Question:
What is the typical/ acceptable amount of time most of you waited from the time you

found out you were approved (my surgeon's office called) and the time they actually got around to giving you a date. I am about ready to lose my mind!! I was approved on March 1 and am on the verge of tears almost every day that ends with still no call....I started this journey in September, and though I thought I was being patient, I think enough is enough. I have called and left a message, but I was hoping that some of you could ease my mind and tell me that this is normal. I don't want to switch surgeons, so that isn't an option. I just don't want to be a basket case!!!    — Linda D. (posted on March 20, 2002)

March 20, 2002
Have you called them? Sometimes being persistant pays- the squeaky wheel gets the oil and all. I faxed my surgeon EVERY day or so- they ended up giving me my date BEFORE my consult. Hang in there. I hope it happens soon for you! Good luck on your journey. :)
   — Angela B.

March 20, 2002
Hi. Three days after finding out I was approved, a member of the surgeoun's staff called to discuss benefits, insurance, and payment amount. Then, three days after that, I received a call from the scheduler to provide me with a date. I would call, call, call, and I might even call the surgeoun at home. Getting on people's nerves seems to work for me when I want something done.
   — juliehedges

March 20, 2002
It took 5 1/2 months from approval till I was given a surgery date. Surgery was one week later.
   — pattyw

March 20, 2002
Ahh, one of Dr Schauers patients. Average wait time from first appointment till surgery, he is all backed up and his partner Dr Ikromeden left to head up a bariatic dept in another state is around 9 months. So if your AVERAGE June or July. Have you been attending EVERY support group meeting? Make friends with Bill Gorash, he helps do the scheduling. But please DONT tell him I told you to bug him. Be NICE but persistent. Dr Schauer is almost too good. His fantastic reputation is creating big backlogs and it will get worse when the article in the Pittsburgh Post gazette comes out about me and some others. I suggested the artiicle to let other MOs know about this solution!
   — bob-haller

March 20, 2002
from dec 27 to the next apr 26. sometimes the wait is long. it differes with each surgeon and his surgery schedule. my surgeon does only one operation a week. hang in there!
   — [Deactivated Member]

March 20, 2002
I got approved on december 20th 2001 and got a surgery date today... march 20th and the surgery date is april 15th ... my first consult was on nov 9th 2001.. and it does feel like it takes forever and a day :-) but hang in there it will happen! the tests are what took so long ...the doctors are not good a gettign the information faxed to your surgeons office in a prompt manner... it was sooooo frustrating to me also ... my heart goes out to you ... and even when you get your date ... like i did today :-) ... now i'm thinking omg what do i do for 25 days of waiting for the surgery now lol ... and then i think the next step is ... ok yall how long does it take to loose all this :-) we may as well laugh and accept that all these things just take time ... but i think mine got speeded up because i called constantly to check on my paperwork ... making sure that it all was sent as promised to my surgeons office... otherwise it might of been 2003 before i got a date .... hugs and love Barbara W 474 and shrinking soon!!!!
   — Barbara W.

March 20, 2002
With me it was 4 1/2 months between approval and assignment of a date. I just had to be patient. And it was worth the wait! ;)
   — BlueGray

March 20, 2002
I was approved on 9/13/01 and was sent a letter by the doctor's office on 9/18/01 telling me that my surgery was on 11/5/01.
   — Patty H.