just a little info please

hi everyone. i was reading the posts and now i have a question. valerie curry and pam p both said they had their surgey done at osu. i also will be going there. i got approved by the board and i'm in diet class now. any clue on how long i'll be chewing my nails till they get me a date for the surgeon??? thanks jabber(aka cheryl)

Which diet class? The 4 week pre op with the nutritionist? Have you been approved by your insurance already? If you have been approved by your insurance, have gotten your psych eval done and your pre op lab work, once you complete your 4 week pre-op diet teaching, and if you have been approved by the Bariatric Department, then it shouldn't be too much longer. Which surgeon are you wanting to see? Drs Mikami and Needleman do the lap procedures, Drs Cook and Muscarelli do the open. It would really depend on their schedules at this time. Once you complete the 4 week classes then you get your history and phyisical scheduled with the surgeon and at that appt you get your date. Typically from the h/p visit it is usually 1 month from then. But, this is kind of guestimating.... You can email me and let me know what all you have completed, and what the answers to the above questions are, I can give you a better idea. A lot of it really depends on what your insurance company requires too. GOOD LUCK!!!! Keep me posted on your progress!! I work at OSU, so if there is anything else I can help you with, just let me know! Val

Cheryl, I also had mine @ OSU too. I had already had my psych eval and dietician classes done and they were still working on the info with the insurance company. Then I got the call I was approved met with Dr Needleman and 3 weeks later I had surgery! I thought I would of been waiting forever! Stay positive you are near the finish! Karie -110

Hi Cheryl! Valerie can probably give you a great estimate for any of the doctors since she works at OSU, but I can give you time frames from my own experience. I was accepted into the program on 7/14, scheduled for the required 4-week nutrition class from 8/5-8/26, got approval from insurance company (UHC) on 8/5, scheduled for my consult with Dr. Needleman on 9/28 and will get my surgery date then. I was told he is scheduling out 4-6 weeks from the consult date. Hope that helps! Pam

Have you been approved by your insurance. I went to nutrition classes while they were asking for insurance approval. I also hit the summer season. I finished my classes middle of May-got insurance approval by end of May but couldn't get scheduled with surgeon until July 27. I believe that Dr. Needleman is the only one doing Lap Band. My surgery wasn't scheduled until Sep 8. I was so anxious but the time did pass quickly. I really enjoyed the classes but there were no other Lap Banders in the class. While most of it applies, there are things about Lap Banders that don't. I wish they would have two or three so they could put their heads together. If it weren't for this site--I wouldn't have learned some very useful info. Ex: Lap Banders don't have dumping syndrome. The Lap Band is a tool and you are in control of how it works (what you eat). Good luck and write me if I can help Sandy