Anybody else have these numerous requirements to qualify for surgery?

Yuppers, pretty much. Most likely your clinic will group some of those appointments together. For example if there was a group orientation, I then saw the dietitian and/nurse practitioner too.

Another visit would be behaviourist and kinesiologist.

I think all of us have some combination of things that take up a lot of time. I had to:

• See a nutritionist
• Attend several classes related to nutrition/behavior modification/post surgical care, etc
• Get a psych clearance
• Have an EKG, Pulmonary Function Test, Sleep Study, and tons of blood work
• Meet with a physical therapist to get exercise clearance

Most of those were clearances required by my center and not my insurance. I did not have to have any supervised nutrition or lose any specific amount of weight. My Bari center was 90 minutes away and I was going up there 1-2 times per month for the 4 months prior to surgery.

Yes to all of them, with the addition of several more things.

It sounds like you have a good program, that really wants you to succeed. Those are about average for requirements. Right before surgery you will probably also need clearance from a cardiologist, and possibly a sleep apnea specialist, pulmonologist, full workup by your PCP, and a few others I've forgotten.

Remember, there are two sets of requirements. There are insurance requirements you must meet, no matter who your surgeon is. Then there are requirements by individual surgeons, and those vary a lot. Some require you to lose x amount of weight before they will operate. Some require several months of clean nicotine tests. And so on.

One good thing was I realized I was quite healthy in spite of the weight. I had never had so many doctors and tests in my life as I did preparing for surgery.

I had to bring my daily log to a behavioral therapist for 6 months. Couldn't just exercise, had to be supervised . I signed in daily to the Y but they rejected me as it wasn't 'supervised' BUT I got lucky, the lady in the water exercise group was an RN and she wrote a nice letter for me. I had to have sleep study too. I think all the requirements are good! It reAlly gets you in the right mental state .

I had to do all those things, and here's the kicker! I have Medicare, and they DO NOT require any of this stuff, but if I wanted to stay in the program, I had to agree to do it. I have COPD and in order for the dr to approve me for surgery, I have to see a lung specialist and get clearance from him!! It's been a pain in the butt, but it has also uncovered a couple problems that I didn't know I had!!! Keep your chin up, and think of the outcome at the end of all this!! That's what keeps me pedaling through!! Good luck!

Nope. Just a visit to the surgeon and a clearance letter from a cardiologist.

Scott

it took me 8 months to get through the requirements. I had all of these plus colonoscopy and endoscopy and mammogram. (I was due for those but, needed to have had one within a year)

I had to take several half days off work but, in the end all worth it. I am not out sick at ALL now that I am 74 lbs healthier.