Bay Area CA

[parksonrocks 0]

Hi all, I'm researching Doctors in the SF bay area. So far I have heard good things about Dr. Wetter and have done some research with Dr. Feng. Just wondering if anyone has anything to add. Also has anyone from the bay area got their surgery done in Mexico and found a doctor for fills in the bay area? Thank in advance!

Tawnya

[juliegeraci 7]

Dr. Robert Mckeen South Bay Bariatrics South Bay Bariatrics Home Page

He is wonderful!

[mommy3boys 0]

I second with Dr. McKeen, he is great.

I had my band done in Mexico with Dr. Kuri in 2003 and Dr. McKeen does my fills.

Ana

[parksonrocks 0]

Great thanks for the info!!

[Moopymom 0]

Dr. Campos at UCSF. Banded on 10/2/07 and down 51 pounds since I started this journey!

[MacMadame 81]

I'm also looking. Normally I use Palo Alto Medical Foundation for everything and have for over 10 years. I love them. Had my 2nd kid there, do all my lab work and tests there, see all their specialists when I need to. I've never had a bad experience with them in all that time, either.

But according to their web site, they only do RNY and I do *not* want that. I'm kind of flummoxed to tell the truth. I had assumed I just had to make an appointment with my PCP, tell her I had decided on the surgery, and then I'd be slipped right into their system, no muss, no fuss.

Now I have to worry about finding someone good, if they are in my insurance network, etc. Anyone else here who primarily uses PAMF and has had this surgery and can advise me?

[KrzyKrys 0]

I'm also a member of PAMF and am still trying to decide between RNY and lap band. A therapist at PAMF said she's seen referals to Pamela Foster at Mills Peninsula Hospital who does lap band. I'm wondering if anyone has used her or knows anything about her?

Thanks

Christine

[MyTurn 0]

I didn't use Dr. Foster, but I was moving towards surgery with Dr. Barry Sanchez in the same office. My insurance changed and I have to start over with a new dr. I would reccomend Dr. Sanchez. I thought he was wonderful when I met him. Let me ask as many questions as I wanted, didn't rush the appointments. Etc.

[MacMadame 81]

I started with Dr. Foster but have to change because of insurance issues, too. Now I'm looking at Dr. Estakhri in Pleasanton. It's a little closer to home but a lot farther from work.

[lizzy h 0]

ok here is my take in 2004 I started my Journey at Thinner Future and was lucky enough to be scheduled with Dr Wetter. I thought I was going to have RNY, but Wetter told me about the band and suggested that. Back then my starting weight was 294 LBS.....Yvette in his office sent through my request and everything went smoothly with very fast approval. I was on track to have surgery about 5 months after my initial visit. Dr Wetter is a sticker, like Dr Foster about losing weight before surgery. My belief is that in the SF Bay Area there is probably no better surgeon then Dr Wetter. BUT A GOOD SURGEON IS ONLY PART OF THE EQUATION. For the lapband you are going to need follow up. I was thoroughly enamored with Dr Wetter's experience, success and credentials......but he toyed with me in the most horrible way and as luck wouyld have it I opted to change surgeons. I went across the bay to Alta Bates. The office was not slick like Thinner Future. The surgeon was an Indian version of Marcus Welby and I was going to be his 1st lap band. He had LOADS of RNY's and other laproscopic experience, but no bands....I took a leap of faith and it could not have worked out better. I still attend the Mills support meetings the 1st Saturday of every month because they are the best in my opinion (I have done Kaiser's and the Alta Bates ones, but love the Mills ones). I have friends that have used Foster and they all love her. These are RNY patients - and Foster WILL CANCEL your surgery date of you do not lose as much pre op as she says.......My oldest and dearest friend used Wetter for her band (agaist my advice). She too thought he was the most capable in the bay area, but post op she switched to my guy in Oakland because of his bedside manner.....more by personal message if you want.....come to the support meeting this Saturday at Mills

[MacMadame 81]

I'm curious. If Dr. Upadhyay started doing bands in 2004, why has he only done 50 of them by now. That's about 10-15 a year. Is the program very small or do they focus almost exclusively on RnY?

ETA I forgot to say that I had heard that Dr. Wetter's bedside manner left a bit to be desired. Dr. Foster is supposed to be "no nonsense" which is fine by me but I've never heard that she jerked anyone around or was mean. I can take no nonsense but I can't take being a jerk.

