

Edited August 20, 201511 yr by cindyw41

I'm a survivor of a 12 month wait! I graduate from my insurance program September 30 and am scheduled for October 19th. Don't get discouraged. Stick with it and jump through the hoops and remember it could be longer ????????☺️

I didn't have a waiting period with my insurance but when everything was said and done it was almost 5 months between first appointment and my surgery! Good Luck!

Those 6 months will go pretty quickly. It seems like forever but I think you'll be surprised! Use that time to change as many bad habits as possible. It really does get you prepared for the surgery. I'm especially glad I used that time to be able to slowly give up pop vs. quitting cold turkey right after surgery.

I wish you the best of luck with everything. All the waiting and hoops will be well worth it in the end!

I decided to have surgery in August and had my surgery in November - at times that 4 months seems like an eternity...at others It was like time was screaming by!

Here's are my suggestions for the upcoming months...

Learn to eat like a weight loss surgery patient - take small bites, put your fork down between bites, eat at the table, not in front of the TV. Take 20 minutes to eat a meal (you will be surprised at how little food will fill you up)

Ween yourself off caffeine - I had to be caffeine free before surgery and it took me weeks to get completely off it (this was not fun).

Get in the best physical shape possible. The better shape you're in, the easier the recovery is going to be.

Research the procedure and continue on forums like this - be informed.

Six months does seem like a long time, but trust the process.

my insurance required 6 months of Dr. visits before we could submit the paperwork to insurance as well, it goes by so fast trust me. i actually ended up doing a year because about 3 weeks before my first 6 months was up i freaked out not knowing if this was what i wanted and the once i figured out that is was i started my 6 months over. stupid i know but it was the right decision for me and im actually happy i did that.

hi i'm new here, this decision was extrememly hard for me to admit I needed help. i finally agreed and begun the long process through HealthNet (anyone else) i have to wait 6 months for all the hoops. I have my nutrician appt on the 1st of Sept and already did the Physical Therapy. I guess they just need to see that i'm capable of working out. I do this anyways. I am discouraged by the whole 6 month wait thing. My referring doctor dosen't have an appt with me again until late Jan? then will schedule me with a surgeon. I guess i'm to continue with the nutrician classes and then am I to schedule the upper GI myself or does the doctor when i go back in Jan? Same with the physc? i'm so confused. I wish I knew more what to expect. Maybe the nutricianist helps me with this? Not sure....can anyone advise me? feeling....blue

I know 6 months seems like a long time but believe me it will go fast. I started this journey in May with my seminar then the appointments started coming from there. Now I am officially half way through. And should be sleeved sometime in December. Use this time to research and find out all you can about your surgery. As far as scheduling your appointments you could always call your Dr's office and ask them to explain how the process works. My surgeons office pretty much made all appointments for me except for the cardiologist and pulmonary. You will be fine. Just relax and breath! Remember were here for you!

It seems like a long time but in the overall picture its nothing. The time will fly and it will be SO worth it. Keep strong

I had a six month wait too. It does seem like a long time and a lot of hoops to jump through. I used that time to educate myself. I stalked this forum- where I learned so much from others experiences. I attended my hospitals support group meetings, tried a million types of protein drinks, and learned to begin focusing on me.

You can make it through this. It's a long wait, but so incredibly worth it!!! An amazing new life is headed your way.

@@oceangirlpc Hi there! Don't be discouraged! I first made the decision to see a surgeon back in March. I had no idea what my insurance requirements were so I was pretty bummed to be told I had to wait 6 months/6 visits as well. I started a new job in May that switched me to BCBS AL which requires 7 visits (a full 180 days), so that was another pretty disheartening setback. My last appointment with the nutritionist will be September 18th then I'll be finished with all my requirements. I can honestly say these 6 months have flown by. It seems like last week that I first met the surgeon. If I could go back to March and NOT have to do the 6 months, I think I would have done it anyway. This time has allowed me to prepare for all the changes that are to come. I honestly don't think I would have been ready 6 months ago. It's also allowed me to build a solid relationship with my surgeon and nutritionist. I am in touch with my NUT almost on a weekly basis and I've come to feel like she is a friend, not just a nutritionist. Insurance hurdles have by far been my biggest annoyance and source of anxiety. I can tell you from experience that it doesn't do any good to worry about it. Just jump through their hoops and before you know it, you will be approved and on to your new journey! Good luck and hang in there!

thank you Southern Sleever..... I hope i'm doing everything right. I have read alot of people had to do the pursuing themselves and i just want to make sure i'm lining up all my ducks. I origiannly was going to go through with surgery earlier in the year and then decided to give W.Watchers one last hoorah attempt. Failed...., so then my mind wrapped soley on the VSG. I am so tired of the oel' "she has a pretty face" comments with the underline meaning to that phrase and the health problems that i've began to experience that i'm ready. I am going thru the hurdles and just not sure as I haven't heard from one person who has had HEALTHNET if there are any probs with declines or approvals. i am so worried about if I get declined after this.....ugh..prayers please

Does your surgeon's office have an insurance coordinator? The one at my surgeon's office has been so helpful with finding out what all the insurance requirements are and making sure I meet them. If your office doesn't have someone like that, I would suggest maybe calling HEALTHNET and getting them to tell you exactly what their requirements are. Just make sure you get specifics. For example, my BCBS policy says a "6 month supervised diet" is required but nowhere in the policy does it say that period must cover a true 180 days. I only found out because the insurance coordinator told me. So, let's say I started on March 21 then had my last appointment on September 3, BCBS would deny me because it wasn't a full 180 days. I've found there are so many little things like that they don't tell you about.

Gosh my stuff for my insurance was crazy easy. I needed a three month supervised diet. Bmi of 40 and over and a psych eval. Did some blood work and other things for my Dr. When submitted to the insurance it took 7 days. Super fast. The only bad part is I had to wait a month to even see the Dr but they said I could get started on my journal.