Question:
Has anyone ever moved up on a dr's waiting list?

I made an appt. today (4-3-01) and the dr. didn't have an opening until November! I asked to be moved up in the event of cancellations, but I'd like to know if that's likely or unlikely. Now that I've made up my mind, I don't want to wait!    — Belinda H. (posted on April 4, 2001)

April 4, 2001
Sure it can happen.. it really can. Heck can't hurt to ask how many people are on the waiting list and gosh let them know that you can arrive at the office whithin X amount of minutes for last minute cancellations etc. Good luck!
   — Dawn R.

April 4, 2001
Hi, My first appt with my surgeon was scheduled for March 24,2001. Well I asked the Secretary if they ever had cancellations. She said not really, so I pretty much decided that was that. Then one day when I was home sick from work I decided to call and see if anyone had canceled. My new appt date was Feb. 28, 2001 Almost a whole month earlier that the first. So yes call back and ask alot. Surgery Scheduled 05/14/01
   — robin M.

April 4, 2001
I had 2 dr. appointment for consultations and after my first appointment with the first doctor I cancled the second one. The policy that the office had was to call the next in line and offer that appointment. This doctor is now making appointment for 1st visits January and Feburary 2002, so it seems the wait to see the dr. the first time is getting longer everywhere. Good luck!
   — Tawny F.

April 4, 2001
When I went to get my surgery date, the first opening for a open was 5/16, the lap was 6/11. I had asked if I took the 5/16 appointment would I be healed enough to go to Disneyworld at the end of July. I was told yes. When the nurse talked with the dr., he wanted to do a lap. I would be healed but tender. The nurse came back to me and told me that the dr. would do the surgery on 3/29 (it was 3/20). Boy was I happy. I am now 5 days out and really starting to feel pretty good. Barbara Ann
   — Barbara Ann T.

April 4, 2001
Hi Belinda, YES it can happen. When I called my surgeon on January 31, the receptionist set up a consult for April 5. I called back three times a week and explained to her that I wasn't trying to be a pain, but that I was anxious and excited to get started on this. Well, on February 27 in the a.m. I called and she said "no cancellations today." So I just gave her my direct number at work and lo and behold that same afternoon, 2/27, she called me to come in right away. It really helped that I only live and work 6 miles from the office, so in I went and am scheduled for surgery on May 9. Had I not called, I wouldn't even have had my consult yet, that would be tomorrow, actually. Probably no surgery until August. I am so thankful that I did call and get in. I hope this helps you. Persistence Pays. :-)
   — Mary B.

April 4, 2001
Hi Belinda, let me tell you what I did. I made my appointment last July and the 1st appointment they had was in November 26th. I went to the Doctors's office the next day and asked to fill out any paper work that was involved. ( really I wanted to give them a face to go with the voice that would be bugging them.) I called a couple of times a week to see if there were any cancellations and the second week I called they moved me up to September 1st.I continued to call but couldn't get it any closer. Be persistent... but nice! Good Luck
   — marlene R.

April 4, 2001
Belinda, After the 2 long years it took me to get my nerve up to have the surgery I finally decided to go ahead with it. I had to wait and change from Kaiser to United Health care and so on and so on...... So I called in February to set up my consultation. I was FINALLY ready to take the plunge. Imagine my surprise when they told me my appointment wouldn't be until the End of AUGUST 2001. Believe me I was not happy! I had them to put me on their cancellation list. I kept telling myself if I had waited this long I could wait another 6 months. They called me on Friday March 3rd and told me they had an opening for Monday March 6th. I jumped on it even though It was so last minute. I had to travel from Sac to LA Ca.... which is bet 6 and 8 hrs. It was well worth it though. Sooo In answer to your question. It is possible. I feel like I got lucky because I didn't have to call and bug them, but I would have if I hadn't heard when I did. Just be persistant and it will happen! Good luck to you.
   — Kim B.

May 7, 2001
At the time of my consultation in January, I was told that my Dr. had no openings for surgery until the end of May. I asked about cancellations and was told that I would be contacted. Instead of waiting to be contacted I kept in touch with the office. Not the appointment desk, but the nurse. She was more sympathetic to my anxiety. It was she who called me to let me know that instead of May 24, I could now have my surgery on March 29. (2 months sooner!) She was actually excited for me. Communicate - and be persistant!
   — Julie T.

May 8, 2001
It took me several months to get approval for surgery because of all the reqiurements - supervised diet, psych eval, etc. I started the process in May of 2000. I finally had an appointment with the doctor in November. At that time they wrote the letter for insurance. I was approved for surgery around the first of Dec. I called the Dr's office and was told he was having hip replacement surgery the end of December so wouldn't be scheduling any surgeries until March or April and I was 19th on the list. I started checking out other Dr's and found one in Minneapolis that I could see the second week in Jan. They also said that since I was already approved they would tentatively put me down for surgery on the 13th of Feb. I went to the appointment and found that I had been erased!! So then I was scheduled for Mar 27th. Not much better than if I had stuck with my original doctor - the difference being - my original doctor only does open and the new doctor does laps. Because they knew that a mistake was made, I was the first on their cancellation list. I got a call from the doctor's office on Jan 29th and I was scheduled for Feb 8. I had the surgery that day. Was in the hospital 2 nights and have done great since. My original doctor called on Mar 25 and was scheduling for April. Not only am I glad I switched doctors but am really looking forward to summer considerably smaller than I was last year. Be persisitant!! You can get in earlier. Keep in touch with the dr's office. I called a lot and faxed when noone could talk to me.
   — Rose S.

October 26, 2001
I was moved up by almost two months because I asked that I be placed on a list were if someone cancells you would take their place. See if your doctor has such a thing and don't be shocked when they call you for an earlier surgery date. I went from Jan 2002 to Nov. 2001.
   — Amina K.

November 3, 2001
Hi , I wanted to tell you that my date was also moved up ,when I whent for my consutation and recieved aproval , the surgeon told me that I was looking at mid jan 2002 . when the nurse called to book a date I actually had a chioce between 2 cancellation dates YAHOOO , i think this happens often ! I will be in surgery on Dec 11 2001 !
   — Torrie J.

April 29, 2002
I had originally had an appt for my first meeting with my surgeon to be May 15th.. then got a letter saying it was may 24th... Well that was in Jan when i got that appt.. I called on feb 3 to see if there was any way i could get in sooner.. or if any cancellations.. and the sec said could i be there by 730 the next day... ! i was oh man.. yeah i live 4 hours away and you can bet i got there.. now my surgery is mond may 6th.. before the intitial visit..
   — Dakota B.

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