Frustrated with Roadblocks and need some encouragement...

So basically I'm at the end of the road with authorization and now there have been little stupid hold ups and I'm not sure what to do. I can't seem to get anyone other than a secretary who doesn't know what she's talking about when I call my surgeons office. She won't even let me leave a voicemail for the woman who handles authorizations. I need to make sure they got everything from me because the insurance company said they haven't received anything yet. As far as I know I've completed everything, the only thing that could have happened is that my primary faxed my stuff to the wrong number (I wouldn't put it past them) Basically ,I need to know what the hold up is and if it's on their end and or mine. The secretary told me to "just call your insurance company" which is terrific because THEY don't have anything about this so how could this help me??? When I told her that she said "well, we'll just have to wait and see". What? Really? So instead of figuring out the issue we're just going to pretend there isn't one and hope it resolves itself. Excellent.

Anyway. I am a little down in the dumps. I have had a bad week with eating. I've pretty much eaten what I want and haven't exercised much all week. I have my period which is probably the real issue but I'm just bummed and nervous about surgery. I just want everything to work out and I want to feel better. I know it's probably normal to start getting a little freaked out once surgery is so close so I hope that's all this is and that it will pass. I'm feeling pretty nervous and for some reason I feel unprepared. I don't know why I feel unprepared, I've read so much and done all of my research, but I think it's because my surgeon doesn't really give you a strict eating guide. I think I would feel better if someone handed me a manual that said "eat this on day one, eat this day two" etc up until you are in the solid phase of the diet. and then clear guidlines in general for what to eat. I am just nervous about getting this right. They gave me a list of foods to eat and not eat but it is not specific to the sleeve. I just want to feel like I know exactly what I'm doing and right now I just feel way out of it and scared.     

I think you need to show up in person and make some noise. That's ridiculous that you can't even leave a voicemail. You should, in fact, be speaking directly with the person who handles authorizations on a regular basis. You need to make sure that your insurance coverage is what it needs to be or you could get some nasty surprises in the mail.

Make some noise girl!

we can co-miserate together.... you described a HUGE portion of my last 10 days....

I finally got approved, only to have my surgery date changed 3 times within 48 hours.... now I need to wait 6 weeks til surgery... that kinda ticks me off when I think about it again...

IMO, the squeaky wheel gets the oil....call your patient advocate office at the hospital/surgery office to get answers.... ask for escalations at the insurance company....

Good luck

Tell the secretary that you want to talk to the authorization person and you want to talk to her today. Here is the deal, you are the customer. You are paying for the insurance and probably the co-pay also. I don't know about you, but in my area there is more than one place that does VSG. I would remind them of that if they caused me any more difficulties.

Luckily for me the center in my area doesn't have "blockers" and allow me to leave voicemails...and they call me back the same day.

Good luck to you.

I agree completely with the idea of showing up in person and demanding answers. THEY work for the doctor, who works for YOU. Therefore, THEY work for YOU. They will be much more likely to find the information you need if you are taking up space in their waiting room lol.

I would also consider expressing my frustrations to the doctor the first opportunity you get. These doctors lose patients sometimes due to crappy service that they don't know about, and they can't fix what they don't know is a problem.

 Thank you for the encouragement. I called again today and it was the SAME secretary and she totally tried to "block" me again. This time I got a little more guts. I told her that I've talked to her before and she didn't seem to understand my problem and I really needed to talk to Missy and that I am getting nervous because no one is helping me or giving any answers. She said she was sorry and sent me to Missy's voicemail.  Missy called me back not long after and got everything straightened out. She got all of my paperwork together and had everything and sent it out today. She said I should get a call from my insurance company by the end of the week and then once everything is set up I will get a surgery date ASAP. So I'm looking at having a date this week or beginning of next. I CANT wait!! It seems almost crazy to me!