Just getting started..

[joeibaby 22]

Hi everyone! I have gone to the new patient information session and got ok'd for an actual appointment with the medical director at BIDMC..

Now I'm a very curious cat, and have zero patience with not a clear outline. I kept getting told that I have my appointment with this Dr. then the nutritionist.. then a nurse then a nutritionist, etc.

Could anyone share what stood between them and a surgery date? Is it just continually going to each appointment? Does this take 3 months give or take?

My BMI is 47.5 & im 5'9 so my insurance covers is & my PCP is very enthusiastically on board with my decision to move forward with WLS.

Any information or direction pointing will be greatly appreciated..

Thanks!

[DaleCruse 756]

Having multiple appointments is what I experienced at Lahey. Ask for a list of what appointments you'll need & with who. It's commonly six months of pre-op so three months sounds like you're getting the fast track. Good luck.

[smb123 51]

Yeah three months sounds quick. Might be the case for me thought.

I did the seminar. I meet with the surgeon next Monday, and then 8/14 I meet with the nutritionist and on 9-6 I meet with the psychologist. That would be my last required appointment for surgery however, my insurance requires a 6 month supervised diet. But recently I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension which is causing me to lose my vision and my neurologist doesn't want me to wait that long to get surgery. My weight is causing this disorder. I could have permanent blindness from this. So hopefully my insurance will approve since this is a serious condition. Also I have insulin resistance due to my PCOS which makes it hard to lose weight.

Keep me updated with how everything goes for you. I would definitely call insurance and get a clear answer on all the requirements and most of the time the can send you their medical policy for this surgery.

[joeibaby 22]

Thank you! I called them before I even went into the new patient program and was told I'm covered w/o needing the 6month diet since my BMI is so high..

BUT after reading everything everyone has posted - I'm calling them again today on my break!!

[smb123 51]

Yeah I would just to be sure but that sounds awesome if they don't. Someone told me that the first time I called and then the second time the lady argued with me and then sent me their medical policy.

What type of insurance do you have?

I have Anthem BCBS of GA

[joeibaby 22]

I have Harvard pilgrim.. but I also work for the government so it's a pretty good plan.

I just got off the phone with them and because the medical center I chose is in their medical center of excellence as long as I get passes on all their tests/psychological exam they will approve me. So fingers crossed!

I feel like I'm 9 years old before my birthday hoping I get that present my parents promised me.. which now would be living me life!

[joeibaby 22]

(I'm in Boston)

[smb123 51]

OMG! Congrats that is so awesome I am happy for you!

I would schedule those appointments as soon as possible sometimes they schedule them months out. they scheduled my psychology appointment 2 months out. Hopefully they don't do that for you!

SO EXCITING!!!! Keep me updated.

[joeibaby 22]

Thank you! Did they schedule yours two months out on purpose? Or because of timing?

Keep me posted on your progress as well [emoji180] my first Dr appt is 8/14! Must be a good day!

[smb123 51]

I guess so good luck!!!

No because that was first available for the psychologist. All the appointments were the first available and I had called to schedule at the end of June.

I definitely will, hopefully my insurance can see they urgency because as long as I keep the weight on the closer I am to blindness meaning they will have to pay for more medical costs. So seems like a win win for them. I just don't want to go blind and can't see very good for short periods during the day so its getting progressively worse.

[Geri Marie 235]

I am going through the same. I go to my first "Class" on the 24th of this month. My planner told me as long as I dont gain any weight from this point forward, my insurance will approve me. I have to go to a class a month, a nutritionist, and a mental health appointment. I hope loveing food doesn't make me mental! Lol. I had the lap band and have had a ton of issues so I'm going to commit to the permanent gastric sleeve. I even got a surgery date of November 13th since my PCP is confidant ill get an approval. Good luck with yours I can't wait to go through this journey with everyone!!

[smb123 51]

GOOD LUCK, I hope everything works out for you. I am so ready to start this journey as well.

[joeibaby 22]

@smb you would think your insurance would approve everything quickly to save them money down the road!! Fingers crossed for you!!

Geri- if loving food makes us mental then we're all mad! What complications with the band have you had? I was leaning towards that until I found this forum. My first session the nutritionist scared me with the sleeve! Or maybe it was because another guy in there was adamant about drinking whiskey after having sleeve surgery

[Geri Marie 235]

joeibaby- With the band you physically cannot eat certain things because no matter how much you chew it won't go past the band. I don't regret getting it, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have went for the sleeve first. I never really got the "full" feeling from the band. throwing up became a common thing to me because I'd eat too fast or too much. I couldn't even eat salad because the lettuce wouldn't go down right. I didnt have any complications, just couldn't get the hang of it. On Mother's Day, I started having chest pains and thought I was having a heart attack. Im 46 and people die all the time at my age and my weight from that. After two hospital emergency room visits I find out its my band causing all these issues. I'm currently stuck at home due to a recent spinal fusion surgery so I can't exercise(not that i was big into that anyway) so for now I'm finishing all my "Bad food" in the house and will switch over to the Protein Shakes and one meal. I do enjoy them and half of this process is wrapping your mind around the fact that it is a life style change. You have to let go of the quantity of food and go for quality of food. I might be a "Newbie" here, but trust me Ive been battling this for 8 years. Time to go with the sleeve. I feel like the fact that it will shrink my stomach, and take the hunger feeling away, I can focus on other stuff in my life and get healthy.

[smb123 51]

That's very interesting. I read a lot about the band and the sleeve. I was very confused about the two until I went to the seminar and the surgeon said the same thing as you just said Geri Marie. So I am going to go with the sleeve the other surgeries scare me so bad. The sooner they get everything fixed for you the better. Sometimes I don't think people understand how hard it is to lose weight. Some people it is easy but people just don't try to understand.

I am glad I found a site like this to discuss things with people who actually understand and are there with you. Yeah and I don't think none of us are Newbies to this, it's a long struggle.