Question:
How many of the test results should have at my first consult

My chosen surgeon has sent my list of test that he wants done by my first consult date. what i have been reading here is that a psych eval and many others is needed do i wait to talk to my surgeon? aslo i do not understand the 10% weightloss befor surgery. I this part of the prosses. My first comsult is in march 03. please share what anyone can to help me. Thanks from Debra    — Debra . (posted on November 30, 2002)

November 30, 2002
itis my understanding that the wieght loss prior to surgery is for 2 reasons. first to show you are willing to make the changes needed to make this tool (wls) work for you. and second to help you shrink a bit and allow your stomach and organs to go down a bit to make surgery easier on you. if you do not have all your pre-op tests doen it iwll only slow up your surgery date. at the consult the dr will loook at all the test results to help them decide what wls would be best for you.
   — janetc00

December 1, 2002
Debra: Be a little cautious of getting lots of tests done before you have approval. If the tests are submitted with a diagnosis code of MO, and you don't already have approval, you could be in a fight to get them paid by your insurance.<p>I insisted on meeting the surgeon and discussing my situation before I would even let them start the process. This is not normally how it is done at their clinic. Usually it's a free small group presentation and answer session at which time you turn in your health history questionaire. Then if you still want to proceed they submit for approval. I freaked as I am not going to chose a surgeon that I have not discussed my situation with. I don't want generalities, I wanted specifics. Since my insurancem that will cover this procedure, doesn't kick in till January 1st I decided to spend the money out of my pocket to see him now, so that if I wanted to proceed the process can get going during December. I had to actually make a little stink to even get him to see me, as they have their normal way of doing it, but his bariatric nurse was understanding and talked with him. I spent $152, but it was worth it to me. I will still go to the group presentation, as I'm sure I will learn tons more, but I could not get in before January 3rd, and I hope to have a surgery date by then. I'm going on vacation at the end of June and I'll be darned if I'm not going to be well enough to go - therefore I am pushing fast and so far so good. It looks like, if all goes well I will be able to have surgery in Feb, hopefully early Feb. I verified with the new insurance that the approval can be done before my policy kicks in.<p>My new insurance does require the psych eval come in with the request for approval, but since I am already under a psychiatrist's care it's no problem. He said he would do it wihtout seeing me unless after he saw what was required he felt we needed to talk, but I know he will still get me in quickly as he is very supportive of WLS in my case. It was him that first brought it up last summer, so I'm guessing I'll pass the psych eval. Whew! Thank goodness.<p>Just be careful, unless you are willing to risk the cost of the tests, but some can be pretty expensive. Good Luck!
   — zoedogcbr