First Consult Next Week

wwqueen31 · March 2, 2010

Hello All......

I've been lurking your site for a couple of weeks and I finally took the plunge to see about having the VSG surgery. I've been fighting w/WL for years.

I have been on Weight Watchers for the last 5 yrs (on and off) and I did lose 100 lbs but unfortunately I have put most of it back on. I'm so sick of fighting this.

What bought me to look into the sleeve surgery is that I've been having trouble with my left knee. I'm only 35 yrs old. I met with my orthopedic a week ago and found out that I have athririts and both the insides of both knees are rubbing bone on bone w/a possible torn meniscus. I had an MRI today and will see my dr again on Monday.

At any rate, I finally submitted my registration last week to a dr in Gonzales, LA to see if I could get my insurance to cover the surgery when I found out that I had a medical necessity. Unfortunately, the insurance will not be paying for the surgery so it will be out of pocket.

Since that was the case, I decided to hand pick my own doctor and I wanted it done in Lafayette, LA.

I am a little nervous but excited @ the same time. Are there any tips that I should be aware of for my first consult? I do know 2 people (who are person friends of mine) who had the surgery done w/this particular doctor and have done great.

Thanks for reading!

SParkle · March 2, 2010

Hi Carrie and welcome.

Like you I'm just preparing for my first consult, tomorrow...

I've read a whole load of information both on this site and around the internet and have come up with a list of questions to ask the surgeons. I know I'll forget the questions if they aren't written down so I'll just print them off and make notes when talking to them.

I have 2 booked, one tomorrow and another on the 15th, so I can compare the two and see who I feel comfortable with.

I know I'd rather see at least 2 surgeons to get the different opinions and to have something to compare.

Good luck with your consult.

wwqueen31 · March 2, 2010

Sparkle....

I started a 3 ring binder about a month ago when I started looking into the surgery. I printed off several pages and made notes as well to ask the doctor. I know next Tuesday I will see the nutritionist first, watch a video then see the DR. Good luck with your consults:)

kkandrod · March 3, 2010

Hey Carrie! I'm not sleeved, YET ;-) I'm just starting the process and next week have checkups with my Primary Care doc and my OB/GYN since I have PCOS and hope to have both of them write whatever kind of letters have to be written when submitting all the paperwork for approval. Then, I guess it's on to meeting with surgeons. I'm having FAITH that all the doors will be opened for me when it gets down to the nitty gritty of getting insurance approval. I don't want any other kind of surgery so I know that my docs are going to have to make a killer case for why VSG is the only kind I should have and then God's going to smile on that killer case and soften the hearts of the "approvers" at the insurance company, lol.

Anyway, I saw you were from Louisiana so I wanted to say hey since I'm a LA girl too :-) All my stuff will be going on in Shreveport unless I find out there's just a world renowned VSG surgeon somewhere else in the state, lol. Somebody speak up if there is!!

Best wishes on everything!! Can't wait to see all your updates and I bet you'll be in surgery before you know it with you being self pay and not having to jump through the insurance hoops!! Be blessed!!

Krystal

wwqueen31 · March 4, 2010

Hi Krystal!

Yep, I'm from Opelousas. Do you live in Shreveport?

I wish you well with all of your testing and seeking approval. I'm sure everything will be just fine. It's nice to find someone else around here to talk to.

I'm a little nervous as I don't like Dr's to begin with but I'm so ready to get on with my life.

Good luck and keep in touch!

kkandrod · March 4, 2010

Hey Carrie. I'm from Central LA, bout an hour away from Alexandria. Are there any docs that do the VSG in Alexandria, Lake Charles, Lafayette that you've heard outstanding things about? The ones in Shreveport haven't done that many VSG's and that's worrying me a little. Although the one I've spoken with thus far over the phone is a general surgeon and has done partial gastrectomies for reasons other than weight loss for years. LOL, I'm just sooooo concerned with making sure I'm in the best hands. I have United Health Care through hubby's job and I'm thinking that there are other docs in Louisiana that would be considered in network besides just the ones in Shreveport. I'm an hour from Alex, 2 from Lake Charles and 3 from Lafayette so having it done down that way would still be doable for after care and such.

Anyway, let us know how everything goes! I know it will all be great for ya! Looking forward to getting to know ya!

God Bless,

Krystal

wwqueen31 · March 4, 2010

Wow,

I lived in Alexandria for couple of yrs and graduated from NSU in 2001.

I have BCBS and they won't cover me. I think it's ridiculous. But anyway, I originally was going to Gonzales, LA to Dr Drake Bellengar but have decided to go to Dr Gary Stevens in Lafayette, LA. He has operated on 2 people that I know and they have done remarkably well thus far.

I do know that there is a Carson Cunningham and a Dr Chu as well. All 3 of the doctors from what I gather also go to Lake Charles as well.

YOLANDA240 · March 4, 2010

Hey Carrie, I had my first consult with my surgeon and his team I'm 35 and my knee trouble amoung other things help me make up mind regarding weight loss surgery. I'm just starting this journey it's nice to know forums like this are out there.

kkandrod · March 4, 2010

Hey Carrie, I talked to some of Dr. Stevens office staff in Lafayette today. She was really nice. She couldn't give me any stats on how many sleeves he's done and his leak or complication rates but I gave her my email and asked if she could send them to me later. She said she's gonna try and get some things together. So, that's cool.

You know, I wish you could just set up appts to meet with these docs instead of having to go through all this seminar stuff. I'm so impatient, LOL. I want to meet with the docs FIRST and get my questions answered then have a chance to pray about them and see where I feel like I'm meant to go. But, it's not seeming to work that way, lol. Why can't it be as easy as meeting with pediatricians was when I was searching before my son was born? THAT was simple, call, set up a meeting, talk and ask questions for 30 mins and done. Oh well, guess I'll just keep on hurrying up and waiting ;-)

SParkle · March 8, 2010

Hi there Carrie

Good luck for tomorrow.... my consult went well... chatted first to the dietitian, then Psych, then the surgeon... My next one is next Monday, so I can then at least compare and contrast the two.

Kathy