Edited May 26, 2008 by MacMadame

[lizzy h 0]

1st UPADHYAY...I am not sure if Upadhyay has only doen 50, but I know his partner is more fond of the RNY and now the sleeve so their practice does not equally offer the band unlike thinner future.....also Thinner Future is ALL ABOUT WLS....Dr Upadhyay does other surgeries so his practice is all about laproscopic surgery....now here is where it gets touchy......please to readers I am not trying to be offensive......the demographics of Upadhyay's practice seemed to be more patients of color and 300+ lbs, and whacked in the head. THIS WAS MY PERSONAL OBSERVATION. Again my personal observation has been that when you more the 150 lbs to lose the band may not be the best fit.....if you are looking for fast and tangible results to keep you focused then the band my not be the way to go either, and if your culture has foods that would respond better to malabsorbtion then restriction then then band might not be a good fit there either. And the final thought about Upadhyay's demographics.....the culture again, "big momma's" are not uncommon or discriminated against on Oakland (the neighborhood). Unlike the 'beautiful people" on the Penninsulia where outward image (thin thighs) are more prevelent......About FOSTER and Wetter in the next reply

[lizzy h 0]

About Foster. I need to be fair. I have NEVER seen or met her. My BFF used her for her RNY, and LOVES her. At the support group all the post ops love her......I believe she is direct and no nonsense. But her reputation is that if she says lose 12 lbs and you lose 11.5 she will cancel the date. It is just black and white. It is heartless because we are so emotionally invested in getting this surgery - but is it fair. She tells you exactly what YOU need to do and then holds you to it.....Wetter.....hmmm. Here I do have experience. Agian propbaly the best pair of hands in the Bay Area, and I think he does an amazing job of assessing who should have the sleeve, band or RXY.......but make no mistake about it you are there to make his success rates look good - its not about you, its about HIM. He did a MAJOR headFu*k with me, and it took me 2 months to figure it out and then I was out of there. My oldest friend (not the best friend mentioned above) used Wetter. He REFUSED post op to give her a fill. She had not lost enought weight with an empty band to earn a fill.......other ppl at the Mills group have had similar stories, and yet others say they havenot dropped a sinlge lb and he has given them fills......I donno, I just got lucky finding Upadyay, and his coordinator, Helen is amazing, and great with the insurance companies......BTW if you decide to see Upadhyay think of the Rodolph Christmas movie and the Island of misfits....I know its unkind, but that is what his office staff reminds me of, none of the polish and shine of Thinner Future, but warm and caring and talented and worth their weight in gold

[MacMadame 81]

1st UPADHYAY...I am not sure if Upadhyay has only doen 50

That's what his patient coordinator told me. Now this was 2 months ago so maybe he's done a few more since then. If he does other kinds of surgeries, that would explain the low count. I had assumed he was new to it when I heard the 50 number.

I was happy with my choice of Dr. Foster, but now with my insurance issues, I think I won't be able to use her. I've been trying to get through this month at work and then I'm going to start working the insurance again and then I'll know for sure.

The program at Valley Care (my current second choice) looks good to me, but all their classes start in the afternoon. The latest is 5:00 pm and one is at 3:300pm! If I were working near them, that would be okay, but I work on the Peninsula so that means leaving work hours early. With 3 pre-op classes, the intro seminar and 2 post-op classes, that's 6 times I have to leave work early, not counting any pre-op testing or other post-op appointments. That's not practical.

Then the monthly support group meets at 5:30pm so I'd probably never make that either.

I'm really annoyed that my medical group only does RnY and that the hospital I live a mere 6 blocks from doesn't do WLS at all. Not just annoyed though. I worry about having a medical emergency and going to the ER and them not being able or willing to treat me.

[lizzy h 0]

You can tell that I am the biggest Upadhyay fan - although I think that people need to pick who the "fit" best with. Upadhyay's office is really laid back...you might HAVE to attend one preop meeting - they do a week night and a Saturday once a month...there is the usual shrink consult and I don't know about the dietiation....He also REQUIRES an upper GI pre op....Thinner Future does not. I believe self pay for a Lap with Upadhyay is 10K....and since he is not sooooooo popular you can get a relatively quick surgery date once you are approved, or can gather the funds......post op is the support group I go to 3 x's a year. It is also offered 2x's a month. I just prefer a bigger group and can relate better to the people at Mills....Upadhay's people sort of need more traditional therapy about other issues - a lot more then the "typical" love affair with food