Question:
Has anyone gone to one surgeon for WLS, then changed surgeons?
Has anyone gone to one WLS surgeon been acepted by the surgeon and your insurance then decided to change to a different surgeon? Did you have to start over with all the testing again, etc? And how long was the wait for the surgery? — Kathy L. (posted on December 5, 2001)
December 5, 2001
Kathy, I just did that very thing. The only thing I had to repeat was to
see their nutri. everything else was fine, test and all and now I have a
surgery date and ready to roll, e-mail me if you like.
— Rho
December 5, 2001
I started out with a surgeon in jan 2001, finally got my date scheduled for
12/10/01, was notified 1 week before surgery that my surgeon had an
operation and could not perform the rny as scheduled. they did offer me the
other surgeon that performs the same surgery ( in the same practice), or i
could reschedule for next year. I met this surgeon yesterday. I am
definitly going with the new surgeon he was very nice and has excellent
credentials, I have also talked to other people in my support group, that
have used him. I know i could not stand to reschedule. I did not need any
other tests done, it could be because they are in the same office.
— mc H.
December 5, 2001
With my insurer (Blue Cross, Blue Shield, standard option, Federal
Employees' Program), I had no problem with switching surgeons. It was
necessary for me to do so after the original one, Hazem Elariny of
Alexandria, Va., refused to do my surgery in a fit of pique after he found
a post on this website that he deemed uncomplimentary. Because I'd had all
my pre-op tests, I was lucky enough to find another surgeon who penciled me
in for surgery the same day Elariny left me out in the cold. BCBS approved
the switch in surgeons within a day or two. I did have to have more
bloodwork and another EKG before the surgery, which took place a month
after the original one was canceled. The length of time you'll have to
wait will depend on the length of the line at your new surgeon's office, as
well as whether he is in-network with your insurer, etc.; after a bad
beginning, I was lucky.
— Kay B.
April 12, 2003
I did after going to my intial consult and finding out the surgeon,
Dr.Patterson didn't do DS anymore.
My surgery was going to be in March, but with the new referral from my PCP
it's now going to be June.
Ali
— ALI143
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