I want patience right now!

How did you handle the waiting? It's only been 10 days since my consultation. Every day, I eagerly check the mail, hoping that there will be the letter from the surgeon's office saying they've sent my packet off to the insurance company for approval.

Nothing yet. I read posts from those that happily report that they have approval. Lucky ducks.

I read posts from those that are thrilled - they got a surgery date. Even luckier ducks.

I have an appointment for the psych eval on the 30th. Geez - I'll probably flunk it- I'll be a dead duck.

I know that realistically it will probably be January at the earliest before I will have surgery, and that's assuming:

The psychologist doesn't have me immediately put in a straitjacket;
Blue Cross approves me for surgery;
Blue Cross doesn't make me do a six month doctor supervised diet;
Blue Cross doesn't have me immediately put in a straitjacket;
My husband doesn't have me immediately put in a straitjacket.

I've started keeping a journal to vent my anxieties and frustrations, and desire to begin my new life.

How did you all handle it? Valium?

i am not going to lie, it SUCKS!!! i first went to my consult on aug 1, 2007.  i had my psych that day too.  he said i had to go to 3 support groups first. so i did that as fast as i could.  my insurance denied me after that and said i had to go 18 months dr supervision.  i freaked, got depressed, thought this isnt for me, finally went to my family dr.  and i knew the law had changed, but my insurance was still dragging me a long.  i only got approved on sept 4, 2008!!! so i kept jumping thru the hoops, but being a sqeaky wheel all along the way!!! :)  when iwas going my dr had me come in 2 month *i was still under his supervision*  and they tried to say those months didnt count bc i didnt go consec. to my dr.  i finally aasked if i needed to contact my lawyer bc i was not the only one who knew the law had changed to say the most they could ask for was 6 months!!! :)  say strong, keep praying, and rememeber that God knows the time :)  even if it isnt in our time!!  oh and dont be afraid to be a sqeaky wheel... they are the ones that get the oil!! :)  good luck, and know you have other people who are praying for you too!!!

I know how you are feeling---My husband and I go Tuesday for our consultation.  He has Mcare so I think he will be approved way before me.  I am so nervous about waiting for the insurance.  I have always been on a diet of one kind or another but really am worried about the 6 months consecutive of Dr supervised weight loss.  I just don't think I have that the way they will want it.

I went to the doctors office today and it is usually the Nurse Practitioner that I see.  She had a letter written up saying I had been under her care since 2006, that I had been on many diet plans, that I was doing exercise and still not losing.  She said she recommended the surgery.  I hate to be a pest to her but I don't think that will be good enough will it?  Would they want like a log of monthly weights?  Would that help, even if I maybe didn't see the NP that day but just weighed?

Also will a NP be ok since she works under a Dr or does it have to be a DR?

I would love to have this around the same time as my husband so we can do it together.

Can't you tell I am getting anxious and obsessed about this.  If anyone has any advice on what all I can send to the insurance to hopefully get an approval, I would appreciate it so much.

Terry

I wish I could offer advise on insurance matters but I can't, my insurance was quick and really easy.  I just wanted to let you all know that waiting for approval is most definatly the hardest part of the process.  For me it was even more painful than the surgery because at least I sorta knew what to expect with the surgery.  Its hard to turn control of you life over to strangers.  Hang in there and keep your head up, it will all be a memory befor long.

Jeannie

Good luck on the waiting.  Here is my timeline with Dr. Inman and St. Vincent's Bariatric Center.

1. Had my initial consult on 1/14/08
2. Saw Dr. Stote (shrink) on 2/15/08
3. Information sent to insurance company for approval after my shrink appointment
4. Approved by insurance about 2/25/08 (I have federal BC/BS)
5. Got a call from Vicki on about 3/24/08 to schedule a date for the surgery
6. Surgery date 9/23/08 (Dr. Stote, the shrink required me to do 6 months of therapy first)

Now, keep in mind....this is my timeline.  Hopefully yours will be faster, but I wouldn't expect approval from the insurance company until after you have your shrink appointment.

I wish you all the luck in the world!

Nina
DS 9/23/08
Dr. Inman

Thanks for the info!  I didn't realize I had to see the shrink before they would even send the info to the insurance company.  I see him on the 30th. 

Sounds like you must have gotten insurance approval really quick!  I have federal BC/BS also.  You were approved 10 days after your psych appt - he must do his reports pretty quickly then!

Hopefully, the doc won't have too many requirements for me!!

You can do this. I wouldn't worry so much about the psychologist. He is an odd duck in some ways, but I think he genuinely wants to help people be successful at this, not prevent them from doing it. He may have some requirements for you though, be prepared for that. I had to attend 4 support groups before surgery, and continue with counseling that I was already engaged in. In the end, I think I'm better for it.

Thank you so much for the info!