How long from first doctor visit to surgery?

[KD in CT 7]

Just curious, How long does it take to get from 1st doctor visit to actual surgery? I have 90 min educational session on Monday and surgeon visit on June 16th. I have Chronic GERD, hiatal hernia and GERD asthma, so I'm hopeful my insurance will cover this. What are the Pre-Op steps one must take (I realize it can vary)? Would love to hear from you.

[Old Salt 64]

Mine was 45 days exactly. I had to complete lab, xrays, sleep apnea test, pysch eval, 3 visits with dietician, EGD, & restricted pre-op diet. Time went quick and currently very, very, very glad I did it. 😁

[Lipman 29]

Mine was roughly 18 months, but that was because of some other factors (I had a stroke)

When I first went in, then quoted 60-90 days if I was going to use insurance to jump through all of the hoops (i say hoops, but I honestly believe they are important education pieces so that you know exactly what you are getting into). One of the things that may lengthen it (if you are using insurance) is that they may require 3 months on a diet if you haven't done that in the past 2 years.

[Yahoo 48]

My wait was one month from fiat meeting with surgeon - followed by meeting with anesthesiologist (with an additional 4 months of tests, nutritional counselling, social worker, family education session prior to first visit with the surgeon).

[mammawdd 7]

It took me 1 year. Be patient it's worth it!

[Brandiwine77 52]

Mine's been about 6 months from initial appt in Dec 2022 to surgery (this Wed) but other factors happened, such as emergency gallbladder surgery 2 days after my first appt, grad school started in Jan, my mom passed in Jan. as well, so I was not in any mindset until late March or so. I had to have 2 nutrition classes, psych eval, PCP clearance, labs, and my diet is 1 week liquid before sugery and all clear the day before.

[nikki1203 8]

Mine will be almost exactly a year (my surgery is next Monday)

[Nepenthe44 159]

13 months from the first educational session. 9 months between initial surgeon's consult and surgery. But they lost my paperwork twice and there were several other bureaucratic delays that slowed the timeline dramatically.

[LindsayT 448]

It varies so much between program requirements and insurance requirements; as you can see from the comments. Mine was 3 months.

[FlowerGirl44 23]

I don't have a surgery date yet but thought I would share what my requirements were. I had to have 3 consecutive PCP visits for medically supervised weight loss attempt. 1 nutritionist and 1 psych visit. Smoke/nicotine free for 2 months, EKG, Chest x-ray, and an endoscopy (so he could look at my hiatal hernia). This was all required before it could be submitted for insurance approval. Turn around on insurance approval is around a week or so. I am going to the beach mid July, so I am hoping for an August surgery date (fingers crossed!).

[LindsayT 448]

9 minutes ago, Flower Girl 44 said:

I don't have a surgery date yet but thought I would share what my requirements were. I had to have 3 consecutive PCP visits for medically supervised weight loss attempt. 1 nutritionist and 1 psych visit. Smoke/nicotine free for 2 months, EKG, Chest x-ray, and an endoscopy (so he could look at my hiatal hernia). This was all required before it could be submitted for insurance approval. Turn around on insurance approval is around a week or so. I am going to the beach mid July, so I am hoping for an August surgery date (fingers crossed!).

Some insider information. I would do your pre-op diet while you're at the beach. Unless you want to, of course. I didn't want to do anything during the liquid diet stage. Keep us updated!

[FlowerGirl44 23]

Oddly enough, my doctor isn't requiring a pre-op diet, only that I do clear liquid diet the day before surgery. I am trying to have a farewell party to my favorites and say goodbye to them forever lol

[KD in CT 7]

Newbie, I like your plan. I've been doing that unconsciously, too.

[Brandiwine77 52]

3 hours ago, FlowerGirl44 said:

I don't have a surgery date yet but thought I would share what my requirements were. I had to have 3 consecutive PCP visits for medically supervised weight loss attempt. 1 nutritionist and 1 psych visit. Smoke/nicotine free for 2 months, EKG, Chest x-ray, and an endoscopy (so he could look at my hiatal hernia). This was all required before it could be submitted for insurance approval. Turn around on insurance approval is around a week or so. I am going to the beach mid July, so I am hoping for an August surgery date (fingers crossed!).

Hey, I'm in AL too. Where are you having yours done at?

[FlowerGirl44 23]

On 6/13/2023 at 3:46 PM, Brandiwine77 said:

Hey, I'm in AL too. Where are you having yours done at?

Huntsville