Cleveland Clinic Experiences

I have started the process of weight loss surgery at the clinic.  I am just wondering what your experience was.  How long it took?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I started my journey June 2009 and had my surgery 12/22/2009.  It seems to take forever but it really wasnt that long.  I wish i would have kept a journal from the beginning.  Good luck and keep in touch if you have any other questions.  I have found it easier to get all visits schedule on one day and the valet parking is then 12.00 for the whole time or 7.00 if your 50 or older LOL 

Did you have any pre-op diet guidelines?  Do you know why it took 6 months?  I am glad you are feeling better!

It took six months because I had to go to binge eating classes times 4 and I had to quit smoking and have a 2 clean urine tests for nicotine. Plus getting through all of the appointments before they would submit it to my insurance.  Even thought I had a documented 6month diet weight loss program they still had me do there's.  Hope that helps. Now maybe you can help me figure out why it wont let me down load pictures???

I have no idea how to download pictures.  How do you feel since having surgery?

I have good days and bad days.  I was nausated for the longest time.  Had to go to CCF on thursday to get iv fluids becasue I became dehydrated. They gave me a nausea med called Zofran and that has helped alot. It also doesnt make you drowsy.  It really wasnt alot of pain more the nausea and the fear of eating something wrong, ( i was afraid to vomiting and splitting my new pouch) but they never told me anything like that but it was just a fear.  I can cross my legs and I am off all my sugar meds and heart meds. My legs are feeling better and I can walk more easily.

I am going through the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric program right now. I think it is an excellent program. They are very thorough and want you to be prepared for the surgery so that you can use your WLS tool successfully. They also want to make sure you have everything you need to get approval from insurance.

I have CareSource insurance and it requires a 9 month doctor supervised diet. So, I've been working at this since September 2009. I went to my first Cleveland Clinic program seminar in November 09. Completed all of the paperwork and they pre-authorized me with my insurance to make sure I would be covered for all of the bloodwork, xrays, EKG and psychological evaluation. I comleted that in December/January.  I also did 4 weekly group meetings for binge eating (just completed it last week). I found it VERY useful. That was completed during the month of March. I spread mine out more because I'm not even eligible to submit to insurance until June (when my 9 month diet is complete).

Anyway, if you don't have any insurance mandated diets to complete it should only take you 1-2 months to complete all of the program requirements (depending on your health, weight and if you are recommended for additional group therapies). Your surgery date will also depend on insurance approval.

If you go to my blog (http://[email protected]) I have a post about how the bariatric program works at the cleveland clinic. But in a nutshell:

Step 1: Call the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric Program and pre-screen. They will send out a lengthy questionnaire/patient worksheet for you to complete. Then you mail it back to them

Step 2: They verify that your insurance actually covers weight loss surgery, and review your patient worksheet to see if you are eligible for the surgery (via BMI and health conditions you list)

Step 3: If your insurance does cover the procedure and you are eligible they call you to schedule an appointment for the Patient Workshop. This is where you learn about all the different kinds of surgery and how the program works

Step 4: Medical Assessments - bloodwork, EKG, X-ray (at minimum...if you have other health issues they may do other tests). Nutrition and also Psychology. Nutrition will get you started on some vitamins and preparing you for surgery (protein drinks, no soda...stuff like that). Psychology there is a 45 minute computer test and then you meet with the Psychologist for an hour. She evaluates where you are at mentally with eating and in your life. She isn't there to scare you but help you...giving you coping tools and making sure you are mentally prepared for life after surgery.

Step 5: Visit (briefly) w/surgeon

Step 6: Once you have completed all of this and met all insurance requirements they will submit to your insurance for you. Since their program is so thorough they almost never have problems getting insurance approval.

Step 7: After approved your surgery and pre-op clinic visit will be scheduled

Step 8: Pre-op clinic visit (meet w/surgeon to go over surgery in depth)

Step 9: The surgery

Step 10: Follow-Up Visits


I've liked that it's taken me this long. Initially I did not, but I'm slowly getting a grasp on all the mental changes I need to make to be successful. That was really important for me and I needed this extra time . Only 3 more months until insurance submittal!

Hope all of the info helped. Send me a message if you have any more questions! Good luck!