iM 17 AND LOOKING FOWARD TO GASTRIC BYPASS - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

paulinacervantes · 08-02-2004, 09:48 PM

HI IM NEW IN THE THINNER TIMES FORUM I AM 17 YEARS OLD ANS ABOUT 300 AND SOMETHING POUND IVE BEEN DIETING EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER ALL MY LIFE HAVE I BEEN SUFFERING WITH OBISITY ITS GOTTEN TO A POINT THAT NO DIET WOULD WORK ON ME AND I AM JUST DESPERATE TO HAVE THE PROCEDURE DONE .
I WANTED TO KNOW IF ANYONE COULD TELL ME HOW LOONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET APPROVED FROM YOUR PPO INSURANCE? OR HOW LONG ROM TODAYS DATE CAN I BE GETTING MY SURGERY I WOUL CERTANLY APPRECIATE IT THANKS
PAULINA

Suzanne-photog4fun · 08-03-2004, 08:47 AM

Welcome to this support group. You asked how long the process takes until you might have surgery. First you have to get a referral to a surgeon. If you have an HMO, that's one of the biggest hurdles to jump through. I don't know with PPO's. Many insurances decide for you which surgeon you can go to. Be prepared to show proof that you have been on a Doctor supervised weight loss program for 6 months, especially at your very young age. If you haven't, do it now to speed up the process towards surgery. After you get your surgeon referral, you have to attend a scheduled seminar that sometimes takes a month or two to get into. Then there are the medical tests to be done depending on your current health problems and a psyc. eval. After all of the tests are in, the surgeon requests authorization from your insurance company to do the surgery. Often there is an initial denial and then you have to appeal to your insurance plan. Both my sister and niece have had surgery in the past year and the whole process from start to finish took 5 & 6 months with their HMO insurance. My sister was approved first try and my niece had to go through the denial appeal one time. When I had my surgery 2 1/2 yrs. ago, it took me 4 months total waiting time. Good luck to you. Warning....the whole process pre-op is an emotional roller coaster and a true test of patience and persistance.

If you'd like to talk to my niece (18yrs. old) who had surgery last week, email me privately.

watergirl · 08-03-2004, 09:23 AM

For me the whole process from start to finish was 5 months with a HMO. Good luck to you.

bridgetgirl · 08-03-2004, 10:50 AM

This is how it worked for me.
1. Scheduled to attend an educational seminar at Dr. C's office, I attended one in October.
2. Filled out the paperwork given to me at the educational seminar, requested release of medical reords from various Dr's offices (medical documentation.) Turned in first week of November.
3. Scheduled my appt for a well woman visit.
4. Third week in November had initial visit with Kelly, told what other appts I would need, got weighed, went over history with her, etc.
5. Scheduled Physical check up and labs, scheduled appt with Psychologist for the Psych eval.
6. Had all records sent to Dr. Callery and received no later than the third week in December.
7. Called around the 20th of January to see how things were going, told I was waiting to hear back from insurance... then I got a call that same night telling me I had been approved!! Yee haw! They tried to schedule me for less than a week notice to have surgery, I declined and scheduled to have it Feb. 9th! So the total process only took 4 months for me! No problems!
I wish you the same success. Good luck sugar pea!

sandi · 08-04-2004, 10:38 AM

My process took two weeks short of a year! I jumped through every hoop they put before me, and then some!!! You have to be persistant if you truly want this. I was stubborn, and I KNEW this was the only way I was going to have a normal, healthy life again!
Dig, search, learn and read everything you can get your hands on about this surgery and everything that goes along with it. If you really want this, and the new life it will give you, you'll do whatever it takes and hold tight to the wheel for however long it takes.....
Go girl!!!
You've come to the right place for support though, we've all been in your shoes, and our hearts are opened to you...
Good luck and God Speed~

Andi · 08-04-2004, 03:43 PM

A bunch of us meet at the Starbucks in Mira Mesa (Albertson's shopping center just west of I-15) on Friday nights at 6:00 p.m. Please come and meet us. We would be happy to meet you and answer any questions you have regarding the process, the surgery, the recovery, and life afterwards. I hope to see you there!

Andi
8/19/03
340/194/135