Question for Dr. Steward's patients

Hello all-- I am currently in the process of getting a referral from my PCP and am trying to get some kind of a timeline in my head. When I saw my PCP he seemed to be compassionate and supportive but suggested that I see a dietician for about 6 weeks so that there would be documentation supporting his decision to give me a referral. My PCP is military and I have Tricare insurance so everything has to be in order for referrals etc. Once my 6 weeks is up (4 more to go), my PCP refers me (fingers-crossed), I attend Dr. Steward's seminar, I have my consultation with the surgeon, I qualify for surgery, and my insurance sends approval (rubbing my lucky rabbits foot), HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO WAIT FROM THE TIME OF APPROVAL UNTIL I AM ROLLING INTO THE OPERATING ROOM? I have really learned alot from all of your profiles and stories. Thank you for sharing. Joan B. 240, 40 BMI Wichita

Here is my timeline....I attended Dr. S's seminar in mid July. I mailed in my paperwork (several pages given to you at the seminar) the SAME DAY. I was called around 2 weeks later and given my consult appt. which was Aug. 31. It took the office longer than normal (I understand) --around 2 weeks-- to actually get my approval request turned in....mine was Fed. BCBS. I got approval back from BCBS in a week and my date was then confirmed as Dec. 18, 2003. However, I already had that as a tentative surgery date from the date of my consult.....that was because of my work schedule is very "fussy" so Brenda did give me a tentative date in mid-Dec. at the time of the consult..but that really isn't standard procedure...they were just accomodating my wierd work needs. Had I not gotten that, I have a feeling that my surgery date would have been more like mid-January. And I do understand that he is doing more of them now than at the time I was scheduled....so I don't know if that makes it go faster....or if the wait is still as long with so many more people wanting this surgery..and hearing what an outstanding surgeon he is. BUt that's what happened with me. I'm now 11 weeks out and down 52 lbs., though I wi**** were more and that the scale were moving faster! Jenni

Jenni- Thanks for the reply. I am so anxious to get things happening. I know that I just need to be patient but at times it is so hard. Hopefully my PCP will give me the referral so things can start moving along. I am hoping to have my referral so I can attend the seminar scheduled in April. Congratulations on your loss so far. I think you are doing great! Even though the numbers on the scale aren't dropping as fast as you would like at least they are aren't going upward!! How long did you take before you went back to work? How was your recovery? I hope you don't mind the extra questions!! Joan

Joan, I do for sure understand the anxiousness to get scheduled! Do you really have to wait to attend the seminar?? If you go in March, that would get you one step closer...and you'd have your paperwork in hand.....in fact, since it takes a while to get your appt....maybe you could go ahead and send it in and then let your PCP follow with a referral before you actually have your appt. Here I am trying to rush things for you, but it might save you a month or so by going to the March meeting. I would sure like to make it to that meeting and it looks like I might be able to. I haven't been to one since the original one I went to last July. The distance, along with my kids' activities makes it hard. As for work....depends on what you do but I scheduled WAY toooo much time off. I'm self employed (adult education) and I didn't go back to work for 8 weeks....I was soooooo bored. But in early January, I went to the school board office and signed up to be a substitute teacher, something I have done in the past. I started doing that (grade school, including subbing in pre-school) when I was a month out...and handled it fine and it saved my sanity!! Best wishes! Jenni

Yahoo.. this is terrific.. You will love Dr. Steward and Dr. Berntsen.. I too am from the McConnell base and had my surgery done Sept 15th.. doing great and so darn happy that I had it.. Was referred by my PCP who then got transferred.. saw Mary Kay on base, the nutritionist... she was so sweet.. and had all the documentation lined up.. also saw the base psychiatrist there too for my psych eval... and that went well.. did not take really long to get into surgery but of course, seemed like forever.. .. this is such a good thing to have done... a new life now. Are you going to the support meeting this saturday the 13th in Topeka ? There are so many wonderful folks up there and lots from down here too, that attend.. Brenda leads the meetings and she is really terrific.. Take care now and best of luck to you. Look forward to meeting you. Feel free to ask any questions and I will try to answer them. Keep up the good work.. Hugs, Fran

Hi Joan, I'm not sure I really understand why your PCP is making you see a dietician. I have Tricare Prime and all I had to do was get my referral from my PCP. Maybe it's because you have a military PCP and mine is a civilian. (I got special permission to have a civilian PCP due to distance from the base and my job) I had my approval from Tricare with 4 days of them receiving it. I have my surgery scheduled for March 11 and am planning on having someone wheel me to the support group since I will still be in the hospital. Dr. S. is great! He has an awesome bedside manner and you never feel like he is trying to rush you out of there to get to the next patient. Wonderful Dr.!!! Anyway, you don't have to wait for your referral from your PCP to go the the seminar. They don't charge for those. Then you can at least have your paperwork done and that requirement out of the way. Then if I were you I would send in my paperwork a couple weeks before you think you will have your referral. That will give the office staff time to get it all together and get you a consult appointment set up. As long as you have your referral before you consult appointment you will be fine. If you happen to not have it before you go then you can reschedule but at least this way you could try to be ahead of the game. Once you see Dr. S. for the consult they will send in request for the surgery to Tricare. Once they send that in I would call Tricare after about 3 days and make sure they got it. They didn't get mine the first time and I got a fax number from them and had Dr. S.'s office send it again. After they received it I gave them another 3 days and called and they told me I was approved. Once you are approved and they have your psych eval they will give you a surgery date. Also, don't wait until you see Dr. S. to get your psych eval. Go ahead and get that done because it sometimes takes them several weeks to get that to Dr. S. and they will not give you a date unless you have that. Anyway, I hope some of that helped. Dr. S. is a really great Dr. and I will be praying that everything goes well for you. I know what it's like waiting for all this stuff to happen. If you come to the support group meeting Saturday I hope to meet you, I live in Hesston so we could get together once in awhile if you'd like, give each other support. I will be in a hospital gown probably if I am there Saturday since I'm having surgery this Thursday. Good Luck and God Bless!! Carrie

Jenni, Fran, and Carrie-- THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!! for all the info and advice. You guys are so smart...I don't know why I was thinking that I needed my referral before I went to the group meeting....brain malfunction or something! My husband and I are now planning on attending the meeting next Saturday the 13th. I look forward to meeting you all and personally thanking you for helping me clear up how the whole process works! Carrie--Congratulations and good luck with your upcoming date...how exciting!! Joan

That's what we're all here for.....to help each other out!!! I am really thinking seriously of trying to make the meeting on the 13th too....there is more hope than normal as last week, we finished Sat. basketball tournaments for my younger son and tomorrow is the last wrestling meet for my older son so....there is hope....and I have a wedding this month..but it is on the 20th so I really might be able to make it! Jenni

HI Joan, I think I sat next to you in the meeting Saturday, I am from Fort Riley. AnywayI just wanted to say HI and maybe during the time we are trying to get approval we can share what has worked and what hasn't and give each other advise?? Good luck Bekha