OK - now timeline questions. Just talked to the center.

Seminar is June 18

• 1st Dr. apt. Sept 21
  
• Then nutritionist
  
• Then counsel
  
• The final approval
  
• Then ....
  
• Best possible date of surgery - Jan 2010
  

What has been the typical time line for others? They said they take long because they want to teach people how to use this new tool. Good enough - but 9 months! And that is not counting the time from the initial insurance letter (applied for in March 09).

So - this will take 1 year from start to finish. WOW. :smile:

Wow! That seems long. Does your insurance require 6 months dr supervision for weight loss. Many do.

I went to the seminar in Feb, had the psyc exam a few weeks later, then met with Nurtitionist, Nurse & Surgeon on Mar 24. Surgery was scheduled for Mar 24, but was postoned twice because the surgeon couldn't make it. I'm now scheduled for Jun 8th. Can't wait!

Good luck.

hi pnw

are you self pay or insurance paid? insurance companies have requirements that lengthen the process.

i was self pay and even then found doctors to vary when i did my research to find a lapband doctor.

i went to the doctor's meeting/presentation on wednesday night and had my band put in friday.

my doctor didnt have pre-op diets. his feeling was i wasnt successful at dieting to date, so his approach was to get the band in and then offered great counseling to develop the skills. i'm glad i found him.

the first doctor i went to started with the ekg's, psych, etc. i never pursued this one....luckily through this site i found my band doctor i ended up with.

this has just been my experience....

josie

Hi Jose

I am insurance. But I think this is the center that has odd time line. The insurance has already given the referral to start the process and follow what the center does from this point forward.

My insurance only covers 4 centers. 2 are not in good distance for me.

I have been keeping a food journal since Jan 09 since I knew they may require this down the road. It can be a bit frustrating when you make the move to make a difference in your life and road blocks are tossed in your way - in the spirit of 'getting your tools in order' My tool box is loaded down right now:frown:

Honestly if you read a lot of posts you'll see most people end up taking a lot longer than they think it will take if insurance is involved. I know I started last summer and will have my surgery next week. Yes I was frustrated along the way, but it's a lot to do and you have to use the time to get yourself organized and learn as much as you can. Good luck!

All I can suggest to you is stick with it and don't give up it is so worth it. I have been trying to get the Lapband done for 5 years and kept getting discouraged on all the different things I would have to do for approval. So I would get discouraged and give up. So I finally decided Dec 07, I had to get it done while I had good insurance and needed to stick with it no matter what loop they made me jump through. So in November 08 I finally had it done. I am down 50 pounds and I love my band. I only wish I would have had it done sooner.

Good Luck to you and don't give up.

PNW, the only thing that sounds like it's taking awhile is getting the appointment in September. Otherwise, the rest is not totally out of line. I started in November 08. My ins company requires six months of jumping through hoops and on my sixth month appt I hadn't lost the 10 percent weight they required so that added another couple of weeks. That was April 15th, then a couple of weeks to get into surgeon and Surgery is June 1 (monday). So maybe what I'd do is keep on them about the first appointment. I was very aggressive in calling for cancellations to get in sooner on my appts. But many of us have 6-8 months because of insurance. I personally believe it's a way of weeding out some people. If we could all self-pay, we could definitely shorten that wait but my co pays on all the testing required and deductible is about as much as i could afford.

So hang in there. it really does go by quicker than you think.

Trisha

OK - I don't know how I did this but I got the date moved for my visit to June 8 - the nutritionist - June 15 the doctor. I have another question

I qualified per insurance lost the 5% but maybe too much due to the flu. I am at 38% just about 4 pounds away from 40%. Can the doctor say no? I do have other factors.

This is my story - like so many others I think. I can go up 5-10# in 1 week!!

I guess I will not feel I am on my way until the surgery date is set.

thanks for the good karma people. It worked.