Re: Bum- Question for Danna>?Part 2

[Guest guest]

M,

They are based at North Shore Pvte Hosp which is just behind Royal

North Shore at St Leonards. I decided to go there as I had heard

such good things about both the Dr's there and they are based much

closer to home. I went to the info night there and meet Steve who

was my surgeon and he seemed really nice and with it being closer to

home - I live near Manly I felt more comfortable in case something

went wrong later. I think both the Dr and the staff are great but it

is probably a bit far for you and I am sure SIOS Drs are great as

well, it all depends on who you feel comfortable with because you are

going to have a fairly long relationship with this Dr - surgery and

then fills, so you do need to be sure you have chosen a Dr you can

relate to.

Danna

> > >

> > > hi all,

> > >

> > > rang the office of SIOS this mornign to book in my

appointment.

> > They are closed until 14 th January, 2007.

> > >

> > > Never mind i will be patient..

> > >

> > > regards UmmAleah

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

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Date:

> 12/30/2007 11:27 AM

> >

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12/30/2007 11:27 AM

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[Guest guest]

Hi UmmLeah (hope I've spelt that right!),

I just got banded by Dr Talbot through SIOS on 5 December. I was

originally going to see Dr Dumbrell but didn't really like him that

much - so decided to shop around some more. Dr Talbot and the SIOS

team are lovely. I just knew right away at the info night that it

was the place for me.

Now my original referral was from my GP to Dr Dumbrell. I asked

SIOS if I needed a new referral and they said no - what they do is

that the Doctor you see can write a letter to your GP (kind of a

referral in reverse I guess). They didn't even look at the referral

I had for Dr Dumbrell and I've never had to provide one from my GP.

You won't see your surgeon at your first appointment. Instead

you'll see one of the bariatric doctors (the guys that will do your

fills and follow ups). They'll explain the procedure to you and

order the blood tests and ECG you'll need. You take that " order

form " to a pathologist and they do the tests. They recommend some

pathogolists in different areas (I had my tests done in Bankstown so

I could pop in on some old work buddies at the same time) but I

think you could go to anyone. The ones they recommended bulk billed

so I just stuck with them. If you choose someone different - check

about billing. I was very stressed about the tests - really worried

about what they might find - but it turned out all fine. The tests

happen quick - so don't worry about trying to get them now as you

need the " order " anyway.

SIOS will set up your appointments with the psychologist and

dietician. If you can, you might see if you can get them all done

on the same day as when you first see the doctor (they did that for

me). The staff will then look at the calendar and who you want to

do your surgery and pick a date. I think they have about four

surgeons working out of there so dates seem pretty easy to find

(depending too on how flexible you are with who you want to do it -

I wanted Dr T and it added about 2 weeks from the date when my

health insurance kicked in - which is torture after waiting 12

months already - but I wanted him and so was prepared to wait). I

think they also work out of two hospitals (I had mine done at

Ashfield, but I think they have Holroyd as well - don't quote me).

After the tests were all done, I went back in and saw the doctor

again and he went through my test results with me (he suggested I

increase my vitamin D and B12, which were in the normal range he

just wanted to boost them) and the consent form for the surgery

(although consent for the surgery can also be done on the morning of

the procedure or when you meet your surgeon - if that happens before

the surgery date).

They will want you to do two weeks of optifast prior to the

surgery. I wanted to use Tony Ferguson - and the dietician

reluctantly let me. They seem to have a strong preference for

Optifast - still I lost 8kg in the 2 weeks and my surgeon was well

pleased. I'd also lost some weight before doing the 2 weeks

liquids - so I went into surgery 17kg lighter. (I've since put 2kg

on over the last 4 weeks as I have no restriction in the band and

have lots of appetite and ability to eat basically anything!!!)

Once you've got all your appointments out of the way, the staff will

send you a letter telling you how much you have to pay and by when.

Once that's sorted you show up at the hospital on the morning of

your surgery. I saw my surgeon prior to going into the theatre

(like literally outstide waiting to go in while the anesthetist was

getting me rigged up). If they can work out an appropriate time,

they do try to get you to see your surgeon beforehand - it just

didn't work for me.

I had a bit of a rocky recovery - my first week I was quite sick and

in a fair amount of pain. But then I suddenly seemed to turn a

corner and was doing a lot better. I had problems sleeping for the

first 3 weeks because I like to sleep on my tummy but just couldn't

manage it. Today is my first day back at work (exactly 4 weeks post

surgery). I get a stitch in my left side when I over do things. I

also sometimes get a pain on my right side that comes with some

nausea - not sure what triggers that off. I am finally sleeping on

my tummy again, but have to be careful when rolling over. Today is

also my first day back at the gym - and things are feeling really

good. I had no pains or problems. I did the cross-trainer,

treadmill, bike and lifted some weights (baby weights compared to

what I could lift before surgery). The weights were a bit of a

struggle on my arm muscles - but didn't cause any pains etc with the

band.

You should really consider the health insurance option though -

because if anything happens to you post surgery (heaven forbid!)

then you won't be covered for your hospital stay etc and you'll have

to pay big dollars to get it fixed. I know it's unlikely to have

something serious happen - but I have heard of it - and this is

significant surgery. Just something to think about.

