Starting Bariatric Surgery consult, Timeline questions

I am a Mayo employee in Eau Claire. I had my bypass surgery April 1, 2025. My time line was about 9 months. I could have had my surgery in February but work wasn’t able to allow me to take off at that time due to many changes going on. The next available was April 1. As soon as my primary out in my referral I was getting calls to set up appointments.
I will write more, my break is up and I have to go back to work. ☺️

How exciting! I hope your recovery time is going well!!

I understand that the Start Point classes (the group session, endo, and nutrition) all need to be completed first. Then I can schedule the Bariatric consult. Where there any other appts that needed to be met? (I have mayo insurance, so I am eager to know ALLL)

@hkramer
My surgery was over 10 years ago, so the program has changed over time. Seeing there are lifestyle changes necessary to be succcessful, the pre-surgery classes are very important.

Mayo Health Systems locations that do Bariatric Surgery program each have information on their web site. I believe their programs are very similar. The Bariatric team will arrange all the necessary appointments and may differ for each patient depending on their medical situation.

Mayo Health System Bariatric Weight-loss Information Session,
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/topics/weight-loss-and-bariatric-surgery
Mankato has video about their program and process that can be helpful for anyone looking at surgery at any location.
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/mankato/services-and-treatments/bariatric-surgery
The Eau Claire site has good description of their program and classes required. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/eau-claire/services-and-treatments/weight-management

Hope this helps,

what were your "steps" to getting insurance on board with covering it, if i may ask? (Assuming you have Mayo insurance) I have my phone call tomorrow with Rochester but wanted to know what your requirements were?

It seemed to go really quickly in getting Mayo employee insurance to cover. I remember meeting with the therapist, nutritionist, and my surgeon…by the time I met with her, insurance had approved coverage for the surgery as long as I went through the program which took me about 9 months. Approval took about a month or less.

I have my Endo, Therapy, and dietician appointments on September 19th in Rochester. Were you able to do the rest of the 12 week program virtual (therapy/dietician)?

Eager to start the journey!

@hkramer
I participate in the post surgery support groups from Rochester Mayo and they are held virtually. I did have to have an evaluation prior to starting group that was in person. The therapy appointment you have scheduled might be your in person consultation. The only issue might be if person running group is only licensed in MN, if so all virtual attendees have to be physically located in MN during Zoom call. Maybe some of the other providers have licenses in multi states. I am sure there other patients not physically located in MN.

If virtual is not an option, maybe you can take class from MHS in Eau Claire but still have surgery in Rochester. Many years ago before virtual meeting, Mayo Rochester let me take classes in Wabasha which was not a Mayo location, but they used same class material.

You should know more after your Sept appointments.

I'm hoping they have other options! La Crosse no longer does the surgery, so my next bet was Rochester. I don't want to have to travel to Eau Claire every week/month but it that is what needs to happen, I hope someone will tell me before I get too far into Rochester's Program and have to start over!