How long does it take before the bypass? - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

SandyKae · 06-15-2009, 07:55 PM

Seminar January 12th and surgery April 21st. The testing is waht took so long for me, stress test, EKG, sleep study, Echocardiogram. Then the psych evaluation, it seemed like a non ending stream of appointments. My surgeon said that my progress was actually pretty fast, I flet like it was pretty slow. But, everyone's doctor and insurances are different and they requires differents things of you. Hang in there that glorious day will come and when it does and you are over the hump you will look back and the wait will be well worth it.
Remember the slow turtle won the race, in the end.

T.J. · 06-16-2009, 08:25 AM

It took me six months of weight management and about 3 months for approval. By the time it was all said and done 1 year.

offstringgirl · 06-26-2009, 01:24 AM

I have Blue Cross PPO of California and my process was 14 months long, but that was a lot with my program I was in. I needed a 6 month diet, and once the papers were submitted to insurance it only took them 3 hours to approve.

SandyKae · 06-26-2009, 10:03 AM

Wow, 14 months that must have been a long wait. I am so glad that my medical doctor started me on a diet program a year before I decided to have surgery, it is almost like he knew someday I would wake up and decide the surgery was for me. He kept asking if I was interested and I never was, but he was preparing me for it and I just didn't know. I love my medical doctor!!

Ms. Readytobehealthy · 06-26-2009, 02:05 PM

I started this journey back to in January and I just submitted to the insurance company. So surgery has not happen yet for me. I would say each insurance company is different and has different criteria. It was requested that I do a 6 month diet first before surgery.

Sue0609 · 06-26-2009, 03:54 PM

Mine took about 3 months 2 weeks, which was close to a record where I went because of the weight loss they required. Now, if only I'd been as a good a loser after surgery as I was before...

ahnurse · 06-26-2009, 08:05 PM

I went to the seminar in October of last year. First appt with surg. in December as well as the first of 6 mon. of weight loss. Last in May. Submitted to insurance.... first denied... appeals.... office staff off.... finally an approval ... now waiting for the hospital to schedule the surg. (weeks later).
I guess my point would be that no matter how quick you think it will be... it will be longer

but in reality this is a long journey not a quick trip.
Good luck,
Amy

SueZ · 06-30-2009, 07:14 AM

It was 6 months...or will be (my surgery is next week) from my first Dr. appointment to the actual day of surgery. I had to do 3 months supervised by a dietician (but she said not to worry about weight loss, just work on the skills I would need...so no pressure there), then all the clearance tests..heart, head, health..6 months. Went so slow as I was doing it...now looking back, I realize I really needed the time to mentally prepare and to read EVERYTHING.

Erica · 07-01-2009, 06:26 PM

I was a self pay and boy, was it a whirlwind between the initial meeting with the surgeon and my surgery date.

I had the initial consultation on March 3 2008. When I saw his coordinator she said "We have an opening on March 27th." I was stunned...just three and a half weeks between consultation and surgery. But I had already decided a long time ago that I wanted the surgery, so that was no problem. In those three and a half weeks I managed to see the psychologist, the nutritionist, get blood work and all the other medical tests done. After that there was no looking back.

Michie · 07-01-2009, 09:57 PM

I have Cigna PPO and it took about 10-11 months from beginning to end. My insurance required the 6 month program and then denied me after that. My doc's office appealed (with 2 years worth of medical records as requested)and it was finally approved. From insurance approval to surgery was 4 weeks.