Question about process.. Glas****Satori

Hi all! I am my consultation w/ Dr Glas**** next week. Talked to my insurance today and it sounds like it's going to be easy to get everything approved. I'm so excited!! My question.. for those who had Dr Glas**** about how long does the process take from consultation to surgery? I know everyone is probably different, but just looking at the work schedule etc. TIA!

Congratulations Stacy, for getting this far & for choosing to have your surgey done by Dr G. I believe that he is the best gastric bypass surgeon in the state but I suspect most of us believe that of our own individual surgeon. Dr G did mine so I'm partial. I'm afraid that I can't help you with an estimate of how long it takes. My surgery was over 3 years ago & things have changed so much in that time. It's all very individual, depending on what tests you need completed (having a sleep study done can hold things up because it often takes a while to get an opening) & how fast your insurance company is at approving. In the last newsletter, Dr G wrote that they were hiring someone to be a patient advocate & to help with getting the preauthorizations. That has always been the part that took so much time when their normal office staff did it as it was done in addition to their other duties. All the paperwork that they have to send out often got held up. This new person should really help speed things up. One thing I can tell you is that once you get everything done & preauthorized, they will schedule your surgery date & it is usually only 2-3 weeks off. Dr G requires 2 weeks of clear liquids before surgery so they can't set it up any sooner. Good luck & let us know how it turns out next week. Dixie

Hi Stacy, Congrats on your decision (and your physician choice). As Dixie said, things are probably constantly changing, but here's the general timeline I had last year: Early Dec: Consult December: Psych, Neuro, Cardiac consults (neuro and card due to history) Jan: submitted to insurance Jan 2, approved Jan 3 or 4 Jan-Feb: sleep study, bunch o'labs, chest xray, abdominal ultrasound Once all of that is done and OK, they will schedule you (no sooner than 2 weeks). In my case, I wanted an early March date -- I also had sleep apnea, so needed to get started on my CPAP before surgery (happy to say that little monster stays in the closet now ) A lot will depend on if you need any extra consults like I did -- sometimes the toughest thing to book is the sleep study -- they're in high demand nowdays. Overall, I was right at 3 months -- consult 12/8/05, surgery 3/6/06 Good luck!

HIJACK Cheryl, you look very familiar. Several years ago I used to live in Ames, my daughter and her family lives in Boone. I was just down there for a long weekend last weekend. connie d

Ditto what Dixie and Cheryl said, but I just wanted to tell that I also had Dr. G and you will be in good hands!!! Hugs! -Melissa

Thanks gals! I've wanted this surgery for so long but because of insurance reasons have had to wait. I know the U of I does the surgery as well, but I have heard so many good things about Dr Glas**** and I really liked the overall problem.  Plus.. with the U of I there's such a long wait list for even the consult appoint.  :-( I'm counting the days until my appointment.  :-D

I am in the process of doing all my testing and finishing up my supervised diet.  I have done my consult with Angie at Dr. Glass****'s office and the nutritionist, sleep study-both nights (have apnea), echocardiogram-due to being on phen-fen a few years ago (everything looks totally normal thank goodness!!!!!), and I will have my endoscopy next Monday.  I have researched and researched the lapband and read Dr. G's credentials and everyone elses in his office.  I even printed them off and took them to my family doc, whom I WHOLE HEARTEDLY trust, and he told me that Dr. G and his staff have EXCELLENT credentials and after reading all of your posts and replies on here, from people whom have had Dr. G do their surgery, I am totally at ease and feel very safe. I guess what I want to do is thank all o you who have had Dr. G for posting your experiences on here for all of us 'newbies' or 'wannabies' (pun intended. HAHA).  You help put my mind at ease and I am sure that you have helped several others.  Can't wait to join all of you 'losers' (haha)