Tired of Waiting!

Help y'all! Can someone tell me if you had to do the 3 month trial period up in Cedar Falls? I'm currently scheduled at the UIHC but this 3 month period seems like it's going on forever. Not to mention, they aren't sending anything in to my insurance company and I have only until May 13th to have my surgery! I've e-mailed Debi at the U and she has not responded about getting put on a cancellation list and I'm pretty sure that they're very strict about the 3 month period. At any rate, if I could do it sooner in Cedar Falls, I would. No one in Cedar Rapids does it right now. I just want to get things moving as I researched this a good 3 months before even asking my PCP for the referral. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?? Thanks much! Jen

Hi Jen! I sent you an e-mail...feel free to contact me if I can help. Sherry Open RNY 02/04/04 (Proximal-75 cm) 294.5/146.5 -148#

He doesn't require the 3 month trial period but I don't know about the time it would take to get in. He was very busy when I was preparing to have my surgery during 2003. It took 8 months from my seminar until the scheduled surgery date. It may be different though as there are now two surgeons at Cedar Falls. You can always give them a call & explain why you need it by May 13. They've been known to speed things up when it's necessary. You do have to attend the seminar before you can do anything else. I believe the next one is mid February. Check out the website at obesityhelpiowa.com ( add the www.) It can give you more information. Dixie

Well I am going to go to the next seminar which is on Feb 15th in Cedar Falls. I'm a little nervous because I've never been there! Thank you for the responses - you guys are great!!!! Hugs, jen

I did not have a three month period in Cedar Falls. I had to get all my ducks in a row before anything could be sent into insurance for approval. See a shrink, have sleep study, see a heart doc get documentation from my doc that I was on every supervised diet in the world. He wrote a letter recommending me for the surgery. I had very good luck in CF. Everything from the doc's had to be sent to CF. Don't know if that helps but it sure can't hurt to call if you already have all that stuff done. Mary

I've had a sleep study, psych eval, 5 year diet attempts that were medically supervised by my PCP and all the documentation. But I haven't been to a heart doctor. I am going to go to the seminar because the receptionist said that you can't have a consultation appointment until you complete the class. Then I get my paperwork to fill out and then they schedule me for a consult. It may end up being just as long but I'm going to do it, just in case. Thanks so much! Hugs, jen

I know it's a drive for you, but why not check out the Mercy Center for Weight Reduction at Mercy Capitol hosp. in Des Moines? From the time I submitted my paperwor****il I had my actual surgery was roughly 2 1/2 months. They have three surgeons and as long as you stay on top of the pre-op testing, etc. it goes pretty smoothly. jean

Jen Have you looked into Grinnell?? They have 4 doctors performing, my mother and I both had our surgeries there. They are awesome. Can't say enough on how please we are. Great care, pre op and post op. Let me know if you have any questions. Kourtney

Jen- Forgot to add they don't make you attend a seminar like in Cedar Falls or go on a diet prior to the surgery, you have an appointment with the surgeon, they go over the procedure and determine if it is what you want and if you qualify, you do have to get all your records of supervised diets and a pych evaluation, that is required by the insurance Kourt

The only problem that I have is making sure that doc's up there do lap RNY as that's what I really want. I know Cedar Falls does. I'm going to get to the seminar which is an hour long and I'm going to see which doc can get me in for surgery faster. Thanks for all of your help!! Hugs, jen