Hello from a New member

Hello everyone. I have enjoyed reading all of your posts. They have been very informative for me. I have decided Weight Loss Surgery is my only option for getting on the road to a healthy lifestyle. I am attending my first seminar this weekend. I have been doing alot of research and am comfortable with this decision. I wanted to post here to see if anyone would mind sharing with me their "timelines" for their surgery. From the day you met with the dr the first time, how long did it take you to get to your surgery date. I have Wassau insurance and haven't contacted them to find out what their coverage is. Has anyone used Wassau? I know the dr will answer my questions this weekend, but thought I would also start here. I sure do appreciate any information you can share with me. Thank you! Melanie

Hi, I am also a new menber. I have not had surgery yet and I am waiting for insurance approval. I have done all the jumping through hoops for insurance and also went to a seminar. My journey has been about a month and I hope to hear about insurance real soon. Then I can meet with Doc at a official appointment and set a date. I too enjoy reading the posts. It gives me hope for a healthier future. Good luck and God Bless. Cindi

Hey Cindy Smoochies Arlies

Hi, I think everyone has a different timeline, it took me 18 months, if your ins. Company backs you I know is a lot shorter, but a lot of then require documentation of weight loss history etc... Wait and see if yours has a clause. The people at the siminar checked mine for me. Is it cmmc siminar? Sorry I couldn't help. Brenda

Thank you so much for your replies. I am going to the Midsouth Bariatrics seminar at Baptist in Memphis this weekend. I was hoping to have this surgery by September, but thought that short of time might be unrealistic. Thank you again for your information! Melanie

HI Melanie, WElCOME to the board. Good luck on this sometimes rocky journey! It only took me 1 week from the day i meet my dr to get my date for 1 week later! hehe realy fast for me TOO fast in fact. I used Keesler,my hubby is milatary, it's COMPLETLEY differant for most people.I do hope that all moves smoothly for you. I know the wait can sometimes be long for some , very fast and no red tape for others. Sorry, I'm not much help , just mainly wanted to say Hi! DAWN~~

Hi Dawn! That is amazing! One week would actually be awesome for me as well! I recently moved from the coast to North MS. It was nice to see a coastal gal on here! Thanks for your information! Melanie

Hello Melanie, welcome to the board! I used CMMC in Jackson and went to my first seminar on Jan 27th, 2005. I had my surger on July 18th 2005. It could have been a month earlier, but my personal schedule messed it up. Anyway, just my experience.... but yours will be different! Hopefully it will be short for you too! Keep us posted! HUGS Kimberly

Hey Melanie - welcome aboard and thanks for posting...I had laparoscopic gastric bypass. I waited almost a year before surgery, only because my insurance company changed during this time and I almost got lost in the shuffle - but I just started calling and calling, and then once they had my paperwork (again) it took no time. So, my only advice is to do like you're doing, ASK lots of questions and once you have met with the doc, keep in touch with your insurance company, find out a name of who is reviewing your case, get your case number, etc...Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress..DeAnna Bailey

Hi Melanie, My name is Crystal and I had my surgery December 13 2005, and since then I have lost from 356 (my weight when i left the hospital) to 252, and I am so glad I had this surgery. It has changed my life. Since you are from Hernando, I would recommend you use Dr.King in Oxford, I have heard really good things about him, and he has a lot of experience with WLS, which is what you want. The time line for me was quite long, but yours may not be as long, I have 2 insurances, I have United Healthcare, which is my primary, and I have BCBS of Alabama. In order to satisfy BCBS of AL I had to do a six month Weigh****chers diet, plus all their lab tests they wanted, I did this so they would pay what United Healthcare didn't and I wouldn't be out anything at all. United Healthcare was much easier to deal with but they had a 3,000.00 deductable I had to pay which is why I was trying to do what BCBS of AL wanted so they would pick up the rest, and they did. I was approved after one letter. I started my journey in October of 2004 and my surgery was December of 2005. It was so worth the wait and all the aggravation I went through, If I can remember, I had to do a sleep study, EKG stress test, all kinds of lab blood work, a drug and alchohol test, and my WW diet. I wish you the best, its the best decicsion i ever made. talk to ya later. Crystal