Did you have to wait 6 months? If so, looking for Advice/Guidance/Help.

A very dear friend of mine is planning on having WLS. They just found out they may have to wait 6 months for “supervised diet". I said if it’s true, then it may be a “blessing in disguise". Plus 6 months “should fly by". Needless to say, my friend is “distraught".

 

I am looking to those who had to wait to write about their “waiting" experience. Plus, if you can add any advice/guidance my friend should be doing while (if they do indeed have to) wait (personally, medically, insurance wise).

 

While I know they are disappointed, I want to also know others have gone through this - and it’s not as “bleak" as it seems.

 

I appreciate your help !!

I had to wait and do the  month diet.  :(

BUT the truth is...The time does fly right on by!
I had to visit my doctor once an month tell her what I'd been doing for exercise and what I had been eating, she would weigh me and make my next appt.  Nice and easy.

If your friend would like to talk I am more than willing/    :)

I too have to wait the six months, mu insurance requires it and since I am by no means able to pay myself I will jump through all their hoops. I started in November, I have to see the Nutritionist for six consecutive months, if I miss one month, I have to start OVER!!! I had to see a Pulmanary Doctor, a Cardiologist and Endoscopic Doctor and a Physcologist. I had to get a letter of approval from all those docs.Those were sent to my surgeon and when I am done with the Nutritionist and the supervised diet,then it will be submitted to my Insurance, I have Horizon Blue cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. I have been assured by my surgeons office that if I follow the requirments I will be approved. My surgery is scheduled for May 22nd. During these months I have read these boards,and learnt. I have read LAP-BAND for Life and very good book. I have also read a few others on the Lap-Band procedures. I have contacted Unjury which is the prtein I am to use , and bought samples of their different flavors. I am trying them now so I will know. I am going to support group meetings once a month and I learn from them also. You need this time to really learn how your life will change and what you can do now to start that change. I have bought a food grinder , so I can make mushies for when I need them. I have bought different foods a little at a time so I will have them in the house. My next step is to buy chewable vitiamins. If your friend doesn't understand what I am doing then that should tell him he needs these six months to learn. I hope this helps. I know it seems hard but if you keep yourself busy working toward the goal the time moves. Good Luck to you..

 No wait at all.  I was also considered a light-weight if that makes any difference.  I did however see all the other dr.s and I was also self-pay.  Dr. "J-B" is a wonderful bariatric surgeon - check  them all out very carefully.

I had to do 6 monthjs of weigh ins too. I started Sept of 08 and my last weigh in was 2/23/09. I have Horizon of NJ too and was not given a date for surgery. With my surgeon I seen in Dec and he gave me a list of all the doctors I had to see which was pretty much what everyone else had to do,stress test & echocardiogram with Cardiologist,Endoscopy with Gastric doctor,Sleep apnea & Pulimanry Function test with Pulimanry Doc,seen Nutrionist once,also seen Pyschriatrist(with Horizon NJ u can not see a Pyscholoist).I got weighed in for 6 straight months with my pcp.  Tell your friend I got mad at first too ,but once I hit my third weigh in I started with all my testing and finished just in time for my last weigh in. I bought books to read about the WLS and I joined this website and found awesome people to learn from. Tell her not to get discourage that it will go fast. She needs to join OH and talk and read and listen to everyone...Good Luck

I Had The Infamous Dr JB And He Is a pure Rny mill so I Dont Expect him to have any one do  a 6 month diet,,, He didnt have me or any one else i know do a 6month diet...he just pushes every one through... so he can put them under the knife before they have enough sense to change their mind....What was the point of the above comment if you were a self pay....no one wants to hear you brag about being a self pay...This is about INSURANCE ...any way with my doctor I had a 6month diet and 6months may sound far away but all in all it was pretty fast..By the 3rd month she will be almost done and happy...like all the other people who gave great advice it will fly by before you know it ...just take the time to educate your self and b4 you know it...It will all be over. Good luck

I always thought the Band you sailed right through.
I had the RNY and had to do the 6 months supervised diet.. it was really no big deal now.. but while I was going thru I thought it was a lifetime.
Looking back.. it makes alot of sense.. you may find what you really needed during that time and not need the surgery or you may find out how much you really do need the surgery and be even more appreciative of the opportunity. Or you could look at as your last fling on the fat side.. eating what you want - the way you want it - when you want it..
Whichever the result.. it is good for preparing the mind - the soul and the family..
When I was going thru it .. my doc didn't care if I lost or gained.. he knew it was only a formality..

Good Luck to your friend..

I did the six month supervised diet.  It does go fast.  My surgeon wanted me to try to lose a little weight but wasn't strict about it.  I didn't lose anything.  I didn't go crazy, but I didn't journal my food or keep track. After a lifetime of  I do wish I had started though drinking 64 oz of fluid a day.  That is so hard to build up to.

I knew about the 6 months prior to deciding to have surgery.  However, as it turned out I ended up having surgery almost a year after I originally thought I would be having it.  I see the waiting period as a good thing.  She should come to this site and read and read. I feel that I was much more prepared to be successful at the surgery because I had to wait.  I knew that I would probably have a stall at 2-3 weeks out so I decided not to even weigh myself except at doctor's visits the first month or so.  I learned so much more during that time period and really believe I would not be doing as well if I did not have to wait. While I wish I had the surgery sooner, I am glad I did not have it until I was truly fully informed about what to expect.