I'm curious what steps everyone had to take from their first surgeon visit to approval/surgery date. Did you do certain testing, if so, when was it determined you had to do it? No need for major detail unless you feel like it. I'm thinking something like an easy to read timeline...

Example: [date] 1st Surgeon Visit> [date] blood work , stress test, psych test, etc.> [date] insurance approval> [date] start pre-op/liver shrink diet> [date] Surgery date

The reason I'm asking this is because #1 I'm marginally impatient, hate surprises and I'm trying to manage it. #2 My insurance policy that covers bariatric won't begin until 01/01/19 and I go to my first surgeon appointment this coming Monday 12/03. I'm just wondering what all I can squeeze in and get done before that 01/01/19 date. Thanks, folks!

EDIT: My nutritionist person just emailed me and said the only thing I can do prior to my new insurance plan is stress test, EKG and nutrition. Everything else will have to be done closer to surgery date which is TBD.

Edited November 30, 20187 yr by Kimmie K

I'm curious what steps everyone had to take from their first surgeon visit to approval/surgery date. Did you do certain testing, if so, when was it determined you had to do it? No need for major detail unless you feel like it. I'm thinking something like an easy to read timeline...
Example: [date] 1st Surgeon Visit> [date] blood work , stress test, psych test, etc.> [date] insurance approval> [date] start pre-op/liver shrink diet> [date] Surgery date
The reason I'm asking this is because #1 I'm marginally impatient, hate surprises and I'm trying to manage it. #2 My insurance policy that covers bariatric won't begin until 01/01/19 and I go to my first surgeon appointment this coming Monday 12/03. I'm just wondering what all I can squeeze in and get done before that 01/01/19 date. Thanks, folks!

You will have to do an endoscopy, maybe a swallow test(a little nastiness in a cup but not to bad..they take pictures of you swallowingthis chalky liquid). Psychiatric appointment. I had to do 6 appointments with the nutritionist and dietician before my surgery was approved. That wasnt in order but that was basically it. I also had to do a nicotine test and some bloodwork at my last appointment. All of those things were included in the six appointments. Some people only have to do three appointments.

8 minutes ago, NIKKIBEVERLY said:

You will have to do an endoscopy, maybe a swallow test(a little nastiness in a cup but not to bad..they take pictures of you swallowingthis chalky liquid). Psychiatric appointment. I had to do 6 appointments with the nutritionist and dietician before my surgery was approved. That wasnt in order but that was basically it. I also had to do a nicotine test and some bloodwork at my last appointment. All of those things were included in the six appointments. Some people only have to do three appointments.

Interesting! Thanks for sharing that. What's a nicotine test for?

Interesting! Thanks for sharing that. What's a nicotine test for?

I use to smoke but I stopped a long time ago. I guess they wanted to make sure I wasn't still smoking[emoji1]

Just now, NIKKIBEVERLY said:

I use to smoke but I stopped a long time ago. I guess they wanted to make sure I wasn't still smoking

Ohhhh gotcha. Was it some kind of blood/lab test? How do you test for nicotine? Way to go on quitting! I quit too, back in early 2016.

April-initial seminar and 1st nutrition visit
May-psychologist and 2nd nutrition visit
June-lab work, 3rd nutrition visit, met with surgeon
July-EKG, final lab work and surgery

~90 days start to finish 

Initial Surgeon consult...May 2017

Surgery Date... December 2017

Required: six months doctor supervised weight loss plan, EGD, psych evaluation. Dietitian evaluation and assessment was required along with a pre operative information session in a group setting with the surgeons bariatric coordinator.

I had no history of heart issues or sleep apnea so did not require any cardiac tests.

Initial Office Appointment: July 2018

3 months supervised MWM: July-September

I had to have a psych evaluation, a PFT, an ABG, an EGD, stress test, echo, a couple of EKGs and see a pulmonologist.

