And now we wait...

**D618** · 01-20-2017 07:25 AM

Hi all,
I'm currently in the process of qualifying for gastric sleeve surgery. My insurance requires that I do a 6 month supervised weight loss program, as well as a cardiac and pulmonary clearance. Well, the good news is that I have finished the 6 months (last week), and am down a few pounds. I need to improve upon that though, and be more dedicated. I have also completed the cardiac clearance (he said that I would be low-risk)! Yay. But, I have to wait until March 2nd to see the Pulmonary doctor... I'm bummed because I thought after I finished my 6 month visit that they could send it to the insurance company for approval, but I had forgotten that I still needed the pulmonary clearance. So, now I have to wait until March for that. And then it can take up to 4-6 weeks for the insurance company to approve the surgery. I hope to be able to have the surgery by April though. But, that seems so far away! Not sure I can make it!

So, I'm feeling kind of bummed and depressed right now...

**Christie13** · 01-20-2017 09:01 AM

If your surgeon is very familiar with the insurance process for your company (which most are) then you should have no issues getting the approval. That sucks that there is such a long wait for the pulmonary clearance. My surgeon's office ensured all the other requirements would be done when the 6 months were done. They were the ones who scheduled all my other appointments that were required or advised me when to do so. I am sure you will get the approval.

**Pattimelt** · 01-20-2017 12:22 PM

Hi, I understand your angst with waiting so long! My surgery isn't until April either, but we can do it! Good luck on getting the necessary approvals and getting scheduled. Keep us posted on your progress!

**DesertGal** · 01-20-2017 01:22 PM

I'm doing my insurance requirements right now. Surgery will be late March or April. If I can do this supervised weight loss program.... you can do it. I dropped 15 pounds in 14 days after starting it, and know it's something I HAVE to do. Just keep your eye on the ball and focus for what the future will be like! Best of luck.

**D618** · 01-20-2017 05:32 PM

Thanks everyone for the support! It mostly is my own fault... The office staff kept telling me to schedule the appointments, but I kept procrastinating! I finally did schedule the appointment, but not until early December. But, the earliest available appointment still wasn't until March. Oh well, at least I have more time to make the necessary lifestyle changes that I still need to work on. Again, thanks for the support!

**Nitasjourney** · 01-21-2017 04:19 AM

I did the same thing. In my 12 week classes they were throwing out hints about doing a psych evaluation and one support group and I thought they were just suggestions so I didn't do them. Then when I finished classes I got emails saying they were mandatory and set my self back some. Not to mention I gained some weight and he told me when I lost the 25 pounds to call and schedule surgery. So finally yesterday I got my surgery date. It's March 9th which is 46 days but those days will fly by in no time. We got this