New Here...

Hi Everyone,

I was referred to this website by a friend who had surgery about 5 years ago and was very successful. I have made the decision to have gastric bypass and have begun some of my appointments. Yesterday I had the psych eval and today the gallbladder ultrasound. Next week is my first appointment with the surgeon. I was wondering if anyone could tell me about how long it takes to get a surgery date? I know that it depends on when you get all of your other tests done, but I was wondering if there was and estimate so I could have some idea.

I plan to spend a lot of time on here in the coming months, so I hope to get to know everyone well. Thanks for your help in advance!

Robyn

Congrats on taking the steps to the new you!! How long it takes depends on a lot of things...Who's your surgeon..When yours tests are completed & results(ie sleep study 4-6 week process if you have sleep apnea)...What insurance you have and any stips they have to bariartric surgury. I had my 1st appt 2/10/ 08 and had my realize band on 6/26/08.  I have dr Roye and had a delay with my sleep study(had sleep apnea 2 studys and follow up). I am told the basic time line could be 4-6 months.  This could be quicker it all depends on how things flow.  Welcome to the board there is so much support here!!

Welcome to the party!!!  Lots of great people here and ask all the questions you want!! 

The only advice I can offer...is when it gets closer to getting your date...stay on top of your Dr office on getting you a date..

-Rob

Thanks for the responses! My surgeon is Dr. Pohl. I have my first meeting with him on the 15th. My sleep apnea test is on the 24th in the am. Can anyone tell me what exactly they do for the sleep apnea test?

I have a call into the dietician and am waiting to hear back about an appointment. Otherwise, I think I have the majority of the stuff done so hopefully I can get a date set sooner than later.

I will keep you posted as I hear. And thanks again!

Hi Robyn!

Welcome to your home-away-from-home!!! I'm so glad you found us!!!

I have my six month follow-up appointment with Dr. Pohl on the 15th at 1:15PM. I hope I get ot meet you!

I went to Dr. P's seminar Feb 14th, had my first appt with him March 31st (all my pre-testing was already done) and had my surgery on June 4th! So, from first appt to surgery date was about 2 1/2 months. I think the faster the pre-tests are done, the faster the surgery date comes.

I had sleep apnea too. As Jaime said, that takes the longest. I brought comfy jammies, a book, my favorite pillow and a snack. If you have to go directly to work the next day, they have a shower there. Just bring your shtuff with you.

When I arrived for the sleep study, they asked me what time I usually go to bed. When it was about a half hour before my bedtime, the woman hooked up all these wires to me from head to toe. Literally!

I was awakened the next morning with a good morning Julie (around 5 AM). I was disconnected from all the wires and went home. You'll have a lot of 'goop' in your hair when you leave. I used DAWN dish liquid to get mine out. Followed by my regular shampoo and conditioner. It really worked well.

My pulmonologist office called me within the week for an appt for followup in the office. I found I had sleep apnea so they scheduled another sleep study for me.

That sleep study was basically the same except they 'fit' me with a CPAP machine to sleep with in order to determine what level I needed.

Once that was determined and I had one more followup office appt, I received a call and a nice gentleman came to the house with the CPAP machine. He explained everything about how to use the machine, fit me for my mask and wha la! Done.

Since my surgery, I had a sleep study and found I DO NOT have sleep apnea any longer. Praise the Lord!

I hope this helps some.

BTW, there is a WLS support group meeting tonight at RI hospital and there's one tomorrow night at Roger Williams Hospital (which I highly recommend). If you PM me with your email, I will send you all the info on all four of the support group meetings in the area, as well as, some helpful literature.

Hope to see you soon!

Jules

Hi Robyn welcome!  I do not have the same Dr as you but my first appointment with my Dr was Sept 11th and my surgery is Dec 30th .  All the testing will keep you very buisy.
Everyone here has been great to me with my questions etc...
Cindy

Welcome Robyn.  I also had Dr Pohl do my surgery.  I had the Lap Band on Sept 19.  I went to the seminar on Feb 14th 2008, saw him for the first visit on April 23.  I was able to complete all my testing prior to that visit, but the hold up for me was that my insurance co required me to complete 3 months of documented workouts with a trainer and nutritional counseling, so that put me back a bit.  I have Aetna.  My advice to you would be to find out exactly what your insurance company requires from you prior to getting to far into this, so it won't be your hold up.  It took me a total of 7 months from the date of the seminar until my surgery date.  Seemed like forever, but now on the other side and looking back was not so long at all for such a life changing event.  And well worth the wait, I might add.

Good luck on your journey.

Cara

 Hi Robyn, welcome.  I also had Dr. Pohl.  My first appointment with him was July 10 and my second was September 25th.  I had surgery on October 28th. After your first appointment and when all the tests are completed call the office to see if you we approved by the insurance company.  I called my insurance company myself and they told me I was approved and that I should be getting the letter within the week.  When I received the letter I called the office.  They said that they didn't get the letter yet.  I called every few days because at this point I was anxious.  Just remember to keep calling them.  It was all worth it..  Welcome to the website. (For some reason, he didn't make take the sleep apnea test)
Karen

Hello and Welcome to the site.  Nice place to come for question.  everyone is very helpful. I had Dr. Pohl  .  With all the testing to be done  and the visit with him it took all total about 4 months before the surgary date.  This site and the support groups are the best way to go while going through all this.  It is like gaining a Second Family.  I myself will tell you feel free anytime to email on here if you have any question or leave on the message board.  We will save you a seat on the biggest looser bench.

Lisa