Questions

Hello everyone, I am new to this site.  But I like having somewhere to go to ask questions and find other information. 
I am in the process of getting my clearances done for gastric bypass surgery.  My doctor will be Titus Duncan in Atlanta.  I was just wondering if anyone has every "failed" at getting all the clearances done?
The cardiologist I saw said she will not give me a cardiac clearance until I have an angiogram.  She said my stress test came back "slightly abnormal", whatever that means.  So I will have the angiogram next Tuesday.
I have yet to have the sleep study done for Sleep apnea, and I have not done the pulmonary function test.  I know that I have trouble breathing.  If you carry around  around as much weight as I do, breathing becomes difficult.  Is that going to be a factor in determining whether or not I can get a clearance for surgery?  As far as the sleep study, I snore, but my cats do not mind.  But I never felt as though I had sleep apnea.  But then, like I said, my cats do not mind if I snore!
I would appreciate any help or advice anyone has.
I have no patience and this waiting is killing me! 
thanks!!
Lisa

Yep, I qualify for that failure - because of the office staff, they don't help the patients at all.   

It will depend on your insurance company.  I started with Dr. Duncan's office but had trouble getting them to return my phone calls.  Other folks have said that you just have to keep calling until you get your coordinator on the phone. 

When I finally got fed up enough to talk bluntly to my coordinator she told me your insurance just does not pay enough for them to do this surgery.  I had UHC and she stated I would have to start redoing my tests as they were too old.  I did start that but could not get her to confirm that she received the results - I faxed them myself, since it was the second time. 

After 17 months I went self pay - to Mexico.  Not RNY but I am happy with my surgery.  It would have cost me as much to go out of network and start with a different doctor in Atlanta.

Please be sure to research which doctor you are using, check their surgery complication rate before you agree, I think they have 3 doctors in the practice now. 

I had surgery Feb 10th with Titus Duncan....actually it ended up being Hobson but he's in the same office. The clearances are a pain in the butt and can be time consuming but keep at it. I have asthma so getting pulmonary clearance took the longest. Duncan's office should have sent you a list of what clearances you need. From there it's up to you and what your insurance requires. The more documentation the better. I had to see cardiologist. Had stress test, EKG, and Echo to clear me per the cardiologist orders. Get copies of all test results.I saw a cardiologist in my network of providers. Make sure the cardiologist writes a letter clearing you for WLS.  Pulmonary required pulmonary function test, and 2 sleep studies. It was kind-of a pain. Make sure pulmonary doctor also writes a letter clearing you for WLS also get copies of all test results including sleep study results. Primary doctor should cover all other medical requirements. Big list of blood tests. Make sure your primary writes up a history of your health and visits as well as comorbidities. Also make sure they write a letter clearing you for WLS and get copies of all test results. I then paid out of pocket and saw the psychologist listed in Duncan's packet as well as the nutritionist listed in the packet. Make sure you make copies of all your paperwork before sending it in. The psych and nutritionist will say they will send a report to Duncan's office but still make a copy of the report and include it in your packet, just in case. Also send it all in in one bundle. I sent it certified.  I talked to his office very little until I submitted my packet. After that I called maybe twice a week. Sometimes I got a hold of an actual person sometimes I left a message. Someone always got back to me. Don't leave anything up to anyone else to handle. This part is all you doing what it takes. It can get discouraging at times but remember the end results.

Good luck. It took me 8 months from the time of seminar to surgery. Some was my fault. I went out of town for the summer.

Thank you so much for your help.  I don't care who does the surgery, as long as they know what they are doing, you know what I mean?  I thought I could breeze through this process, but it is taking much longer than I thought.  I have to make myself calm down, cause I get so anxious. 
I just wonder if any has ever not been cleared for surgery and why they weren't cleared.  Have you ever heard of it?

How are you doing after your surgery?  Was it what you expected?  I am so excited to finally get this process going.  My insurance didn't pay for WLS until this year...my employer wouldn't allow it to be paid for...weird. 

Thank you again for your help!

Lisa

I had Larry Hobson as my surgeon.  He is in the same office as Dr. Ducan.  I am thoroughly pleased with the job that Dr. Hobson did.  However, I had to stay on top of my surgical coordinator (you can get more detail in my blog around July/August 2008).  She surely would've dropped the ball and I'd probably still be waiting on approval.

Are you afraid that you have too many comorbities to have this surgery?  I think that would just have to be decided by your specialists and by your surgeon.  Every case is different.  Best of luck!

Well, at least I didn't think so.  After my stress test, the cardiologist told me that is was slightly irregular...whatever that means.  Now I have to have an angiogram and I am just scared I will not be able to get a cardiac clearance.  I am a diabetic, and other than being morbidly obese, I have no other comorbities.  Every thing I have is "borderline".  I don't have high blood pressure, and I've only just been bothered with high cholesterol.  I guess I am just paranoid!  I am used to things happening in a fairly smooth manor...which this ain't!