Anybody else have these numerous requirements to qualify for surgery?

To be approved / qualify for the surgery, the clinic says I need to- 1. Attend a support group at least once a month and have at least 5 visits before surgery 2. Be screened and approved by a behavioral specialist 3. See a nutrionist monthly until surgery ( and continue post surgery) and follow the diet restrictions 4. Must see an exercise specialist who will give me exercises and must sign off he thinks I'm a good candidate 5. Meet the surgeon to discuss the specifics of the surgery. 6. Bring my daily food intake and log to the clinic, all signed docs, etc when I am done to see if I am approved. In a way, I'm glad they are thorough and making sure I'm a good candidate. On the other hand....that's a lot of sick leave I might need to take. But I feel it is a necessary surgery for me, so I have do what needs to be done.

I had all of those requirements except for the exercise specialist plus a 3 month medically supervised diet and I needed clearance from a pulmonary/sleep specialist (who wouldn't give me clearance until I did 2 sleep studies and got & used CPAP machine.) The amount of time I took off work to do all these appointments was ridiculous. I jumped through all the crazy hoops and had my surgery 4 weeks ago.

It seems like a mountain at first...just take it in small steps.

Good luck!

My doctor required I meet with the nutritionist once before surgery. There will be more after. I had to meet with a psychologist once. And I had to meet with the surgeon for the initial consult and again a week before surgery. for my insurance, I also had to have medically supervised weight loss for six months...that was with my primary doctor. The plan has a support group, but not mandatory. My doctor is actually pretty passionate about the insurance requirements being ridiculous.

I pretty much had all those requirements, too, except for the exercise specialist. In addition, I had to have a sleep study, an EKG, and a nuclear stress test.

Yes I have all of these requirements too, except the exercise specialist, but I do plan on working with a personal trainer anyway. I have a minimum 6 month review with my GP who covers diet and fitness goals. I'm on month 2

Those requirements are pretty common. I had to do most of them.

I had more medical as well- pulmonoligist clearance for possible sleep study, and cardiologist clearance. Yup you have to jump through hoops.

Yep, I have everything you had.

I had almost all those (only had to do 2 support group meetings) a pre-surgery 4 hour diet before and after meeting, cardiology clearance, pulmonary clearance, chest x-ray, barium swallow and x-rays, upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy and massive amounts of bloodwork. Plus 3 month supervised low carb, high protein diet. I had my surgery at a major university medical center which is a bariatric center of excellence. TBH, I'm glad they were that thorough.

Yep, all of the above. Sounds like my surgeon's clinic in Downers Grove, IL. In order to be successful I would recommend that you follow all that they ask of you. The food, exercise, water and vitamin logs were a pain in the neck but a great teaching tool. I did all of that and am staying static with maintaining my weight loss now for the last 14 years. They are trying to teach you lifetime skills for you to carry for the rest of your life.

You will not be sorry in the end.