Process extended 30 days due to discovery of sleep apnea. (Received clearance October 29)

BAR Class: Nov 1 (received surgery date at this class)

Met surgeon: November 12

Pre admission appt: Nov 29th

Surgery Date: Dec. 6th

September-appt w PCP to get recommendation for surgery
Oct 2-seminar
Oct 4- 1st appt w surgeon
October 8-bloodwork and ekg
October 17- nutrition visit #1
Nov 2- egd
Nov 10- psych
Nov 14- nutrition visit #2
Nov 26- surgeon visit #2 and submit for insurance approval.

Now just waiting on insurance. I had a sleep study done in the past year, otherwise I would have needed one of those as well.

4 minutes ago, ldawn said:

September-appt w PCP to get recommendation for surgery
Oct 2-seminar
Oct 4- 1st appt w surgeon
October 8-bloodwork and ekg
October 17- nutrition visit #1
Nov 2- egd
Nov 10- psych
Nov 14- nutrition visit #2
Nov 26- surgeon visit #2 and submit for insurance approval.

Now just waiting on insurance. I had a sleep study done in the past year, otherwise I would have needed one of those as well.

Nice! That’s pretty quick. Who’s your insurance company?

April- visit surgeon

April- September visits 1 - 6 monthly visits with pcp needing to lose 1-2 pounds a month

October- nutrition group presentation, psych evaluation, submit to insurance, insurance approval, blood test and EKG at hospital

November- surgery

My insurance required the 6 consecutive monthly pcp visits.

On 12/01/2018 at 09:20, Kimmie K said:

Nice! That’s pretty quick. Who’s your insurance company?

I have Cigna. They don’t require any monitored diet. My surgeon required 2 nutrition visits, Cigna just wanted 1.

8 hours ago, ldawn said:

September-appt w PCP to get recommendation for surgery
Oct 2-seminar
Oct 4- 1st appt w surgeon
October 8-bloodwork and ekg
October 17- nutrition visit #1
Nov 2- egd
Nov 10- psych
Nov 14- nutrition visit #2
Nov 26- surgeon visit #2 and submit for insurance approval.

Now just waiting on insurance. I had a sleep study done in the past year, otherwise I would have needed one of those as well.

I have Cigna as well. My office submitted on Tuesday. Cigna say it should take 72hrs after they have entered it into their system. When I log onto my Cigna and search under precertification, I can only see my removal of lapband approval so far. Fingers crossed that I will get a surgery date soon.

Ohhhh gotcha. Was it some kind of blood/lab test? How do you test for nicotine? Way to go on quitting! I quit too, back in early 2016.

It's a urine sample..

Lets see , what did I have to do?
Cardiology
Pnuemology
Sleep study,
Documentation of past weight loss attempts from PCP
Since PCP was also alumnus of this facility, letter of pe4sonal recommendation
Documentation of his support
Psychiatrist(maybe to make sure I wasn't crazy asking for surgery over 70?)
Staff psychologist reaffirmation of mental/emotional fitness. Loved the depth of questioning tempered by concern for me as a person.
A consult with Valerie, his chief Nurse-Practioner, still checking my motivations?
Dietitian/ Nutrition
Exercise Physiologist
My list much longer than most, partly from 2 differing programs, partly to make certain my motivations were sincere and not flippant or shallow. Not many programs have Early 70s applicants, far from average gal or guy off the street. And some of the post-surgery facets have been more difficult, less easy mobility, healing at a slower rate, more dings in the old chassis, but like people 1/3 and 1/2 my age, no regret, no questions as things happened, this was the surgery for ME, a wonderful thing in my life, I found and had the best surgeon possible, if it takes 18 months instead 9f 12 to reach a goal weight Dr Needleman and I are comfortable with , NBD, no big deal, it can happen, it will happen and if I get the chance to mentor a few. " newbies" along the way, calm their fears, reassure them all is not lost if they falter along the way in their weight loss journey. Yippee Skippee for ME!???A Future is A Wonderful? Gift To Receive!

And P.S. It took over 3 long years from first seeking to finally receiving, don't recommend THAT LONG but it brought My Body and ME to a PERFECT CONCLUSION!