Feeling Sad and Mis-Informed!!!

Had my appt. with Dr. Cobean today.  Prior to this appt. I was told the ONLY thing I needed to do prior to my surgeon appt. was to make sure that my insurance covered bariatric REVISION surgery (and it does.....I had a VBG in 2003).  Got another letter stating to bring my $500 deposit to this appt., we'd sign the necessary papers, and they'd be scheduling my surgery within 2-3 weeks.

Well, Dr. Cobean starts telling me that I need to have an endoscopy done, had to meet with a social worker, meet with a dietician, attend group support meetings, and that it's a 6 month  process before they schedule surgery.  The tears began to roll and I couldn't even speak.  This was completely opposite from what I was told and lead to believe.

I asked him WHY then....was I sent a letter stating that the ONLY thing I had to do prior to my surgeon appt. was to call my insurance and WHY I was also sent a letter asking me to bring the $500 deposit so I could schedule my surgery today.  He said that someone in the office had made a mistake and that I shouldn't have been sent those papers. 

So, my hopes for having revision surgery this summer were shot down. I am a teacher and taking time off during the school year is very hard.  We have a very strict superintendent who questions every day that we ask for a substitute.

Anyone else here who had a VBG and then a revision RNY?  If so, did you have to go through the process all over again??

Thanks for listening......I am just so sad right now.

oh Terri, thats so sad. Im sorry, it must have been tough to hear that. I would add though, that going through all of that stuff really helped me. I was scheduled before with a different doc who cut corners SO bad and just wanted to write down that I had done the things I hadnt done. Im SO glad I ditched him and had it with a doc who made me jump through hoops. Just curious, though, would any of your prior stuff count towards these meetings, you have already been there once. Probably not current enough info, but maybe worth a shot. (((hugs)))

Terri, I feel so sad for you!  I am at the beginning of this process, and know how it feels to look 6 months in the face, and it seems to feel like it may be forever.  I am so sorry you were mislead...I also wonder if any of your stuff that you did before can count toward this surgery.  Is it with a different doctor this time?  I hope that this all works out for you.  And again, I'm so sorry for your pain and upset.
Hugs,  
Heather

Oh no! That's awful. I have heard that revision patients get in faster to see the surgeon, but I guess I didn't think they had to do the whole program before surgery. I guess I understand on some level, but it is certainly frustrating as how much time have you waited already to get in when you could have started the support meetings and such?

One thing on the scheduling, just so you're not surprised about this, is that I guess with Dr. Cobean it takes 2-3 weeks to schedule the surgery, but then the surgery is a month or so after that -- so more like 6-8 weeks after you sign all your surgery papers. Dr. Wolff is different, you get your date while you're there, but in my case that was 12 weeks later.

I think it is possible to get all of the appointments -- support group, meetings with dietician, scope, u/s and all done pretty quickly, but you'd probably have to do it all before mid-July to have any hope of getting the surgery before September. I am so sorry. I am sure you must feel totally discouraged and angry with the folks who didn't give you accurate information about how long the process would take.

im sorry as well terri i have used mmc too as well , sometimes they dont move too fast in there , my wls took forever as well i guess it all depends how many dr cobean and dr wolf wanna do i know there backed up for awhile  they have plenty of work  for sure , i know there are some in mass that are awesome too , i know couple people that went thru programs down there so u might wanna look on the mass board , and new hampshire as well  there are lots of great programs as well , if i  had too get revision i would look into those

Have you tried going to see Drs. Ban\g and Loggins in Lewiston?  I don't know much about revisions, but this kind of thing is all they do...the weight loss stuff.  The dieticians and everything is right there.  They are wonderful, and sooo helpful...I drive 3 1/2 hrs. to go there I like them so much.  Just a helpful suggestion that might be worth checking out.  Good luck!