fuming right now but i got it all under control

ok i am going to type this post, then forward it as an email to my cousin who has been going through this process with me mentally. and then am giong to write in my book about what just happened... BUT i know it might not be a big deal to some but i just about lost my chance to have this surgery. I am on pins and needles as it is trying to find out everything required and jump through all these hoops. I am giong to cleveland clinic, a major organization and a center of excellence but yet they dont give u a list of everything u have to complete. they want the person u see to be the one to tell u what u need to do next. but details get left out or are not explained fully. my nut told me i only had to see one of the drs there plus the surgeon. the surgeon tells me i have to see both drs because one gives medical clearance. the dr i saw said not to worry about the testing that needed done (but that was at like month 3 or 4). The appointment desk wanted to argue with me that i didnt need to see both drs and now i call up there today to find out what on earth is going on and what i need to have done in order to be able to have the surgery and they tell me NOW that i do have to see both of their drs in order to get medical clearance then were trying to confuse me as to needing to redo my testing if i do it now. I know i have to get my labs repeated closer to surgery but the xray, ekg, and ultrasound shouldnt need done again but im not sure. I am infuritated that something like this could happen because I want and need this surgey. I am not doing it to feel better about myself because I know i am a great person. I an not really even doing it so everyone else will realize how great i am either. I am doing it because inside I am not fat, and i want to play with my daughter and have energy and most importantly i want to live. i currently take 10 or more different medications and my health is only getting worse. I am only 27 years old. I am just flabergasted that they are not more professional and are not direct with what needs to be done and when. I doubt they are malicioulsly deciding to sabotage people, but the lack of knowledge is ridiculous. i love my surgeon and i love cleveland clinic but the surgeon cant take care of me all the time and i worry about relying on his staff who now seem not to know what they are doing. any thoughts?

If I were you I would find out what other doctors my insurance covers.  The staff is jus as important as the surgeon.  I wouldn't feel comfortable with all that disorganizatoin, especially as this is a hugely major surgery.  Just a though.

Awful your going through this maze. I agree that the staff is very important as the Dr.. they keep the Dr organized and up to date with their tasks.. Depending on how far into this you are, I do beleive the x rays and ekg etc are better done at month 5 into the pre op process.. and I never had to redo them. I did my blood work at month 6 preop .. your surgeon should have given you paperwork to have done a list of work ups.. copied to give to each Dr.. like the psychologist, there should be a form they fill out to assess you, and you need the diagnostics ordered by either your surgeon or family Dr.. and they can fax it to your surgeon.. I would be very upset at this point too.. do not get upset if things are delayed.. its ok.. do not give up..I was delayed by a month or so, due to some insurance lack of.. You will get through this.. make a list of things your concerned about and what the staff told you and take their names.. that way you are not told,.. " dont know what she is talking about" or " nobody told her that" yes I been through that at other times ..not for this surgery but other things..
Many here can relate to your reasons of doing this surgery for you.. for your health, for your daughter.. that is most of us here.. This is something to make a better healthier you, and dont let this mix up bring you down,,, keep at it.. your closer to a new you :)

HUGGS

I would ask for an appt with the surgeon, and try to discuss all of this with him. Explain your fears and frustrations and see how he responds. If he is not too responsive maybe consider a different surgeon.
I think we would all bevery frustrated in this situation. take a deep breath and try to relax a little, as being upset will not change anything, then decide how to procede come monday

I found out that i needed all these things done, or some things done from my surgeon and he told me that the labs are done twice. once now and once later. appointment scheduling is supposed to look in the computer and see what needs done. they do not have a paper system that goes with you. it is all computerized and u get nothing. each person u see looks at your file online. i am in month 7 of 9 and got my labs and procedures scheduled for month 8 when i am up there for nutrition already. i am just not having fun in this process at all and i want this surgery so badly. i would never change surgeons in a million years. He could call me every name in the book and slap me ... LOL.... this guy has done over 4000 bariatric surgeries, is the prpfessor of surgery at the college for cleveland clinic, is the former president of the American Bariatric group thingy and cleveland clinic is one of the top 5 places for bariatric surgery in the united states or nation i am not sure what i read. part of the reason i was unclear is because the last dr i saw said not to worry about it and the appointment desk and nutrition were getting thing confused, telling me the opp of what the surgeon said, and sending me in circles for the right info. i just hope this isn't a taste of whats to come later. im fine and calm i just needed to vent because it was so not right for people to not know what they are doing

Sorry you are going thru this. venting here is a good thing.  Get it out of your head so that your body wont be under any un-due stress.   I would talk with the surgeon's office or a patient rep (the one who handles complaints) and tell them what is up.  Maybe they need to revamp the system and the process and include a sort of checklist that future WLS candidates are given so they will not have to go thru this same problem.

im going to school to be a business admistriative assistant and was thinking that i would find out who to send it to and write a fancy complaint letter to hope that something in the system would get changed. and i lost another lb. ive lost 4 lbs this week but it goes up and down so easy and it was all excess weight i put on with the duts bad advice so i am glad to be back to where i am supposed to be! will be much more careful this time but am worried about christmas with the cookies, cheesecake, mashed potatoes, and spiral honey ham. Hmmm...... (drool). but i made it through thanksgiving (deprived myself other than one plate). so i know i can make it through christmas and new years too