Experiences at NYU?

[lovekatz1975 1]

A lot of insurance companies require it. Fortunately, mine didn't.

[wsw27 0]

I had my appointment with Huberman at the end of March 2008. I have an appointment with Dr. Kurian on May 15th. Right now, I think it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to get an appt. I am seeing the nutritionist the same day. I think if you want an appt with Ren or Fielding you have go for twice once for the appt with the nutritionist and then make a separate appointment to see the surgeon -- but call the office and check. They are very helpful. I just asked a question in another thread about the time to get a surgery date at NYU. Looks like that will run about 4 to 6 weeks as well; depends how long it takes to get insurance approval. My insurance does require 6 month diet, which I've completed already. Hope to get a surgery date for June 2008.

[Bigband62 0]

Wendy-

You are correct that usually Ren/Fielding have you meet with the nutritionist first, then come back to meet with them. However, in my experience, once I met with Dr. Ren, she offered me a surgery date 2 weeks out, which was too quick for me, as I was travelling on business and could not do the 2 week liquid diet at that time. You may be able to get in quicker than you think.

By the way, all three of them are superb physicians, so you are fine with any of them doing your surgery. Good luck!

[Guest BiCoastal]

I was rather disappointed when I went to my nutritionist appointment this week only to have to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kurian 4 weeks from now for my consult. When my PCP called them over a month ago they said my surgeon was dr fielding (it was like I was assigned to him some how) but when I went for my nutritionist appointment it was like no one had a clue what was going on and I had to make an appointment for my consult so I took the first one I could get which happens to be Dr. Kurian which is another 4 weeks out. I'm going to burst into tears:crying:

[lovekatz1975 1]

I don't know Dr. Kurian, but if she's working with Drs. Ren and Fielding, she's got to be good.

I wanted Dr. Fielding, but his first appointment was 2 months away. So I got an appointment with Dr. Ren. She's a wonderful doctor, but I honestly wanted Dr. Fielding because he's got the band too.

[Chrisann 0]

My PCP recommended Dr. Ren, back in June 2007 and that is who I stuck it out for.

MY nutritionist consult was beginning of September 2007. My initial consult with Dr. Ren was first week of October 2007 or last week of September, and my first surgery date was in January 2008. It was late December 2007 when my surgery date was changed to December 31, 2007.

If you want Fielding, and don't mind the wait, I would stick it out for him. You have to go into surgery feeling confident in your surgeon and if your gut is telling you Fielding, call back and get an appt with him.

Edited May 5, 2008 by Chrisann

[NYCKris 0]

I was banded by Dr. Fielding on April 24th, 2008. I am 2 weeks out tomorrow and I get to start eating mushy foods!

My insurance required the 6 months of PCP visits with him documenting my attempts at weight loss. In that time, I was able to schedule all of my appointments and it gave me time to be REALLY SURE this was right for me. The 2 weeks of pre-op liquids were not fun, and the 2 weeks since haven't been so great, but I have found that you can add Water or milk to almost anything to make soup!

I have only the highest praise for the team at NYU. In another forum I detailed my experience if you want to see what all happened the day of surgery! I definitely recommend the program at NYU to anyone who is considering this. Everyone was awesome.

:cursing:

[epm316 0]

NYCKris- It's great to hear all went smoothly. I am having my surgery with Dr. Fielding on 5/22. I do have a ? Did he visit you before and after the surgery? I had a few surgeries in NYU in the past year and some surgeon do and others don't. I was just wondering if he sees his patients.

Thanks,

Helen

[elle 1]

Helen, My husband is also having his surgery with Dr. Fielding on 5/22. We will look for you in the waiting area. When I had my surgery on Jan 31, I saw Dr. Fielding before the surgery in the waiting room and he chatted with me. He did come to see me in the recovery room and told me that everything went well. Good Luck, its very exciting. My husband started his pre-op diet today.

[Guest BiCoastal]

OMG. I met with Dr. Kurian today and I'm SOOOOooo very glad I did. She is fabulous! She is very personable, funny and treated me like a human being and not cattle shifting from office to office. I also met with the surgical consultant and the payment coordinator - My date is May 30th!!! I can't believe it. I'm excited and yet starting to be terrified. For all my whining about taking to long now that I have an actual date I'm putting on the brakes. Amazing how the mind works. At any rate I highly recommend Dr. Kurian. Oh btw she did Al Roker and Star's bands too. :thumbup:

[epm316 0]

Helen, My husband is also having his surgery with Dr. Fielding on 5/22. We will look for you in the waiting area. When I had my surgery on Jan 31, I saw Dr. Fielding before the surgery in the waiting room and he chatted with me. He did come to see me in the recovery room and told me that everything went well. Good Luck, its very exciting. My husband started his pre-op diet today.

Hi Elle,

Thanks for answering my question. I will for you on the 22nd. I will let you know what time they shedule me. I am hoping very early. How are you doing with the band?

[wsw27 0]

Thank you for your post about your meeting with Dr. Kurian last week. Good luck with your surgery. I was thrilled to hear that you got a surgery date so quickly. I figured I would have to a wait over a month, but perhaps not. Please keep us posted about your progress. I meet with Dr. Kurian on 5/15.

[Guest BiCoastal]

I was scheduled for my pre op testing yesterday - something that should take between 2-3 hours took me over 5 hours. I arrived for my appointment, on time, and found out that someone at the surgeon's office hadn't entered my information into the system so I had to wait. I called the surgeon's office and was told that the person that did that wasn't in for another hour, my request of having someone else do it as I was waiting down stairs already was replied to by putting me on hold and not coming back. I called back 20 minutes later and was told someone was working on it. I called back another 30 mintues later and was told it was finished but the PAT testing room said it wasn't. Another 20 minutes goes by before its finally entered. I spent over 2 1/2 hours waiting for someone to enter my info just to get started, I couldn't leave the waiting room to get a snack or Water or anything because they may just call my name. After that it was smooth sailing. The nurse I had was named Sue, she was great and the testing only took me about 2 1/2 hours total. I really love my surgeon Dr. Kurian but some of the office staff are really getting on my nerves. :woot: