the wait begins....

Well, I had my "decision appointment" yesterday and all is go.  Now I have to wait for my insurance approval.  **twiddling my thumbs**  How long do you suppose I'll have to wait?  What's the wait time for most of y'all.  I know it depends on your insurance carrier.  I have state employees BCBS, which my doctor tells me is usually quick with no problems.  My secondary insurance, Tricare Standard, tends to drag its feet he says.  He told me to wait two weeks and start calling them to bug them about it.  Does anyone else have this combination of insurances?  I am hoping and praying I'll be able to schedule my surgery during my long Christmas break from school.  I'm a teacher.  That 2 week break is an ideal time to do this!!  I even hope to take a few days off before break to give myself those few extra days.  Y'all cross your fingers for me!!

Keepin my fingers crossed for ya!!   keep us posted 

Meredith -

I have BCBS of NC and by going to a center of excellence, I had no wait time for approval. 
But I don't know about your situation.  Hoping things will move along smoothly for you.  And I would stay on top of things - including names of people you speak to, dates, and follow that paperwork trail as if it were a job !  It can be frustrating from what I hear from others.

Shelia

Hi Meridith,
    I'm not sure about the wait, but wanted to say congrats.. I hope it doesn't take that long! I have my Nutrition appointment on Oct 21.. that will be my last task on the list and I am so hoping to have my surgery by Christmas too!

Fingers, legs, eyes and everything crossed here...hope you have a very prompt approval and a Christmas break surgery date! 

Hey Meredith
I have Tricare Prime and I got approved in four days. Heres hoping you get a fast approval and congratulations!


Darcie

Hi Meredith,
I also am a teacher and I also am going with Dr. Chapman through this journey.  I have just received my appointments for the nutritionist and psychologist.  All of that will be done by Nov. 20.  I, like you, am hoping this can be done during Christmas so that I won't have to take much time off.  I haven't told many people at school just because I don't know what the reactions will be.  The ones that I have told have been very supportive but I am still trying to make my decision about what type of surgery to have.  Let me know how quickly your insurance replies.
Ginny

Thanks for the reply Ginny.  If you're just now starting your consult appointments you may find that it's going to be hard to get it all done AND get the insurance approval AND find a surgery date on the calendar by Christmas.  Good luck to you though!!  I'm guessing you'll be seeing the same consultants I did.  Katrina Segrave is the nutritionist.  She is TERRIFIC!!  I'm reading her book now.  Yep!  She's published a book which she'll tell you a little about when you go to see her.  I highly, highly recommend it!!  She explains everything so well.  As a teacher you'll appreciate all the cute visual aids and manipulatives she has.  Plus, she's so bubbly, nurturing, and encouraging!  I just love her!  The psych consultant is another story.  I was not crazy about her.  Her name is Jennifer something.  My pet name for her was "the Diet Nazi," but don't tell her that!!  I never called her that to her face.  When I first went in to see her I hadn't make ANY lifestyle changes yet and was just beginning to get the basic info.  She shook her finger at me and dictated a lengthy list of things I MUST do immediately.    One of those things was get involved on the OH forum.  Then she told me to report back to her in a month with food diary, exercise diary, and weight diary.  I was practically shaking in by boots the first time I left her office!!      But I returned a month later with a typical over-achiever's diary and a written list of the lifestyle changes I'd made.  She was beaming and gave me the go ahead. 

I'm sure Dr. Chapman has explained the surgery options to you.  You'll find lots of info on this site too.  Since I have a lot to lose the Lapband isn't for me and he explained why.  If you don't have much to lose it may be right for you though.  As he may have explained though, the weight loss may not be a great compared to RNY surgery, which I'm having.  What town are you from?  Do you have a secondary insurance to pick up your deductible, as I do?  Geez, I'm soooo lucky to have the secondary insurance!  I rarely pay any medical bills because of it.  Keep me updated on your progress!!

Poor Meredith!! My Psych consult was with a lovely man and he was open on Sunday!!! we chatted for about 15 minutes then he gave me my test and I was done! As far as her shaking her finger at you I would of taken my FINGER and shown her what I thought of her Im not one to keep my mouth shut when someone is being rude or mean. I picked up a lot of this from when I was in the Marines LOL I wish I could of been with you because I would of had some fun with ole diet Nazi. Im glad you are done with her!! and I hope Tricare gets you approved as fast as they did me!! I love them because I paid not one cent for any of the testing or the surgery they rock!!!

Your psych evaluator gave you a test?  What kind of test?  Mine just asked me a lot of questions and I had to fill in a questionnaire beforehand too.