Dr. Deol's Dear John Letter

[April 0]

ANYONE BANDED BY DR. DEOL....I got an unusual letter in the mail from my insurance company asking me to contact them. I called them back today and they want to meet with me about the bariatric claims that Dr. Deol submitted. I asked them what exactly it was about. He would not go into details, but said he was a 'field investigator' with Blue Cross and needed to meet with me to go over the claims Dr. Deol submitted.....Has anyone else had this happen to them??????

I didn't get a letter but I was talking to Dr. Deol a couple months ago and she was investigating some billing issues herself. It's probably along the same lines. What was happening was the hospital was billing a Dr. Fee and so was she. Problem was the hospital should not have been billing a fee, so it looks as if Dr. Deol was trying to double dip. Let us know how that goes.

Maria, nice to hear from you again. Where have you been? Doing Ok? Are you going to the groups anymore? I won't be there this month. My work Christmas party is the same night.

Well, everyone... Good luck finding a new Dr. Sounds like a lot of you are going with Dr. K. I choose Dr. Meguid. I liked him, he was very nice. I just hope this all works out for us in the end. I just keep thinking, we already did the hard part now we just need to stay on track... Right?

[juno610 1]

Hi April!! I missed seeing you these past couple months -- I can't believe I missed two meetings in a row. Looks like I will miss you again this month! I missed October because my sister had her baby that night, and I missed November because I was out of town. I do still plan on coming until they're over. BUT, I hope some of us will still get together regularly on our own.

I was going to pick Meguid, but when I called the girl told me I didn't need to come in unless I needed an adjustment. I was a little put off by that because I'd like to actually meet the guy and talk about things -- especially since I'm trying to get pregnant. I just called Krause's office today and left a message but didn't hear back. I'm striking out everywhere! I posted about Meguid on this board, but it seems you are the only person who's been to him! I was really hoping to get more feedback. Seems like people do like Krause, and he is a lot closer to home, so I'm kinda leaning that way.

Keep in touch!

Maria

[BandZski 1]

Rose, I'll keep you in my prayers. You have been through so much, you deserve to have your surgery as planned in January. Good luck with all your tests and appointments.

[RoseNewLife 0]

Rose, I'll keep you in my prayers. You have been through so much, you deserve to have your surgery as planned in January. Good luck with all your tests and appointments.

Thank-you so much for all your support and prayers Marilyn! It is very much appreciated. I'm still working towards my goal of being banding in January (or even early February, I had a few appointments get delayed). I had a scare with possible breast cancer but it turned out to be ok (something called a fibroadenoma, no type of cancer at all). Praise the Lord! So I'm happy and healthy and eager to get my lap-band and start a new life!

I hope you are enjoying the holidays, and everything is going well for you! Please keep in touch, and may you have a happed and blessed New Year!

[BandZski 1]

Thank-you so much for all your support and prayers Marilyn! It is very much appreciated. I'm still working towards my goal of being banding in January (or even early February, I had a few appointments get delayed). I had a scare with possible breast cancer but it turned out to be ok (something called a fibroadenoma, no type of cancer at all). Praise the Lord! So I'm happy and healthy and eager to get my lap-band and start a new life!

I hope you are enjoying the holidays, and everything is going well for you! Please keep in touch, and may you have a happed and blessed New Year!

Rose, I am so glad to hear it wasn't breast cancer. Now you are on your way to bandland!!!! It took me 10 months to get to surgery, so don't lose hope if it takes another month. It'll just make you all the more ready. It's a wonderful tool. I'm so happy I have mine. Time for a fill though. Sugery foods kept following me during the holidays.... when I wasn't looking, they would jump in my mouth! Yikes!

[RoseNewLife 0]

Bandland, here I come! :whoo: now that Christmas Day is over, it seems a little closer. I'm both excited and nervous, but definitely more excited . . . whatever (possible) troubles the band may bring, I know it's much better than feeling uncomfortable, unhappy and unhealthy with all this weight.

Sugary foods followed you too? OMG! I knew those Christmas Cookies were out to get me, and I have no restriction or resistance to them, lol. Proof now that I'm not the only one who knows those things jump into your mouth! January: diet, exercise, and the lap-band, here I come!

Good luck with your fill! I think you are going to the Port Huron doctors, yes? They sound awesome. I would have gone with them, 'cept the drive woulda caused some problems for me. I would have loved going back to Port Huron though . . . lots of good memories, I was born at Port Huron Hospital, and grew up there.

[BandZski 1]

Hi Rose,

Did you get a surgery date yet? Good luck! Let me know when your surgery is, so I can keep you in my prayers. The Lap-Band is wonderful. You'll be happy you did it. I'm getting my second fill tomorrow in PH. I had to cancel my last appointment because of car trouble. I'm ready for a fill and to start having greater losses again. It's been slow this last month.

