Hi everyone,

I just had my first consultation with my surgeon after completing the pre-op requirements for my insurance. During our consultation, he decided to require that I have three months of therapy to work through a possibility of alcohol addiction after the surgery. I'm an occasional social drinker who hasn't drank socially in over four months and I don't have any alcoholism in my family. Is this kind of decision normal for a surgeon to make? Because of this extension, I may not be able to have the surgery because my insurance plan expires within the timeline that the surgeon gave me. Now I am totally lost at what to do next. Help!

Could you explain to your surgeon that you need the procedure done in a limited time frame and ask to be fast tracked

I tried during the consultation and he was set on his decision. He explained that this particular hospital is Seventh Day Adventist and they take extra precautions. I've sent the bariatric coordinator of the hospital an email clarifying my situation again with contact information for my regular therapist and still haven't heard a response

Find a different hospital/doctor. You shouldn't be held up because of their religion issues.

That's exactly how I feel. I'm going to get a second opinion