pre-op requirements

i understand that some insurance groups require certain hoops to be jumped through before you can have surgery- but what i am wanting to know about are the surgeons requirements before surgery-i have spoke with the local bariatric surgery office here but since i wont be able to get into to see them till jan-i have gleaned little information as i am not officially a patient yet- i would like to get some of the requirements dealt with ahead of time if possible-

Hi Rebeckah . I don't think you really can get any of the doctors requirements out of the way . All the tests have to be within a certain period of time . Most require you to lose weight prior to surgery (after the consultation) Any weight you lose now wouldn't count towards that , but would make for a head start . Any exercise would strengthen your heart & lungs . Read all you can . Peruse the sites . Get a feel for what your life will be like after surgery . Not just being gloriously thinner , but nutritionally , etc . I hope that helped a little .

One suggestion I have is to make certain you have at least 6 months of doctors supervised weight loss. If you do not have that get started. Most insurance companies require that. Ask the doctor to document any exercise that you do while dieting.....they like that as well. Be sure and go in EACH month and weigh in and get the documentation DOWN. Yes, I agree each WL doctor has different requirements and each patient has different needs of tests so I do not see how you can fulfill any of these. One of the hardest lessons here is patience I am finding. All this takes "time", and once I had made my mind up to do it I wanted it done NOW. I am finding it does not work on "my time schedule", and that has been a bitter pill to swallow but I am working on that.

You are so right about patience . lol . Today is my 45th birthday & I was hoping to get my surgery done by today . What a laugh . My doctor is a very busy man & the dates are pretty far out . Mine is October 19th & I got that date in July . Oh well . The time is being well spent , on dieting (of all things) , & learning . Kathy

Happy Belated Birthday! I see a new WLS date for you. Congratulations on that. How exciting for you! Mine is so close now, I can almost touch it. Have a happy weekend.

Kathy Happy Birthday!!! I was hoping the same thing my B-Day was on Aug. 25th but as you know the mean old insurance moster keeps us FAT but at least you have a date I am stillllll waiting NOt patiently!!! but waiting and yes the four letter word(diet) ing. I havent called the Drs office this week only because over time at work and School starting for the Kids an maybe to give the dr's office a rest but ... I'll be back on them next week!! then the Insurance look out!! cynthia

Happy Birthday to you , too , Cynthia . I am self pay , so I didn't "have" to wait for insurance approval . Of course they will be adding it when it's too late for me . Such is life . I wasn't willing to start all over & have my health decline even more . Keep at 'em . My date got moved up , so I only have a little over three weeks to wait . Kathy