Question:
IS THERE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE GASTRIC BYPASS

I AM GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE GASTRIC BYPASS AND I HAVE TO DO THIS BY MYSELF. I FEEL LIKE I NEED MORE INFORMATION OF WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SECOND CONSULTATION WITH THE DOCTOR. WHAT NEXT?    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on August 8, 2003)

August 8, 2003
Is your surgeons office any help? You need to contact all your past dr's (family dr, ob dr, foot/leg dr any dr you may have seen). Have them send copies of your medical files to you. Any weightloss attmpts (dr supervised or not). List them. List any problems you have, heart, lung, sleep apnea, gerds, diabetes etc. I'd make copies of everything just in case then take this all to your Surgeon. He will then submit this, along with any letters of recommendation you can get from the above mentioned Dr's, to your insurance co. I'm sure there is things I'm leaving out so hopefully someone else will post. Good luck and God bless. Jamie
   — Jamie M.

August 9, 2003
well.. I was going to say.. it varies according to doctor and insurance... type of surgery... ETC... I note that my process was nothing like Jamie's... so.. it DEPENDS! I agree that you should talk to the staff at your Doc's office and ask them. Talk to their other patients (find some here) and read read read here. There's more information that 10,000 people need here -- you just have to spend some time reading. Good luck!
   — Lisa C.

August 9, 2003
The previous poster is right. It does varrie from Doc and ins to Doc and ins. I had to go in for my fist consult, then have loads of blood work done. My second consult was the preop visit 2 weeks bfor surgery. In the mean time to get approval from the ins, I had to provide 5 yrs of Dr records, all diet and exersize history supervised and not (it really helped that I had just finished up a year with LA Weight loss. That took care of any poss of doc supervised diets), and I had to have a psych consult before the insurance would approve me. Once I got all my ducks in a row I was approved for it 2 weeks later. After your first visit, your surgon should have his office contact the insurance company and also send a letter of medical necessary. They take care of that part. The ins company will contact you and let you know what all you need to send in. I would suggest you go ahead and get your diet history together as well as start getting your medical records together. Good luck and God Bless!!
   — mellyhudel