Lexie T

I've only heard of Dr. Schwietzer at Johns Hopkins-most ppl have said he is straight forward, no nonsense with not the best bedside manners, but I guess he's really good. Have you researched the whole team there?

thanks you all! I feel better now about my visit with the surgeon 7/20/2011!

I know it's late but I'm up obsessing over surgery and reading between the OH website and verticalsleevetalk...hopefully when people wake up, someone will help me! So this is what I'm pondering... I am starting my diet for insurance approval. My surgeon's staff offers a free six month plan with the dietician that the average insurace requires. However, for those who did the 90 day fast track with Aetna, I'm having difficutly finding clarity on the what that exactly entails? What were your steps? Should I see the nutritionist offered by the surgeon and also see my PCP monthly to meet the requirement? And what did you do for the excercise element? Can someone break it down for me PLEASE! I have searched and read brief posts about it, but I need something in layman's terms. Aetna's member services and the pre-certification deparment had the freaking nerve to tell me that they had no way of clarifying to me what "THEIR" policy meant! I couldn't get rid of my blank stare as I listened to them in frustration and disbelief. They said ask the surgeon... as if he wrote it! LOL Please help me...pretty please!

Oh @cali1212, Univ of Md with Dr. Kligman and Dr. Lo Mento have support groups. Google univ of md medical center bariatrics, their site has all the info. Also google Johns Hopkins bayview bariatric center, I believe they have support groups too.

I'm in the DVM, just starting the process for the pre-approval diet-I should be getting sleeved at Univ of Md in Bmore but I will be attending groups in the DC area (im sure you know that traffic on BW Parkway is a monster!) I have been to the Holy Cross program in Silver Spring and they have quite a large supportive following. Howard Univ also has a very extensive bariatric center with supports groups too.

Any experiences with this surgeon, good or bad? I have my first consultation with him and the nutritionist this Wednesday and I am so excited. I have a co-worker who got sleeved two weeks ago by this surgeon and he had complications from the staples being too tight. He's home now, but still in a lot of pain. Dr. Kligman said that was a first for him and he usually has had great success with the thousands of surgeries he's done over the past like 9 years or so. Please share if you know anything about this surgeon and/or their bariatric program. Thx!