Question:
Not so much a question...just needed to vent!!!

I started my quest back in February to have this surgery...went to see my PCP, had all the lab test done, now I am being told that I cannot see the surgeon for my 1st consult until the end of October!! And they will need to see me a second time before scheduling surgery...which means I could be waiting until the first of next year before I can have surgery. I don't want to sound like a cry baby...but I have put my whole heart into this and cannot wait to start my new life!!! I feel like I'm going to go crazy waiting the next couple of months in limbo!! Has anyone else felt like this...or am I just acting like a spoiled brat!!:)    — DolcezzaVT (posted on June 7, 2000)

June 7, 2000
I had to wait over a month to get in to see the surgeon, initially. Then when I did get in, he told me that I had to come back a total of THREE TIMES, THREE MONTHS APART before he would consider doing surgery on me. I also had to have lost at LEAST a few pounds prior to each visit, or no surgery! He said that he needed to see that I had a committment to losing weight. He also said that the three visits, three months apart was so that I would be absolutely sure that this surgery was what I truly wanted. I also had to attend at LEAST one support meeting held at the hospital prior to surgery. My surgery is FINALLY scheduled for July 18th. I hope that my pretesting goes well! So see, you are not alone. Other physicians do that, too.
   — kathy S.

June 7, 2000
Is there any way you can go to a different surgeon? I have to wait close to 1 month between my 1st and 2nd appt- since the Dr. is on vacation- and I was bummed about that! Hang in there!
   — Karen R.

June 7, 2000
I have had missing forms, missing blood work, faxes never sent, dates cancelled, dates assigned,,go for this test, go for that...It seems to be par for the course.
   — [Anonymous]

June 7, 2000
No, I went to see my suregon and not PCP and she had me to write up all the things I had tried in the past to lose weight. (Which was many). Then she submitted it along with some other things and it was approved in about two weeks.I guess I was lucky. I know you are frustrated, but keep the faith. I know you will succeed in getting the surgery. I had my surgery last December.
   — Barbara P.

June 8, 2000
No you are not being a spoiled brat. I only had to wait a short while and I thought that was an eternity! However I don't believe there are very many WLS surgeons in Vermont. So I would imagine that he/she is very busy and the wait cannot be helped. You could see if your insurance would cover the surgery out of state. I had to go out of state because I wanted the surgery to be done lapriscopically and the surgeons in Indiana only do open. Good luck with your quest. (by the way I am from Colchester, VT myself originally) Tammy
   — Tamilyn12