Just looking for Mo people just starting this journey or already in their way.

Just moved to GA from Fulton, MO. I have researched the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and decided to opt for it. I began my pre op diet today. My surgery is 2/15. I am somewhat nervous but more excited. I really need to do this not only to feel better physically but also emotionally. Best wishes to you!

I'm heading to Dr. Wagner's office on Tuesday for my first visit! I'll post for you after!

I'd really appreciate that! Thank you so much!

Good-Luck at your appointment tomorrow!!!

I had Dr. Wagner in Oct 2015 no problems staff was awesome. My insurance required 6 months supervised diet an EGD psyche eval medical clearance from PCP I'm down 65 pounds

Thanks Brown Suga! I woke up this morning super nervous......sigh. I hate medical offices...

I had Dr. Wagner in Oct 2015 no problems staff was awesome. My insurance required 6 months supervised diet an EGD psyche eval medical clearance from PCP I'm down 65 pounds[/quote

That's fantastic! I have a visit with Dr. Wagner at the end of the week. My expectations are kind of high since he's got so many good reviews.

I picked up a low carb quiche from deli Dierbergs, today. If you hunt around at the nicer stores, they have a lot of low carb and bari friendly items. I also get my Walden farms items from there. The store on Edwardsville has almost the entire Walden line, I haven't seen those items at other Dierbergs.

I'm in Springfield! Just now researching the sleeve, and looks like I'll be going to Mexico due to not qualifying for insurance

You didn't qualify for insurance even with obamacare?

So who here has the shortest time from the first visit to the actual surgery and what was that time frame?

You didn't qualify for insurance even with obamacare?

So who here has the shortest time from the first visit to the actual surgery and what was that time frame?

i had Atena-seminar on Jan. 8, 2015-Surgery June 15, 2015, only required to do 4 visits with Nut, blood work, EKG, chest X-Ray. Went pretty fast and I actually put surgery off for two weeks because of my vacation. Kansas City area.

Yeah we have to do 6 month supervised dieting

I was about 8 weeks from first appointment with Dr to surgery. It would have been faster but some people were on vacations and that slowed the process. Plus memorial day and 4th of July were in that time frame.

Holy crap

I purposely pushed and made it at accelerated as possible. I needed it to happen in a certain time frame for my business schedule, and there was a limited window my friend could fly in from out of state. I also work for myself, so I can take any first available appointment times offered. If you have a job you have request time off from, I expect it would take longer. Also when the coordinator called me the first date she offered, was a little over a week after the date I wanted. I requested a date on the week that worked best for me and they made it happen.

I really felt like if I had a long dragged out process, something would happen to make surgery impossible or I would talk myself out of it. Once I decided I wanted surgery, I wanted it to happen as soon as possible. If they hadn't been able to fit me in I think I would have just gone out of the country. I wanted it ASAP, I felt like waiting and dragging it out, would just endanger my health more, and you only get older not younger. I understand why programs make people wait, but I wasn't interested in that kind of process. If I was willing to wait, I would have done the program at Northwestern in Chicago.

And your insurance was ok with this?

Yes, I did all the pre-op testing, I met the requirements. My insurance didn't have a 6 month supervised diet required. They dropped it. Part of the reason is, insurance companies did a study and making people wait longer for surgery doesn't save them money in the long term. People just get sicker waiting for surgery or they are still take the same expensive medicines. I will have to look for the article.

When my packet was submitted to insurance it was approved in less than a week.

Most of the delays for surgery are with insurance companies that have 6 month diet requirements or Bariatric programs that have the requirements to try and lower their malpractice insurance.