Question:
Why do you have to go to so many other doctors before you are actually approved ?

   — lschesser (posted on April 26, 2007)

April 26, 2007
Before I was approve by my doctor or insurance to have surgery, I had to have several tests done to make sure I can handle surgery. They had to check my lungs, heart, abdominal and my mental status check. Where I had surgery at was a 45min dirve from my house. What I did was try to set up some of these appointments on the same day. That way it will get done faster and I didnt have to make so many trips. It doesnt take long to have these tests done.
   — barfiep01

April 26, 2007
In case you haven't realized by now, WLS is a very serious, permanent and life-altering surgery. Though extremely rare (and every surgery does), it does have the risk of killing you. For this reason, your insurance co. and surgeon require many, many tests before going under the knife. I had to have a lot of bloodwork to make sure I was healthy enough (well considering I was obese) to have surgery. I needed a chest x-ray to check my lungs. Even though I was already seeing a psychiatrist (I have bipolar disorder), he needed to write a letter stating I was stable to go through with the operation. This surgery, whether RNY, lapband or other, is very emotional. For most of us, food is attached to how we feel. So if all of a sudden you take away that comfort food, what are you going to do? You have to be prepared for that. Head hunger is vicious. If you aren't mentally prepared for what you're about to go through, then you should NOT have this operation. I also had to take this breath test to see if there was some bacteria in my stomach...can't remember what it was called. I had to take nutritional classes to start teaching me about my new lifestyle and how/what I would be eating. This is very important. You don't want to come home from the hospital and not know what to do. The most annoying was seeing my PCP for a dr. supervised diet for 6 months. But this is to prove to the insurance co. that you have given an honest effort in trying to lose weight. After all, they're about to pay for an operation that cost (at least my doc & hospital) about $50,000. It's also to prove to your surgeon that you're serious about doing this. And it will hopefully get you in the routine of doing some type of exercise - walking 30 mins. daily is fine. But the sooner that routine is in place, the better. All of these appts may be time-consuming but they're there for a reason. Don't skip any of them b/c it may jeopardize you getting approved. And if you're not up for the appts, then you may not be up for the surgery itself... Best of luck, ~Sarah in VA
   — platypus

April 26, 2007
These are just added precautions to make sure you have no underlying causes that should be dealt with before surgery and if you do, they can fix them before hand so you have a safe and successful surgery. Hang in there, it may seem useless to u (It sure did to me back when I was frustrated before getting this surgery, but now I'm glad I went through it all as I was able to tell my daughter I was going to be ok and know it was true in my heart) Good luck!
   — crystalsno

April 26, 2007
I know you must be feeling frustrated. i felt this way too. i though "this is my life and my body". here in my town, the program they offered was TWO YEARS. after i had researched this for like a whole year, i certainly did not want to wait another TWO! so i did some other research and found another hospital about 45 minutes away and from my first visit to actual surgery was about 5 months. i am three months post op, have lost 43 pounds and haven't felt this good since my first daughter was born 16 years ago! I was also considered a "light weight". i still weighed over 100 pounds but am finally in the low 190's. i didn't have any comorbids either so i didn't have any tests, just blood. no exrays, nothing. and here i am
   — DDBEAR458

April 26, 2007
Not everyone is cut out for this surgery. It is not a quick fix, it is a lifetime commitment that once made cannot be easily reversed. Some people aren't psychologically cut out for it, they may have issues with food that need to be dealt with, body image, expectations that are unrealistic, etc. They also want to make sure that you don't have any other health issues before having it. I found out that I had a thyroid problem, an ulcer, and sleep apnea all during my testing. Things I had no idea I had. In the short term it may seem like it's a giant headache and hassle but in the long run, you will look back and see that each different doctor's opinion was very important. This isn't a quick fix, it's a hard and long process. It's not the solution, only a tool to help you get to the solution. I know people who have been denied because they psychologically thought that this was the fix all. Some people just aren't cut out for this. I sense your impatience will all the questions but you need to realize that this is a surgery that is risky, and you have to work hard for it to work. Your health care team will work together to make sure you are a good candidate. If you aren't then you either make changes and get re-evaluated in a few years or find another way to lose it. I know that seems frustrating, but thats the cold hard truth. I've seen people post a week before surgery that are supposed to go to the liquid diet and say, I ate a whole container of chinese last night and a pie. I just don't know how I'm going to do this. You have to go into this with an open mind, willing to jump through whatever hoops they ask, and make lifestyle changes NOW. Not wait until after the surgery. I made eating changes, exercise changes, and felt psychologically readier than I ever thought I'd be. The first month post op STILL threw me for a huge loop. It was much harder than I ever thought it would be even though I thought I was ready, and learned as much as I could and talked to as many people as I could. You have to relearn how to eat, drink, medicate yourself. Everything that goes into your mouth after surgery has to be looked at in a totally different way. If you can't handle the testing and preapproval process, how will you handle the actual surgery and recovery? Not to discourage you, but you need to look at the whole picture and figure out if this really *is* the right option for you.
   — oceanrayne

April 26, 2007
I guess it depends on your insurance and if you have any health problems that would improve with the weight loss. My surgery was approved so quickly that I wasn't prepared. I have uncontrollable hypertention and after a year on blood pressure meds my pcp referred me to a bariatric specialist. I did all the required exams within two weeks and was approved by HIP. I think you should gather as much info from all the specialists so that you become familiar with all the parts of your body that will become involved with this procedure. Ask questions all the way to the O.R. Good luck.
   — Jessie-F

April 26, 2007
Linda, Its part of the process, a very necessary process. We didn't gain the weight overnight and we're not going to lose it overnight. One thing certain and two things for sure, any additional illness found before surgery will be treated. A lot of people have sleep apnea and this has to be detected and treated prior to surgery or could cause problems while in surgery. Relax with the thought that Wow, I'm going to be healthier than ever once this is all over. The doctors have a duty to "do no harm." They are looking out for your health and their reputations as well as their wealth. There are some surgeons that have perfected this procedure and it has become their bread and butter.
   — the7thdean