Is a wait the norm?

I went to Tulsa tonight for my introductory meeting for LapBand surgery. I thought things would move quickly but we were all told it will be 3-6 months before any of use are likely to have surgery. Can someone tell me if this is the normal procedure? Tonights meeting was required, of course, but they also require you to attend at least one of their monthly meetings before they do surgery. They will only schedule an appointment with the surgeon of choice once they have the records from the doctor (5 years worth) plus a letter of medical necessity. I can see why they need the records but once you get to this step they require a psych exam. I am Medicare and am confident there will be no problem getting the surgery approval but this psych exam - I wonder if it will be covered!? Of course they give you a "book" to complete and send them before that doctor appointment, too. I know program can differ in their requirements but just am curious if others have also had this type of experience in getting to the surgery point. I may find myself here often just to get some boost of my enthusiasm with this long wait. I am so ready now and hoped for a faster process. Carol

Carol, It is normal to have some wait time between their initial meeting/seminar and when they actually get to the point of walking into the operating room. This wait actually can be shorter or longer depending on the doctor's who you need records from and how quickly they get their act together and send it to your surgeon's office. You also will find the more you hound them, the more likely they will be to hurry this up. They have a busy schedule and they don't want to have to deal with a patient calling all the time to get medical records sent. There will be other things that you need to do to get prepared for your surgery. You will have to attend a nutritional consult and get the psych eval. Don't wait for the surgeon's office to tell you to get these. Get the ball rolling yourself. They may tell you to use their nutritionist and that is who you will need to use but you can get in contact with them to find out who it is and if you can go ahead and set up your meeting with them. They psych eval, this could be someone they have with their staff or it could be someone of your choice. I was able to use whomever I liked. It took a few weeks to complete the testing so the quicker you can get this done the better off you are. For me, I went through this procedure twice because I ended up having to switch surgeon's the week before my band was to be placed. I was devistated but I managed to get everything transfered to the new surgeon without too mu*****idence. The new surgeon required a little more in the way of testing but I didn't mind. It just confirmed that I was healthy. Stay positive and proactive and the time will fly by! Amy

Hey Carol - it's a long process so just take it one step at a time. I have been so very fortunate. I attended my surgeon's seminar on March 30 and have a surgery date of June 8. My insurance is wonderful and I did not have as intensive records as some insurance and Medicare. I was not required to submit a psych eval so I'm not sure but I'm sure someone on here will be able to answer weather or not it is covered. It's alot of documenting but I think it's the medical worlds way of "only the strong survive". If you know it's what you really need to have happen for your life, then you'll do what it takes to get it. I'm sure there have been more than a few who have just quit because of frustration. Just keep after it and you will be sitting on the losing side before you know it! AT

Carol, it is a long process and after the psych evalu, then a nutrition consult, and then the surgeon needs to look inside you and test your stomach for bacteria so he will schedule a procedure where they look down your mouth into your stomach, plus lots of lab and many make you get tested for sleep apnea and have an EKG. It takes a good 3-6 weeks for some and months for others. Just jump through their hoops and remember it will be worth it in the end.