Very frustrated with my surgeons office

[ColleenErin1974 195]

Well, to start, I'm having the bypass done, hopefully some day soon. I finished all of my pre-op evaluation visits. On 2/27, I did as I was told and called to tell them that I was done. The girl I spoke to said she would get my file all set and have the surgeon evaluate it. This could take a few days. (not so much!). I waited a week with no idea where I stood, so I called again. He still had not gone over my file. The girl told me to give it some more time and had no idea when he will look at it. WTF!!

At 2 weeks out from calling the first time, I called again. The girl I spoke to this time pulled up my chart and said they have all my test results, but the surgeon must medically clear me before sending my stuff to my insurance company. She told me to be patient and I should hear something soon.

The office called about 5 days later and went over what tests I had and I told them that I fulfilled all my requirements. She said that I was still not medically cleared and then proceeded to tell me to be patient. AGAIN! I asked what was the hold up and she said I've done all I need to for the surgeon and my insurance, but I have to wait for the surgeon to ok my case. Then she told me something no one else had up to this point....my surgeon works in 3 departments in the hospital and he is only in this office a few times a week! WTF!

She said that it could take up to 2 weeks from now to hear anything! AGAIN WTF!

So, here is where I stand. Tomorrow it will be 2 weeks to the day that I am to hear from him. I haven't heard anything and I still have to wait to be approved by my insurance too.

I am SO FRUSTRATED! I'm wondering, should I call again tomorrow? I don't want to be a pain in the ass, but I have anxiety and PTSD and I'm so on edge with wanting an answer.

I feel at this rate I won't have my bypass until hell freezes over! AAAAHHHH!

I would love some help with this. Has this happened to anyone else? I feel very alone here. Any and all advice is appreciated!

Thank you all!!

[anonymom26 90]

I would go to a different surgeon.

[orionburn 1,023]

9 hours ago, anonymom26 said:

I would go to a different surgeon.

You can do that. Then you also get to start all over again with a new office and make the wait even longer.

If the surgeon is working 3 different departments then I can see the reason for the delay, but a month seems a bit much. If the office isn't that far away you might be better paying a visit rather than continued phone calls. Just keep in mind you're going to have to wait on your insurance company once it's submitted so you are going to have to be patient with them as well.

[anonymom26 90]

17 hours ago, orionburn said:

You can do that. Then you also get to start all over again with a new office and make the wait even longer.

If the surgeon is working 3 different departments then I can see the reason for the delay, but a month seems a bit much. If the office isn't that far away you might be better paying a visit rather than continued phone calls. Just keep in mind you're going to have to wait on your insurance company once it's submitted so you are going to have to be patient with them as well.

It depends on the office. While insurance qualification was a long process for me, the process with my surgeon has been pretty quick. A couple weeks to get an consultation, and then a date scheduled for surgery a couple weeks after that.

[Christina.Rose 287]

Of course patience is important, but unless you are really happy with your team you have to consider how accessible they may be post op. If you have a serious problem will they have time for you? Just my 2cents

[ilgc 17]

Literally the same thing happened to me. I finished my last weigh in appointment January 18th and my file didn't get submitted to my insurance until March .. like they didn't even have my information compiled into a chart lol. It took them 3 months to submit. I would call frequently and complain if nothing moves. Ask for your surgeons average schedule in office since he's only in a few times a week and call for updates when you know he'll be there. Im sorry I don't have a lot of good advice to give I honestly just called as much as I could for updates and waited it out.

[Joann454 1,329]

Wondering what ever happened with this. I'd be annoyed too.


Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[ColleenErin1974 195]

Wondering what ever happened with this. I'd be annoyed too.


Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Well, here is where I stand now:
I called the office again last Thursday and the secretary said she wasn't sure what I wanted. She said I needed patients and it will get done. WTF!
I then told her I wanted to speak to her manager and I'll wait on the line to talk.
The manager came on and said I did fulfill my pre surgical tests and appointments. She said that she was sorry and that this should have been looked at in February.
That dumbfounded me.
She said she will see my surgeon later and she would personally have him look and medically clear me. That was last Wednesday and Friday I called her back to see where I stand.
To my delight my chart was given to my insurance company for approval since my Doctor medically cleared me.
Now I'm just waiting for approval from my insurance company.
I was told to call Friday (tomorrow) if I hadn't heard anything yet.
I'm very anxious about this now. I will be calling tomorrow and see where we are with the approval.
Wish me luck!
I'll keep y'all posted once I know!
Thanks for the support!

[Joann454 1,329]

2 minutes ago, ColleenErin1974 said:

Well, here is where I stand now:
I called the office again last Thursday and the secretary said she wasn't sure what I wanted. She said I needed patients and it will get done. WTF!
I then told her I wanted to speak to her manager and I'll wait on the line to talk.
The manager came on and said I did fulfill my pre surgical tests and appointments. She said that she was sorry and that this should have been looked at in February.
That dumbfounded me.
She said she will see my surgeon later and she would personally have him look and medically clear me. That was last Wednesday and Friday I called her back to see where I stand.
To my delight my chart was given to my insurance company for approval since my Doctor medically cleared me.
Now I'm just waiting for approval from my insurance company.
I was told to call Friday (tomorrow) if I hadn't heard anything yet.
I'm very anxious about this now. I will be calling tomorrow and see where we are with the approval.
Wish me luck!
I'll keep y'all posted once I know!
Thanks for the support!

Wow! Wth? Pretty incompetent on someone's part over there. I'm glad you finally got an answer to that part. Definitely update us about insurance. This waiting (I'm waiting too) is so hard and nerve wracking!

[ColleenErin1974 195]

Wow! Wth? Pretty incompetent on someone's part over there. I'm glad you finally got an answer to that part. Definitely update us about insurance. This waiting (I'm waiting too) is so hard and nerve wracking!

I agree that someone dropped the ball there. Now I am a little happier that everything went for approval, but I'm nervous too.
I'm not sure when I have my surgery date yet and with my luck I'll probably have to wait for months to have my rny.