[MamaJava 1]

Just a suggestion: I was banded @ Forest Health Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti by the most amazing Band surgeon out there. Dr. Jon Schram. I highly...HIGHLY recommend him. He's one of the top teaching physicians for the lap band around the country. He's the top dude who teaches all the other dudes how to do it. They are an amazing facility. Check them out if you get the chance.

[RoseNewLife 0]

Hi Rose,

Did you get a surgery date yet? Good luck! Let me know when your surgery is, so I can keep you in my prayers. The Lap-Band is wonderful. You'll be happy you did it. I'm getting my second fill tomorrow in PH. I had to cancel my last appointment because of car trouble. I'm ready for a fill and to start having greater losses again. It's been slow this last month.

Hi Marilyn!

You're so sweet, thanks for keeping me in your prayers, I really appreciate it! Things have been much slower than I had hoped for, but I'm still toughing it out and hanging in there! I had hoped for a January surgery date, but since I changed doctors of course, I did have to see a few new ones at Beaumont hospital's Health Center. I saw the dietitian, who went over my current eating patterns, and gave me the information for my pre-op diet. Then I saw a weight loss doctor just yesterday at Beaumont's Weight Lost Center . . . she'll be working with me, watching my health during my weight loss. I am LOVING all of Beaumont hospital's help . . . the weight lost center is fabulous . . . I can get help with nutrition (and they have free classes) exercise (I will also be seeing an exercise physiologist), support groups, counseling (if one needs it) . . . just awesome. It's not all just the lap-band of course, they help all kinds of people with weight loss . . . people just wanting to be on a program, the gastric bypass, diabetics, etc. It's a great place. I know for myself that I'll want lots of help with diet, nutrition, and exercise after the lap-band procedure is done . . . so this is working out great for me. I'm kinda glad I switched from Dr. Deol. For $800, all she offered was a monthly support group, and it was required. At this place, I paid $600 (NOT required, but highly recommended) - and I get life-time help with diet, nutrition, exercise, support group, and counseling (if I want it). Good stuff, all the way.

Ok . . . I'm sorry if this got long, and too much info! I'm really rather excited. As for my surgery date, it looks like I'm gonna be a February lap-bander instead of January, but it's ok, I'm still moving forward at my own pace. I had my last doctor visit yesterday, they drew some lab work, and once they get those results, I can set up a surgery day with Dr. Krause! So, hopefully in the next week or so I'll know . . . I'll be sure to post here when I do . . . please keep me in your prayers that it happens soon! Thanks so much!

I hope you are enjoying the Port Huron doctors! I hear so much good from there too! Did you get your fill? I'll keep you in my prayers as well, keep in touch and let me know how you are doing!

Big Hugs!

[addJ0y 0]

Just a suggestion: I was banded @ Forest Health Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti by the most amazing Band surgeon out there. Dr. Jon Schram. I highly...HIGHLY recommend him. He's one of the top teaching physicians for the lap band around the country. He's the top dude who teaches all the other dudes how to do it. They are an amazing facility. Check them out if you get the chance.

I was so excited to see your post...when my insurance gets approved (AAGGHH) Dr. Schram will do my surgery in Ypsilanti, also!! I only met him the one time at consult, he seemed really nice.

If you don't mind me asking, what was it like? No detail too small!! How long were you at the hospital, how did they treat you there, are you in pain, what should I expect...etc,etc..LOL I need to know it all!!

[MamaJava 1]

joyaddison: go ahead and send me a message and we'll talk further! Glad to see you're going to the "best of the best" as far as band docs go! Seriously...he really is.

[BandZski 1]

Hey Rose,

It was good to hear from you. I'm so glad that you are so thrilled about Beaumont. That's so important! You are gonna do great. Another month isn't a lot to wait in the scheme of things. It seems like forever when you are trying to get approved though. I hope you end up loving your band as much as I love mine. I got a fill on Thursday. He filled it and had me drink Water, it HURT. So he unfilled it slightly right away. I was fine on liquids for 12 hours. Then I had apple sauce. It was fine. I had a Protein Shake for Breakfast the next morning and some coffee. It was fine. I had another Protein shake in the afternoon and I felt really tight. I was trying to decide whether or not to call for another slight unfill. I decided to stick with liquid for another day and see if I was just swollen. I tend to hold a lot of water. I think it's fine now. I'm being very careful with what I am eating though. It's wonderful to get full on a few bites!

Keep in touch,

Marilyn

[hmwlg100 0]

Does anyone know how to get in touch with her or where we can get a copy of all our records

[juno610 1]

They had wanted everyone to pick up their records before she left (back in October). I'm not sure what the process would be now that the office is actually closed. There might be a way to contact her via the old website (Michigan Bariatrics Surgery Center of Excellence P.C Lap-Band). Good luck!

[hmwlg100 0]

thanks they actually removed all the contact info from the web site and i cannot find an email address or phone number to her new location in Chicago