surgery timeframe

I think everyone's experience is different. I didn't have to do much to satisfy my insurance but it was still 5 months between seminar and surgery. I didn't have a supervised diet at all or a certain amount to lose. The things that took the most time were getting a sleep study scheduled, getting in to meet the surgeon, and getting my submission to insurance to the right person. Once my packet was with the right person, insurance approved in 24 hours.

The time flew by. I couldn't believe it was 5 months! If you have to wait, take advantage of the time. Learn as much as you can, get your head ready for big changes, and start making some of those changes asap.

As you can see from previous posters, everyone's experience will be different.  I made my initial appointment with the surgery center in August of 2013, could not get an appointment until 12/13/13.  I did the seminars online while waiting for my appointment.  I had to do a 3 month supervised diet with Aetna, Psych eval, dietician visit and endoscopy.  Aetna approved my request within 7 days.  Surgery is scheduled for May 1st.  So from 1st phone call to the surgery center to surgery will be 8 1/2 months.

Like Stacy, I was self-pay. After many months of research, I met my doctor on May 16th....and had surgery on May 31. SUPER FAST, when insurance isn't involved.

My Insurance is an HMO and it's taking FOREVER!  First, three months of a DOCUMENTED qualified weight loss program (Jenny Craig)... (took months just to get the letter from them).  Then my PCP referred me for Orientation and Introduction Classes.  After that another 3 weeks for lab tests and a pre-bariatric meeting with the house surgeon for pre-approval.  Then another 3 weeks to enroll in 6 months of classes (1.5 hours every week).  I go to my 3rd class tonight.  Then after the classes, more lab tests, fitness tests, an all day information class, a required 10% weight loss from the first pre-bari meeting, and then I hope for final approval.  Once final approval is given the surgery can be scheduled in about 2-3 months.  So.... long story short:  From my first thought of starting this in Sept. 2013, to my orientation class in Feb. 2014... I hope for surgery to be just after Christmas.  Yep... that's 16 months from start to O.R. table.  Sigh.  Not giving up, though.  Powering through!!!

Wow!!  I'v never seen anyone have to go through so much!  Just hang in there though, it'll all be worth it in the end.

Thanks, Jules.  No doubt my cheap-o HMO is hoping I'll get tired of the red tape and quit.  Not this time, though.  NOT THIS TIME!!! 

Lol!!  That's the spirit!!

It took me a year to get my surgery (I hate the word "journey" and refuse to use it unless talking about the band). I first visited the surgeon in June 2012 and decided to go forward. My insurance company told me I needed to do one kind of six month supervised diet, so I started on that and then in September  they said oops, our bad, we meant this other kind of six month supervised diet, you have to start over! So I started over in October and finished up in late March. Then  my PCP screwed up and sent the records of my 6 month diet to the wrong surgeon and it took a month to figure that out and get everything back on track. So it was late April when I finally got submitted for insurance approval, which took less than 24 hours! After that, the first available date that would work for both me and my surgeon was mid-June, almost exactly a year after my first visit with his office.

I went for my information session on December 4th. Called for an appt to meet the surgeon the next day, my appt was scheduled for Dec 18th. My insurance required 3 months medically supervised diet and they allowed my first consult on the 18th as my first weight management visit. I just had surgery on 3/17/14. 1 day shy of 3 months from my first appt.

My surgeon's office was very on the ball and organized. They had a list of things I needed to complete (sleep study, Upper GI, PCP Clearance, Pulmonary function Test, Psych Eval, Nutrionist visits) They handled the psych and nutritional counseling in their office and they helped me schedule everything else. Everything went smoothly, the practice was very well ran. 

Thank you all for sharing.  I'm seeing my PCP tomorrow and I'm hoping that she has a surgeon she can recommend.  I called my insurance company to see if I would be covered.  I was told that after my consultation, my surgeon's office will submit a request for an approval but they didn't tell me anything else about what they require or anything.  I am determined to make this happen but I guess I'm having a bit of anxiety over all the things that need to be done before the surgery and how I'm supposed to fit them all in around my work schedule.