Question:
Why is this taking so long!!!!
Could anyone out there help me. First let me say I love this site I have been enjoying it for months. I didn't want to start posting until I had good results but I can't wait that long its taking forever. My doctor wanted all the pre-op testing done before he would see me so I have been doing that for the last 4 months I finially got everything done and I go into see him he is great but one problem I have not had an endoscopy he scheduled it for me. GUESS WHEN ?AUGUST 13th I thought I would get a surgery date today when I met him. I waited with such happiness for 4 months for this appointment and now this. I am so upset I feel like giving up. Then he told me after he has the endoscopy results he could submit for approval and that can take up to 3 months for approval then depending where they are on there scheduling he will schedule my surgery right now they are scheduling for September imagine in August when they will be scheduling for. Can someone offer me some advice I can't wait that long I am so upset. I hate to complain but I was so excited, this is a huge let down. Anyway on a happier note God Bless you all your stories have kept me going. I will start my page to so I can hopefully help others like you have helped me. — kumuat (posted on May 15, 2003)
May 15, 2003
Starr -- It all depends on your health insurance and physician's
requirements. Some people get approved really quick and others have to
provide extensive information and write appeals. I had to go through
almost a year of classes and tests. But the important thing is to keep
positive and keep pressing forward. You didn't mention what insurance
company you are with, but I'd suggest seeking others who have the same
insurance and find out how they got approved. For every shut door, there's
another one open. At least you have started your process and working on
your web page is a good way to keep yourself occupied while you are waiting
and learning. Good things come to those who wait (or make it happen)!
Smile
— Starrlina
May 15, 2003
Hi there:)
I had called my surgeon's office the first week in April 03, and the first
available appt. was OCTOBER 8TH!! I accepted that appt. But in thinking
about it afterwards, I realize all thats going to happen between now and
then is I'm going to gain MORE WEIGHT and become MORE UNHEALTHY!! So I did
my research, and found a new surgeon last week. Guess when my initial
appt. is??? JUNE 5TH! AND...in this office from what I've heard, your
surgery is 3-4 months from your initial consult. GOOD LUCK:)
— kathy B.
May 15, 2003
Starr, Don't give up! This process does take a long time for almost
everybody. Once you accept this it should help a little tiny bit. There
are plently of things to do to prepare for surgery in the mean time. Start
excersising now. Baby steps, walking or dancing, whatever you like. This
will help with your health, and burn off some nervous energy, etc.. Maybe
look into a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. Most of need to
restucture our relationships with food. As it's been mentioned many times,
this surgery is not the answer, it is a tool. A tool to be used wisely.
This is a great step you are making, be proud of making the decsion you
made to change your life! Best of luck to you...aims
— chickiewickie
May 15, 2003
I can sympathise. I called in June I think to get my initial appt, and
immagine my dismay when I found out it would be Dec 4th before I could get
in! I wasn't a happy camper. On the plus side, I did get put on their
wating list, and was able to go in november insted of december. If your not
particulary attached to this doc, maybe you could reaserch and find one
that has the same or better credientials that can get you in faster. Good
luck and God bless. 3 weeks out, down 23#
— mellyhudel
May 15, 2003
From the first Dr appt it took 15 months to get wls. Now 17 months latter I
am at my goal!! I have lost 195 lbs and had PS. What a long trip. It is
well worth the wait. Perservere it will be worth it. Good Lux
— Robert L.
May 15, 2003
I've been trying to get WLS since Nov of 2002. Every time I see the
surgeon I'm given another list of tests. It's getting old really fast. I
said "I have occastional heartburn" now I've got to have a test
about that. Its to the point now where I'm scared to answer the questions
honestly because everytime I do, I end up wasting another 3 months on
tests. But I try to remind myself that its better to over test then under
test. Just in case. I most certainly don't want to die and although I
feel my surgeon could avoid a handful of these tests, I know that it will
be the best for me in the end. Its funny, but I hadn't even realized it
has been almost 7 months since my first appointment and nearly 3 years
since I began looking into this surgery. My hope is to have surgery in
July. So far the only complication is finding a psychologist who takes my
insurance. All I've got left is my eval, one silly test and then apply for
insurance approval. Seems so easy, but lets face facts...Every appointment
so far has been 2 months away from the appointment before it...which pushes
me WAY past the July point. Don't loose hope. Whenever the excitement of
doing this fades or I start to think that maybe I'm never going to have
this, I look at before and after pics...read the posts of the post-ops who
are living the life I want and I am encouraged to continue. I'M NOT GIVING
UP!!!!!!! I don't care how long I'm on this ride!
