From start to surgery date...

Just thought I would post a question on here and liven this place up a bit. Here is my question: How long did it take you to get a surgery date with Dr. Bock? I am waiting to be scheduled for orientation and am wondering how long I will wait until I get a surgery date. Take care friends! Lori

Well, my situation was a little unique because my coverage was going to end, so he squeezed me in before the end of the year. You're right. This place needs to be livened (is that a word? it looks funny) up. Therefore, I replied to the last three posts that hadn't been replied to yet. I guess I need to visit here more often. Love Diana

I am at the very beginning of my trip to surgery. I have my appointment for the referral... 4/26/05 ... 2 days before my 32nd Anniversary. The days are crawling by and at the same time speeding by, does that make sense? I told my husband I was considering the WLS and he was relieved! Seems he didn't tell me how concerned he was about my weight. I understand I have a loooooong trip ahead..........

Actually you probably won't have that long of a wait to get approved. It took me 30 days after appealing to get approved. I was originally denied because of the 6-months of supervised dieting. As long as you meet the criteria, you will be approved. But.... the wait will be with the surgery date. You can expect to wait a while for that. I was told 8-10 months but I also heard 1 year. Just depends on how fast the doc can get us all through I guess. Sounds kinda like an assembly line! Good Luck to you on your journey! Have you checked out the "Your Journey" section on this website? It is very informative. Find it at the top right after the "main entrance" link. Take care, Lori

Hi Lori. I just read your profile. I'll have to do more with mine. If you live in the Tacoma area, I hope you can make it to the support group meeting on the 4th Tuesday of the month-6:30 pm at GHC. My first time was last month and I learned a lot. I saw my Dr. on Feb. 7. I came prepared and even wrote a letter explaining my lifetime efforts to lose weight and my health problems. I had a copy of my 6-months at Weigh****chers. I felt like such a failure as the Dr. interviewed me. My Dr. didn't know there was a specific form that he needed to fill out. It was thanks to a great nurse who started the referal while I was there standing at the nurses station! I told her the Bariatric center was in Redmond, she called them and they told her about the special form and then faxed it to her. I stayed and made sure it was received, filled out by the Dr., and sent. She was so nice and wished me luck. (I did apply a year ago, but that is another story for my website. lol) I got an approval Feb. 18! I talked to Harriet on March 14, got my packet right away and did all the tests. I am about where you are, finished with tests (except the Pulmonary Dr. at the end of the month) and waiting for an orientation date. I'm just waiting to hear if my tests are ok and what the next step will be. Geez! it is 3 am. Going to bed. Mari

Hi Mari! Sounds like we are really close in time frames. Maybe we will get to meet at the same orientation! Unfortunately I live way too far from Tacoma to come to a meeting. I am way up north near the canadian border. Have you had your psych eval yet? That was a piece of cake. I was a little apprehensive about it. My tests all came back normal so it's just a matter of time now. I am terrible at waiting. But, I guess I don't have a choice. Once we get an orientation date, we can expect to get a surgery date that is about 2 months after that. At least that is what I have been told. I am in the same boat as you with the insurance. I HAVE to have the surgery before October 1. Good luck with the pulmonary doc. Hope we get dates soon!!! Lori

I'm wondering about the psych eval. What did you do? All I had to do was fill out a 2-3 page form and send it to a social worker. It was about my moods, history, and if and who are my support system. I haven't been told about seeing anyone. Hmmm..... Mari

You will get a call from the Social Worker to set up an appointment for either a phone interview or in person. Since I live so far away, I did it over the phone. I filled out the same form you did. It took about 2 weeks for me to get a call after I sent it in. I made the appt for the next morning. Over and done just like that. When did you send in your paperwork? Lori

Congratulations. I have my class orinentation on 5/20/05.

How soon after you got your testing complete did you get an orientation date? Lori