sleevers in Chicago southland

[LawDiva312 33]

Thanks for the post. I talked to insurance today. My max out of pocket is $2K and I've already paid out $1K this year. I can handle $1K. I just wasn't sure how my insurance worked b/c I have an 80/20 policy. But after I've met my annual $2K they pay 100%. Whew! Going for my consult tomorrow. So excited!

[Sherry77 166]

Hi all,

I'm located in Waukegan, on the border of Wisconsin but still considered a Chicago suburb. I grew up near O'Hare Airport, and I will be having my surgery at Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove Village on Monday July 30th. It is nice to meet ya all. Please feel free to send a friend request. I am trying to build a support group through this process. I am nearing my surgery date. I am excited, and scared as hell.

[LawDiva312 33]

Hi all' date='

I'm located in Waukegan, on the border of Wisconsin but still considered a Chicago suburb. I grew up near O'Hare Airport, and I will be having my surgery at Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove Village on Monday July 30th. It is nice to meet ya all. Please feel free to send a friend request. I am trying to build a support group through this process. I am nearing my surgery date. I am excited, and scared as hell.[/quote']

Good luck! Who is your surgeon?

[LawDiva312 33]

Consult with Dr. Wallace went great. I am too long from breastbone to belly button to do single-incision, but that's ok. Now I wait to hear from the coordinator to set up the psych eval etc.

[Sherry77 166]

Thanks :-) My surgeon is Dr. Rantis out of the Kane Center in Hoffman Estates.

[Sherry77 166]

Hi LawDiva312 ....I'm also starting out with the same Dr. group....I'm had my consult with Dr. Rantis at his Hoffman Estates office - really like him - he's partners with Dr. Wallace. My friend had her surgery last year by Dr. Guske and she is doing great...down over 100 lbs and she looks and feels awesome. No complications at all. I'll be having my surgery at St. Alexis hopefully in September. So far, everyone in their office is great. I've gone through the psych evaluation with Dr. Crane and I go for my preop dietary meeting on the 8th. I also have BCBS and those two items are required before they can submit the paperwork for approval. I've started scheduling some of the after approval appointments because there's a wait time...you have to meet with a pulminologist, do a post op dietary meeting and you have to attend one of their support groups that they hold on Sat mornings. Oh ya, I had an upper GI and a gallbladder/liver ultrasound because I was having issues - so far all is ok I guess. Do you know when you might be having your surgery?

Hi Nicks Mom.. Dr. Rantis is my surgeon as well :-)

[LawDiva312 33]

Hi everyone! I've just started this WLS ball rolling in the last month and am already thankful to this group for all the info and support.

I would really love the opportunity to talk to some post-oppers in person to ask some questions and chat about the surgery and life thereafter. Does anyone live in the southwest suburbs that would be interested in meeting for coffee?

[Sherry77 166]

Hi everyone! I've just started this WLS ball rolling in the last month and am already thankful to this group for all the info and support.

I would really love the opportunity to talk to some post-oppers in person to ask some questions and chat about the surgery and life thereafter. Does anyone live in the southwest suburbs that would be interested in meeting for coffee?

LawDiva, I'm not a post opper yet, but I will be very soon. I have many questions as well, therefore i would love to join if possible. I'm all over the suburbs, as my friends and family are scattered everywhere.

[LawDiva312 33]

LawDiva' date=' I'm not a post opper yet, but I will be very soon. I have many questions as well, therefore i would love to join if possible. I'm all over the suburbs, as my friends and family are scattered everywhere.[/quote']

Absolutely! Any other pre-oppers who would like to come would be great too! I'm sure some of you have questions I wouldn't think to ask. The more the merrier

[Kat Crowder 34]

Kat - did you have your surgery at Alexian Bros or St. Alexis? I have a friend that had it at St. Alexis and they were wonderful. I haven't decided which hospital yet. Also, is the recovery easier with the single-incision? I was told that I may not be a good candidate for it since I'm longer from my belly-button to my stomach area and the instruments cannot reach.

I went to Alexian Bros. and everyone was very nice. It's just a little closer for me, I didn't really have a particular preference. Yeah, I'm a bit on the shrimpy side so I was a good candidate for the single site. I do believe the recovery is easier with just one incision, but that's just based on general logic. After a few weeks everyone's at about the same level.

[Kat Crowder 34]

Consult with Dr. Wallace went great. I am too long from breastbone to belly button to do single-incision, but that's ok. Now I wait to hear from the coordinator to set up the psych eval etc.

I'm glad your consult went well! I just got home from work about half an hour ago, after staying at work 'til 1:30 this morning to make sure I had my project done today; I was going to let you know that I thought it was torso-length that made the difference in the single-incision, but apparently I'm too late to do so! I really like the psychologist who does the evals at Hoffman Estates - Dr. Crane. He also does the education classes and moderates the support groups.

My one negative about the whole experience was I do not trust their insurance coordinator Maria. I think she's very overworked, but she doesn't pay attention and she's sure she's always right. I had several delays because she insisted on doing things her way. She also refused to call me on the phone number I asked her to call me at 6 different times, delaying things further. Just keep an eye on your insurance processing, and always call the insurance company to follow up after she says she's done something.

Keep in touch!

[Sherry77 166]

Hi all.. I'm getting my surgery done by Dr.Rantis out of Alexian Brothers on July 30th. When you say single incision, is it still done laparoscopically?

[Gijane2012 9]

Good luck Sherry77,

Keep us posted on your progress. I am about 25 days after you. Surgery in Melrose Park at Westlake Hospital. This site has been awesome for me in this journey. I never utilized a support system/network before....until now. I love it and I hope you do too.

[Sherry77 166]

Good luck Sherry77' date='

Keep us posted on your progress. I am about 25 days after you. Surgery in Melrose Park at Westlake Hospital. This site has been awesome for me in this journey. I never utilized a support system/network before....until now. I love it and I hope you do too.[/quote']

Thanks Gijane2012... This is the first support group I have used as well. I also love it. It is nice to know so many others know what it is

Ike going through this. Good Luck to you, and keep me posted. I grew up a couple towns over from Melrose Park :-)

[Kat Crowder 34]

Hi all.. I'm getting my surgery done by Dr.Rantis out of Alexian Brothers on July 30th. When you say single incision, is it still done laparoscopically?

Yes, Dr. Wallace did a Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) for me, through my belly button. I'm 9 weeks out and have a teeny tiny leetle scar inside my belly button that's visible IN my belly button, and it might show a little bit when I get slender if my skin tightens up. He also had to put a liver retractor in at the top of my abdomen, which was a puncture that healed really quick.

There are videos of this kind of surgery on youtube, it's actually pretty cool to watch. You need to have a fairly short torso for them to be able to get the instruments up all the way.