— Renee B.
May 15, 2003
I understand how you feel. I've been at this for a while now, too. My
only suggestion would be to find out if you can get the endoscopy scheduled
sooner with another doctor. I had that experience with my sleep testing.
The first lab could not schedule me until June 11, so I called another
sleep lab, got scheduled, and then they called me back that same day to say
they had a cancellation for that night!! Of course, I took it. Also,
because my surgeon and hospital are over an hour from my home, I had most
of my pre-op testing done at my local hospital, including the endoscopy.
All my results were faxed to my surgeon. The only test I had to travel for
was the psych eval. I would try to schedule this test sooner with another
doctor. Best wishes to you.
— Carlita
May 16, 2003
Long? Patience, patience. I started researching this in July 2002, went
to my surgeon's mandatory pre-consult seminar on Sept. 26, had to wait for
a consult date until Feb. 11, had all my testing done by March 15, and am
now waiting for my surgeon to begin operating a a hospital cover by my
insurance company at the beginning of July, I expect that we will START the
insurance process nexy week. I know we all want this surgery NOW, but it
have chosen to look at all this waiting I have done as an opportunity to be
SURE that this is the right choice, to complete my Dr. Supervised diet, to
change my snacking habits, to get myself off of diet Coke and into a 96 oz
of water per day habit, to begin attending support groups and network with
other pre & post ops, to start going to the gym as I am able, to get as
ready as possible for the BIG DAY. Be persistent towards your goal, but
remember, sometimes the timeline we want isn't the timeline we really NEED.
DON'T GIVE UP!!! Do something to help yourself stay busy while you wait.
Sue
— Sue C.
May 16, 2003
I started my journey to WLS in March of 2002, and finally had surgery the
end of October 2002. Everything seems to take forever, and I felt like I
was living just to get from one obstacle to the next. When the day for
surgery finally arrived, it didn't even seem real! I kept waiting for a
phone call saying it was being changed to a later date! You will get there,
just hang in there - it will happen!
— koogy
May 16, 2003
I think if we did a poll, we would find that on average this process takes
about a year from first contact with your PCP. It seems like forever and
believe me, I am as impatient as they get! Check with the folks doing your
endoscopy and put yourself on a waiting list for cancellations HOWEVER only
do this if you can pretty much pick up and go whenever they want you. I
know it's hard, but try to be patient. I'm sure it will be worth every
minute of your wait.
— antiques55
May 16, 2003
My opinion is NOT a popular one but waiting a reasonable time is a good
thing. It makes sure you really want surgery and the commitment necessary
espically early on. I know how tough waiting is but if it only took a few
months some would have surgery and regret it. Wantingf something so bad
really helps in those early days...
— bob-haller
May 16, 2003
You know, it's strange how when you're waiting anxiously for something so
life altering as wls, that the time seems to drag on forever. By the time I
have my surgery in August/03, it will be almost 3 years of waiting for me.
Waiting for consults and tests is neverending. For every consult and every
test, I had to travel a minimum of 4 hours each way, drive myself (on an
empty stomach for the endoscopy) and I survived, barely. During all of this
waiting, I have read numerous ossg sites and Q&A here at OH. Gathering
all of this info into my head has been a way to prepare for this surgery. I
have learned things that I would not have been able to learn if my waiting
time was only a couple of months. I have met many wonderful ppl along the
way who have been very supportive as we are all in the same boat here in
Canada. VERY long waits that aren't about insurance. I have learned
something about myself, that I have patience well beyond what I thought I
had. When I look back now at how far I've come, it doesn't seem so bad. I
still have a long way to go in my wls journey and I am looking forward to
experiencing it one day at a time. God bless...
— mary ann T.
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