I just got approved

Hi all, I've never posted before because I wanted to wait to see if I could even get approved. I was so excited I almost cried. I have to attend behavior group sessions a total of 12 and a minimum of 2 before surgery can be set up. Did any of you have to do this? Do you know if they are available in the Fort Dodge area? I also had to have a PT and Dietician consult and also have to have one more before surgery. The behavioral sessions are not the same as support group sessions. I am having surgery done by Dr. Rizk in Sioux City and this is the first time they have had patients meet these requirments. I also have to have a psycholological eval, I have that set up with Dr. Johnson in Fort Dodge for next Friday. Roxanne

Woo hoo Roxanne!!!!! I just gone done jumping for joy too cuz my surgery was approved a few days ago! I only have to have a pulmonology eval and regular labs. I already have sleep apnea and sleep with a cpap so no sleep study and I guess the dissertation I wrote for the surgeon convinced him I had my head on straight about this whole thing so no psych eval. I already went to a nutrition meeting which offered about 1/16th of the info I have gotten from this website but it cost me over $50(ins did not pay). My surgeon does not offer much in after-care info so what I find here is invaluable! Good luck to you! We will have to keep track of each other! It's time for you to have your official "BEFORE" pic taken! I submitted mine to the website but I guess it takes up to 2 weeks for them to post it. Michelle

RoxAnne, HAPPYYYYY APROOOOVALLLLL TOOOO YOUUUU... HAPPY APROOOOVALLLL TOOOO YOUUUUUU... (dogs howling in the background..hehe) I am having the surgery done by Dr. VerSteeg IN Fort Dodge and he does not require this. I DO have to have a psych evaluation for my preliminary appts. that he requires. Do you have a surgery date yet?? Mine is July 10th... only 24 days left to go! Trinity Regional Hospital has a support group for RNY Gastric Bypass (if that's what your having) that meets every monday night at 6:30 that we'd LOVE to have you join... less travel time than goin to Sioux City. Do you live in the Fort Dodge area? We could get together for lunch sometime if you'd like. I work in the Collision Center dept. of Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Mercury. ~~~Dawn from Duncombe, IA~~~

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I did not have to attend group sessions, but I did have to have a psych eval done, my Doctor has all his patients go through that. If you ever have any questions, please post them, are you having the RNY or a band done? Good luck with everything! ~Julie

Hey - I am waiting for insurance approval, also a patient of Dr. Rizk. The behavior group session thing is not his requirement. It is a requirement of Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. I also have to pay the $1200 and attend. Kind of throws a wrench into things at the last minute, but after listening to some of the people at group sessions, it would appear many docs are doing this without educating their patients at all. Some show up right after surgery and don't even know what they are suppose to be eating. I'm sure this will help alot with education.