Can you help me with timeframes?

Yes, I know I'm pest, but I have another question... I finally get to meet Dr. Paciulli on June 30 (I'm very excited!)  However, I'm starting to get a little anxious about the timeframe.  I'm going to Aruba for my sister-in-law's wedding the second week of September.  I'm sure that I can find good solid protein choices there, but I'm not sure that I could follow liquids or mushies if I was still in that stage.  I WON'T risk my band by not following the guidelines to the letter, so if the timing doesn't work out right, I'm afraid I'm going to have to postpone until after the trip. So, for the question - about how long after meeting your surgeon did you have your surgery?  I understand that there are tons of things that can happen.  I'm just trying to get a rough idea.  Any info you have would be appreciated.

I met with Dr. P at the beginning of May. It took 4 weeks for my insurance approval to come through.



They called me to set up my second appt with Dr P, and that took a few more weeks. The schedule was already booked for the month of June, so my surgery will be at the end of July. (It probably could have been scheduled for the beginning, but I had a few other conflicting things in my schedule.)



A lot of it depends on how quickly your insurance approves you, and how busy their schedule is.

(edited to change the number of weeks for my insurance approval!)

I met with Dr. Gens the second time and they sent the insurance approval that day.  I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield and they normally approve within a few days.  I was approved in 48 hours and the day I met with Dr. Gens we set a tenative surgery date (pending my approval went through as hoped) for just under two weeks later.   I DID have to delay my first meeting with Dr. Gens by about a half week due to an emergency surgery that came up.  My meeting was scheduled late in the day and PRH had a burst appendicitis walk into the ER, so he had to reschedule and run over there for them.  It's not common but as a gastro surgeon with an office next door, it does happen.   When you meet with Dr. P you can ask the staff at the office about how long your insurance company usually takes to get approval.  If it's a company alot of people use they will probably have a good idea.  I even went back to my calender to give you hard dates:   March 7 - First meeting with Dr. Gens March 12- Second meeting with Dr. Gens (brought the family, all six of us) March 25 - Surgery When I did it Nancy's preop class was the last Wednesday of the month, since the date I wanted was the day BEFORE the next class offering, she let me due to Febuary one.  She said she wouldn't have if I still had any steps besides the surgeon, and if I had not lost my presurgery weight already.   Hope that helps.  I had bypass, not band, so you should recover faster, which will help you with your timetable.  :-)