Dr.Juarez Visit

Today I met with Dr.Juarez for my inital visit. The visit went well but I have a question, which I should have asked. Before I left Collenn said I needed to get some things done for the insurance company. She said I especially needed the top 3 items. My medical records, letter of referal and psychological evaluation and clearance. She did not mention the bottom two. The cardiac clearance and the pulmonary clearance. Will I still need to get these done? I should have stayed and fully understood what was needed. I asked her what I did next at the office and she said wait for her call. I have Humana Choice Plus for insurance. Should I go ahead and schedule a test for the pulmonary and cardiac or wait till she tells me to schedule them? I guess I was so excited I finally had my visit and it went well that I totally forgot my brain.

These two items were not checked when I received my paperwork from Colene either but when I received my surgery date it ask for a cardio clearance. I think it may depend on the patient. Do you have high blood pressure, hypertension, or pulminary problems??? If you do I would suggest having a stress test and an appointment with a pulminary specialist. Make sure you have them send you a copy of the results and double check with Heather, once you have your surgery date, to make sure she has your clearances.

I had to provide, 6 months of medical records... mainly for documentation of weight and attempted weight loss. After I knew I needed a letter of medical neccessity (once I got my packet for the seminar, I got that right away also... I am having my surgery at Scottsdale Bariatric, so the psychological testing was part of their process. As for the cardiac and pulmonary clearance... when i left the office, i was given a list of tests (caridiac, pulmonary, echocardiogram, ekg, etc) I needed done prior to approval and it was only pap smear and the h-pyloric test. I was suprised that I needed such little tests done, but I guess after the 90 minute consultation, the surgeon knew what tests I needed and so on based on my medical history. I also provided them with records of my attempts with Weigh****chers, Jenny Craig and diet medications at my intial consultation. Then the SBC also does a letter of medical neccessity also along with your PCP's and submits its to the insurance company. Once I was approved, I received my orders for Blood work, Chest Xray and EKG that I have to do one month prior to my surgery date. One thing I like about SBC, everything can be completed there or at the hospital right next door. I not running around and stressing about all different appointments and then making sure everything was sent or faxed over with follow up calls. I would call them back and get some clarification... It's alot of information to take in on your initial consultation, I think they would understand.

HI nicole, i had the surgery with Dr Fang. 2 years 4 months ago...my husband is in the process of going threw the same steps you have done. Dr Fang will be doing his, everything just falls into place, once the process is started...good luck....my cardiac eval, and pulm eval were dont before the surgery, after the psyc eval...jackie

Hi Pam I'ts just part of the process for some people, depends on weight ,age, etc..... Your surgeons office will schedule and let you know when to go. I had my cardi clearance and was the worst part of the whole process - but its not that way for everyone. Just stay calm and keep the appts as scheduled. Just think in less than 3months you too will be a big looser !!!

Thanks everyone for the answers. I think my nerves must have got the best of me. I was so excited I FINALLY deceided on a doctor and hospital (Good Sam) that I forgot my brain. Then when my meeting went so well with Dr.Juarez I just wanted to come home and tell my family all about it. I don't really have anything else wrong with me. In fact Dr.Juarez said I am basically healthy except for my weight. So will get the paper work that I know I need and will let the process begin. Thanks everyone.