First Appointment With Surgeon Today

Well, I had my first appointment with my surgeon today. It went very well! He is very thorough and is compassionate as well! This is a win win situation for me. I not only want my surgeon to be very on top of things but I want him to be caring as well. I am so happy! I have to do a few things before surgery. I have to get clearance from a cardiologist, have to have a psych evaluation, have to see a nutritionist of course, and have an endoscopy done. All of these appointments were scheduled today at the surgeons office before I left. They gave me the dates for all of them right there....wow! I was pleasantly surprised! My schedule is as follows:

4/1/10 = Cardiologist
4/26/10 = Nutritionist and Psych Eval.
5/17/10 = Endoscopy

They said that as soon as the Nut and psych eval appointments are done they will submit paperwork to insurance for approval. They said it would only take a few days with the kind of insurance I have. Upon approval, surgery will be scheduled. We are looking at the end of May first of June! On 4/28/10 I will also start attending support groups monthly through their office. Also, tonight I do the second part of my sleep study so I will come home with a cpap machine. I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!! (Not about the cpap and sleep study but about everything else!)

Thanks for listening to me ramble.  

Pam

Congratulations Pam...

I am so happy for you.. You are on your way.. I can remember when I started my process of tests to get the surgery.. that was when I finally realized that this was going to really happen.. it is so exciting..

I too have a cpap machine.. I have had it since 2004.. it is not too bad,, it takes a little getting used to but be patient.. maybe soon after surgery you won't even need it anymore.. I stil use mine but my apnea was very severe so it will take time for me to get off of it.. ..

I am glad your insurance is an easy approval.. that is where most people get hung up and have to wait or fight to get the surgery.. .. but it sounds like you will be in surgery by June and joining us on the loosers bench.. I'll scooch over and make room.. come on down...

huggs..

 That's great!  Congrats!  We will be having surgery around the same time and I live in Kansas!  :D

My surgery date is scheduled for 5/19

endoscope: 4/23
labs/ekg/ultrasound/upper gi- 4/6

i can't wait!

We don't live too far apart! We will have to be surgery buds!

Wow Pam - you're humming right along with this!  It'll be here before you know it ;) 

Does your program only allow you to attend the group right before surgery?  If you are allowed to go, I'd definitely encourage you to go now and get to know folks there.  I started attending almost 6 months prior to my surgery date and the relationships I built then helped me significantly right after surgery.  Having a support network online is so wonderful, but there's something really great about seeing my groupies in person!  :)

I could start attending right now. They just had their March meeting so I missed that by just a few days. The next scheduled meeting is 4/28. I am very excited to start going to these every month. It will be very beneficial to be with others who are going through the same thing! I almost wish that it was a weekly thing instead of a monthly thing.

Congratulations Pam. After you get these test everything will come fast. Good luck and keep writing we like to read good stories. Ramble all you want.  Loving life with my sleeve Sherri

Thanks everyone! Can't wait to be a loser!!

Congrats on the success you are having navigating the insurance.  I did not have a good first impression with my surgeon since she got me upset because she told me I had to lose weight before I could have the surgery and it was 14 months later that I finally got my surgery.  But I think the big thing for me is the NUT.  I saw her every month while I was losing pre op and I see her now about every 2 to 3 months depending on the scheduling.  She gives me a lot of good help/advice.  I only saw the surgeon once since my surgery and then at my followups I saw the PA once and then my recent visit the resident. 

The CPAP machine is a pain in the butt, I still don't like my mask, but I definitely like the fact that I don't go through the whole day totally exhausted.  So it is definitely worth putting up with.

Congratulations, I had my first visit iwth my surgeon too, the same day as you!! It was crazy...I went to a seminar in 2007, and let everything get away from me...found some ol paper work, got an appointment mega fast and the dr. told me I could have the surgery in as little as 2-3 weeks. I about fell out and was in tears, i hope he's right!  I came home and ran to the computer to get on this site and I will be glued to it from now on!! Crazy how things work out sometimes. I hope to follow your progress as I go through mine. :) HUGS
Linda