CaliforniaJenn

I have been waiting for awhile to have a phone consultation with Dr. Kelly and haven't been able to get in touch with him. My surgery is scheduled for this coming Thursday and I'm starting to freak out a little. To the patients who have gone to him, did you do a phone consultation? Did it help calm your nerves?

I talked with him this morning and got my last minute questions answered. He seems like a really nice man.

I'm so excited for you!! I'm going to keep checking back for more updates on your experiences with Dr. Kelly!

Please add me to the July Firecrackers!! I'm getting sleeved on July 21st!

I'm a firecracker this week! My surgery is scheduled for July 21st and while I'm really excited for it...I'm still kinda scared and nervous. Thanks for all the well wishes and please add me to your prayer/happy thoughts lists!

I emailed Trish about the Oasis of Hope and she said that wasn't correct information. I'm confused...how can the doctor say he does surgery somewhere and his coordinator say something else???? I'm supposed to have a phone consultation with him this week so hopefully things get sorted out. Trish said he does his procedure at Florence Hospital.

I've been emailing her some questions for my July 21st surgery and she's been very distracted in her reponses. For example, I'll ask 2-3 questions in the email and she'll answer only 1. I feel like a brat when I'm repeatedly emailing her the same question again but I really just need some info. Maybe something is going on in her personal life and she's a little distracted?

Does anyone know the website for the hospital Dr. Kelly is now using? I want to research it on the internet.

I'll be there on July 21st! I'm sure you'll already be recovering in the hotel when I get there but I'll be right there behind you!

I am in the exact same boat as now being unsure about Dr. Kelly. I chose him because I heard lots of great things about him but the recent death has me scared too. I'm hoping more respond to this thread with information on how they chose their doctors!

I'm self pay and because of some major changes in my work schedule, I'm able to bump my surgery up sooner (was originally planning for the start of August but am now looking at mid July). My only problem is that I'm supposed to go to Las Vegas (Lost Wages) with my family during the start of the clear liquid diet right before surgery. Do you think that this is possible? I'm not a Vegas-buffet person but I'm worried restaurants there aren't going to have much in the way of Clear liquids that I can eat. What do you think? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

I'm going August 5th!

I've decided to have the surgery and since I am a self-pay (BMI is too low with no co-morbidities), I'm going to Mexico for my surgery. I'm having trouble talking to friends and family about it because they're concerned about the surgery and the idea of Mexico. Most seem to respond with, "Can't you try weight watchers again or one more diet?" I'm trying to point out that I'm 90 lbs overweight and "one more diet" is going to have the same effect as the others (lose the weight and then regain it). Any suggestions on how to explain why this surgery is going to be the start of my new life?

I'm headed to Mexico in August for my surgery but want to set up aftercare in southern California before I go. The forum has been an amazing help but I still want the option to go to support groups or meet with a nutritionist. How do I go about setting up aftercare? Do I just start calling all the doctors in my area and ask if they'll help me after I get back? I've met with a doctor in my area to see about the surgery but despite my high BMI, I'm too healthy (no co-morbidities) for my insurance to cover it. Any suggestions would be great I'm in the Long Beach area. Thank you!

Hi everyone, My name is Jenn and I'm 29. Weight has been a constant battle in my life and after doing numerous diets over the years, I'm now looking into WLS. I'm 5'6'' and weigh 230 lbs. I am going to be tested for sleep apnea soon because I have quite a few of the symptoms and need a comorbidity to make up for my BMI of 37 in order to get insurance to cover the surgery. I've looked into self-pay and going to Mexico if insurance won't cover it but I'm nervous about going to Mexico (oddly enough, I trust their doctors, just not the country) and running the risk of complications and being far from my surgeon. I've been reading through the boards and have learned quite a bit of great information from you all so I'm throwing out my line to see if anyone has any advice for someone with a "low" BMI (seems silly they consider it "low" even though it falls into the morbidly obese category) and making it through the insurance approval process. My insurance is Blue Shield of California if that helps. Any advice?

I have been doing tons of research on the lapband and I have great insurance that will cover 90% of the cost. However, my BMI is only 37 and I have no morbidities. I feel like I'm stuck because I'm not heavy enough and I'm too healthy for all of the extra weight I am carrying. Has anyone out there been approved without morbidities???

I've talked with my insurance and they won't cover me since I don't have hypertension, diabetes, or sleep apnea. Sadly, my parents are both overweight and have all of those things so I see my future in them unless I make this change in my life. I'm looking at doing self-pay in Mexico since that seems to be an affordable option and is only 2 hours away for me.

Hi! We are exactly the same size but I'm just at the start of my lap band mission and would love to keep in contact with you throughout your journey!. I have been to a seminar and am meeting with my primary care provider next week to see if I can get my insurance to pay for it. I am concerned that insurance won't pay for it since my BMI is 37 and I don't have any major health issues. Were you able to get insurance coverage? I'm jealous you already have your surgery date! Let's keep in touch!

How much is self-pay? I know it depends on the doctor but what's the general amount?