I wanted to check and see what everybody's time line was from initial doctor consultation to surgery date.

I am asking as I thought I had a 6 months requirement but today I found out it was only 3 months. The patient advocate says its still probably will not be before February, but I just wondered if anyone has gotten approval or in earlier surgery

My initial way in will be September 3rd then one in October then one in November. I had a regular doctor visit lasy month for weight loss as well as a visit with a different surgeon but they said only these would count towards my 3 month requirement

Thanks!

I went to my seminar on a Wednesday and had the surgery the Thursday after. It was 8 days for me. I was self pay so that obviously was a huge factor.

I had a six month supervised diet requirement that I started 10/2014. Submitted to insurance in early May, and got approved approximately 3 weeks later. Surgery was June 25. So overall eight months for me. It felt like a long time, but I am so happy I had it done!!

Six months supervised weight loss 1/3-7/2/15. Initial surgeon & NUT appt 7/13. Psych evaluation 7/16. Final approval from insurance 7/21. Surgery scheduled for 9/8. Could've had an earlier date, but waiting worked better for my schedule.

Started in September of last year. Insurance required 6 months diet with monthly visits to dr. I used my lunch break for those. I thought I was done in February but the September visit counted as 0 not number 1. Finished in March. Insurance denied in April because of some missing info in my file. Approved in June. Had to wait until my work situation was more stable with adequate coverage for me to be out. Sleeved 8/18... 11 months after I started the process.

10 months for me ~ I started the process in December 2014 with the 6 month pre op diet. To your point, because I have an 8-5, I tried to space my other appointments out so that I was not always going to the doctor. My pulmonologist appointment resulted in a sleep apnea diagnosis so I had to make a return visit to get my CPAP prior to release for surgery. Same with my cardiologist visit which required further evaluation. Insert a promotion to a new position to the mix, and I now have my date of September 30. So 10 months for me, but I have to admit that I have the best overall picture of my health today than I have had in years. Good luck on your journey!

I was quick - only 9 weeks. I worked my butt off to get all my appointments in. Luckily I had an understanding boss and I scheduled most of my appointments either first thing in the morning or as late in the afternoon to minimize my time off. I did need a couple of days off? I took off for my colonoscopy and endoscope done at same time as I was overdue for the colonoscopy. I was very focused and persistent about getting everything done.

After reading all of the responses, I was very fortunate! My sister and I did it together. We did our initial consult May 13. During our consult, we also had our physicals done. Once we discussed the procedure and how everything would work, we were given the option to have our physicals done and proceed with the process which included getting insurance approval. We had done our own research for quite some time, so we didn't have anything to think over! We were ready to proceed. We knew before we left the office whether our insurances covered the procedure, and there was no waiting period for either of us. We even knew the amount we would need to finance beyond what was covered by insurance, and they automatically financed it.

The only waiting we had to do was due to openings on the calendar for our EGD (which was May 29, and the procedure itself, which was July 14). After our EGD on Friday, our insurances approved us by Tuesday. From consult to surgery was 2 months. Had there been openings on the calendar, the process might have taken us only 3 (maybe 4) weeks; and that would have only been to get a 2 week pre-op diet in.

My first apt was in April 2015 and I was sleeved on July 24th.

@@Leesa926 : if your last appointment is in December but surgery isn't slated until February, it could be due to your surgeon's schedule. You can ask to be put on a waiting list, but if your doc is taking 2-3 weeks off for the holidays or something, that could be why the surgery is scheduled out so far.

I started the process in December 2014, had the last of my pre-op stuff done by June 6, but then couldn't get in for surgery until August 31, 2015. That was because my surgeon took a vacation of some sort in July. I did ask to be put on a waiting list in case someone cancelled, and luckily for me I got a date of June 26th instead. So now I'm over 2 months out, instead of going in for surgery today!

Edited August 31, 201510 yr by WingFan55

My initial bariatric orientation meeting was mid February. I had 3 months of classes and dr appointments in between. Surgery was on 7/6/15.

@ I don't think so. I meet with the surgeon on Thurs, we shall see. The advocate just puts an estimated date. It is not really that big of a deal just wondered is all. I see others who after their 3rd NUT appt go the following month. She said 2-3 months after basically. Maybe it is worst case scenerio. Again not that in a rush just thought I would see if others had dates moved up from when they initially thought, etc.

Mine was 6 months also. I was sleeved within 3 weeks after my last 6 month appointment. My surgeon requires a 2 week preop diet

See that makes sense but my requirement is 3 months not 6 hence why i am asking.

Maybe they are just preparing you for worst-case scenario. Two different people at my surgeon's office told me that they submit to insurance the same day as the last appointment, and then they get you scheduled ASAP after approval. They didn't submit to insurance until a week later and then even though I was approved in 2 business days, they didn't call me to schedule for two weeks after that and were then booking surgeries over 2 months out.

I almost wish they had told me to expect the 2-3 month delay so I wasn't so disappointed when it happened that way. Then, if you do get in sooner than that estimate, it'll just be an added bonus.

Whatever happens, I wish you the best of luck. No matter which of those months your surgery ends up being in, it'll be here before you know it!

All dates 2015

Final decision: March 27

Info Session: April 18

Surgeon Consult: April 29

Pre-op visits: June 11, July 7, July 17 (psych eval)

Initial Surgery Date: July 30 (later moved to August 6 but only because the surgeon went on vacation)

N.B. I was self pay and this will be very different if you are using insurance