How long did it take you from your 1st Doctors visit untill you got your surgery? How long did it take for your insurance to approve the surgery? Or did you pay for it your self? How long does the surgery itself last? Did you stay over night in the hospital?:crying:

I have not been banded yet, but if things go like I have been explained by my program it will be 8 months. I have done all of my testing (letter of necessity, abdominal ultrasound, psych evaluation). I have been to the introductory session and one information session. I have two information sessions to go, then I get to see the surgeon. After that will be 6-8 weeks before my date. My program had a mandatory 10 pound weight loss before you see the doc and I am still working on that. My last session I was told the surgery is 1.5-2 hours and they make you stay one night. Hope this helps.:crying:

I have not been banded yet, but if things go like I have been explained by my program it will be 8 months. I have done all of my testing (letter of necessity, abdominal ultrasound, psych evaluation). I have been to the introductory session and one information session. I have two information sessions to go, then I get to see the surgeon. After that will be 6-8 weeks before my date. My program had a mandatory 10 pound weight loss before you see the doc and I am still working on that. My last session I was told the surgery is 1.5-2 hours and they make you stay one night. Hope this helps.

Thanks... I am hoping it won't take that long...My 1st Doctor visit is Thursday the 21st to get a letter of medical ness for my insurance company. Then I go to a information session on the 26th of AUG. Which is required as well. I want this to not take too long casue I want and need this surgery.:crying:

Hi - My journey was much quicker. I went for the first consult on June 17 and my surgery is set for next Tuesday, August 19. Insurance approval took a month. While waiting for approval I did all the pre-testing that my surgeon ordered. Good Luck to you.

Mary

Hi!! Well, it depends on what type of insurance you have, what they require you to do and what the surgeon requires you to do. All cases are different. It took me just a little over a year from start until surgery....ughhhh, i know , it's a long story and i'm going to make a blog about it...

My case is not the norm, so don't base it on what i went through...

But, i am 2 months post op, and it was worth the wait and i would do it all over again in a heartbeat!!

Hang in there and hopefully it will not take you so long!!

Hope this was helpful!

Good Luck!!

Good Morning! I had my first doctors appointment on June 17th and I was just banded on August 11th. Every where is different and depends on your insurance that you have too. Good Luck!!!

Good Morning! I had my first doctors appointment on June 17th and I was just banded on August 11th. Every where is different and depends on your insurance that you have too. Good Luck!!!

Do mind me asing what type of insurance you have?:crying:

I have blue cross blue shield of massachusetts. I was approved in less then a week by the insurance. I was really shocked it was that fast. They dont submit anything to the insurance company for surgery until you have met all the other requirements first.

14 months....Started 11/06 ..got my band 1/08.....insurance :Banane37:

I have blue cross blue shield of massachusetts. I was approved in less then a week by the insurance. I was really shocked it was that fast. They dont submit anything to the insurance company for surgery until you have met all the other requirements first.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT you are talking about?

Before the surgeon would submit my papers to insurance I had to attend 2 info sessions, see the nutrionist, see the pysch doctor, head of the department, bloodwork, gallbladder ultrasound, and then meet with the surgeon. The usually put all the appointments together. Mine was spread over 2 days and the 3rd time it was with the surgeon and then scheduled my surgery and preop appointment. Every hospital is different.

My process has been very quick. My PCM requested a referral for my surgeon on 7/7; my seminar and consult with the surgeon was 7/17; surgery was applied for on 7/18 & ins. approved on 7/25; surgery date is 8/30; psych, nutrition, cardiac, renal appts. are set; blood clot filter placement is 8/23. So...my start to finish will be 13 weeks (provided all my appts. are +)

My process has been very quick. My PCM requested a referral for my surgeon on 7/7; my seminar and consult with the surgeon was 7/17; surgery was applied for on 7/18 & ins. approved on 7/25; surgery date is 8/30; psych, nutrition, cardiac, renal appts. are set; blood clot filter placement is 8/23. So...my start to finish will be 13 weeks (provided all my appts. are +)

I hope that mine it that quick!

It depends also on how agressive you are with scheduling all you appointments. My firsr appoint. with my surgeon was April 15 and my surgery date was July 2. I was really agressive with making all my appointments. What took time was the Dr.'s office giving me my surgery date...that took about 2 weeks from after all my tests were in. So from start to finish, it was 2 1/2 months. Good luck to you on your journey!

Lisa :biggrin:

I am going to try to get an appointment once a week with who ever I need too..... I have my 1st one Aug 21st my 2nd one Aug 26th:tt2:

Before the surgeon would submit my papers to insurance I had to attend 2 info sessions, see the nutrionist, see the pysch doctor, head of the department, bloodwork, gallbladder ultrasound, and then meet with the surgeon. The usually put all the appointments together. Mine was spread over 2 days and the 3rd time it was with the surgeon and then scheduled my surgery and preop appointment. Every hospital is different.

Liquidbluegal,

I have BC/BS MA too. I have done the first step of attending the seminar. I talked to the gals in the office and gave them my insurance info. They said they wanted to verify the insurance and get back with me with all that is required for surgery.

Did you need proof of 5 years of obesity? What about a 6 month diet?

I did see on the insurance info that they want a record of failed attempts of dieting. Did they just take your word for it or did you have to prove it?

I don't have that at all. What I do have is a BMI of about 43 with no co-morbidities.

Of course I did try to lose weight in the past 5 years, I just don't have proof of it. I also have lapses of time of having my weight recorded. I dont have 5 years of proof of my weight by being weighed every year at a doctor's office. I am just going off what they said some insurances are like.

Thanks!