For me I was so impatient about getting the band, that I kind of

forgot that I'd have to wait to get some fill in it. With

Christmas, I've had to wait 6 weeks to get the fill done (because

they wouldn't do it at 2 weeks before they closed for Christmas -

you usually you wait 4 weeks so you've had some time to heal). So

right now, I feel like I'm playing an endless waiting game. Only 2

weeks to go now though!!!

Wishing you all the best!

Kate

[Guest guest]

HI there again!

I just read through the SIOS paperwork again, there is no mention of

the fills being extra, i remember being told by the nurse that they

are included in the cost. Unless of course they have changed things

for 2008. hmmmm, i can ask next week if you like.

Juzzy

>

> There is only one thing with SIOS I think you have to pay for your

fills now.

>

> I had Dr Talbot but not through SIOS. I went and see him at either

Miranda or Kogarah Public Hospital. There I get bulk billing for my

fills.

>

> I am surprised that they really pushed Optifast. Dr Talbot had no

problems with me having Tony Ferguson. He actually recommended it

besides the one that the hospital pushes. Not optifast can't think of

it now.

>

> Kellie

>

>

> Re: Bum- Question for Danna>?Part 2

>

> Hi UmmLeah (hope I've spelt that right!),

>

> I just got banded by Dr Talbot through SIOS on 5 December. I was

> originally going to see Dr Dumbrell but didn't really like him that

> much - so decided to shop around some more. Dr Talbot and the SIOS

> team are lovely. I just knew right away at the info night that it

> was the place for me.

>

> Now my original referral was from my GP to Dr Dumbrell. I asked

> SIOS if I needed a new referral and they said no - what they do is

> that the Doctor you see can write a letter to your GP (kind of a

> referral in reverse I guess). They didn't even look at the referral

> I had for Dr Dumbrell and I've never had to provide one from my GP.

>

> You won't see your surgeon at your first appointment. Instead

> you'll see one of the bariatric doctors (the guys that will do your

> fills and follow ups). They'll explain the procedure to you and

> order the blood tests and ECG you'll need. You take that " order

> form " to a pathologist and they do the tests. They recommend some

> pathogolists in different areas (I had my tests done in Bankstown so

> I could pop in on some old work buddies at the same time) but I

> think you could go to anyone. The ones they recommended bulk billed

> so I just stuck with them. If you choose someone different - check

> about billing. I was very stressed about the tests - really worried

> about what they might find - but it turned out all fine. The tests

> happen quick - so don't worry about trying to get them now as you

> need the " order " anyway.

>

> SIOS will set up your appointments with the psychologist and

> dietician. If you can, you might see if you can get them all done

> on the same day as when you first see the doctor (they did that for

> me). The staff will then look at the calendar and who you want to

> do your surgery and pick a date. I think they have about four

> surgeons working out of there so dates seem pretty easy to find

> (depending too on how flexible you are with who you want to do it -

> I wanted Dr T and it added about 2 weeks from the date when my

> health insurance kicked in - which is torture after waiting 12

> months already - but I wanted him and so was prepared to wait). I

> think they also work out of two hospitals (I had mine done at

> Ashfield, but I think they have Holroyd as well - don't quote me).

>

> After the tests were all done, I went back in and saw the doctor

> again and he went through my test results with me (he suggested I

> increase my vitamin D and B12, which were in the normal range he

> just wanted to boost them) and the consent form for the surgery

> (although consent for the surgery can also be done on the morning of

> the procedure or when you meet your surgeon - if that happens before

> the surgery date).

>

> They will want you to do two weeks of optifast prior to the

> surgery. I wanted to use Tony Ferguson - and the dietician

> reluctantly let me. They seem to have a strong preference for

> Optifast - still I lost 8kg in the 2 weeks and my surgeon was well

> pleased. I'd also lost some weight before doing the 2 weeks

> liquids - so I went into surgery 17kg lighter. (I've since put 2kg

> on over the last 4 weeks as I have no restriction in the band and

> have lots of appetite and ability to eat basically anything!!!)

>

> Once you've got all your appointments out of the way, the staff will

> send you a letter telling you how much you have to pay and by when.

> Once that's sorted you show up at the hospital on the morning of

> your surgery. I saw my surgeon prior to going into the theatre

> (like literally outstide waiting to go in while the anesthetist was

> getting me rigged up). If they can work out an appropriate time,

> they do try to get you to see your surgeon beforehand - it just

> didn't work for me.

>

> I had a bit of a rocky recovery - my first week I was quite sick and

> in a fair amount of pain. But then I suddenly seemed to turn a

> corner and was doing a lot better. I had problems sleeping for the

> first 3 weeks because I like to sleep on my tummy but just couldn't

> manage it. Today is my first day back at work (exactly 4 weeks post

> surgery). I get a stitch in my left side when I over do things. I

> also sometimes get a pain on my right side that comes with some

> nausea - not sure what triggers that off. I am finally sleeping on

> my tummy again, but have to be careful when rolling over. Today is

> also my first day back at the gym - and things are feeling really

> good. I had no pains or problems. I did the cross-trainer,

> treadmill, bike and lifted some weights (baby weights compared to

> what I could lift before surgery). The weights were a bit of a

> struggle on my arm muscles - but didn't cause any pains etc with the

> band.

>

> You should really consider the health insurance option though -

> because if anything happens to you post surgery (heaven forbid!)

> then you won't be covered for your hospital stay etc and you'll have

> to pay big dollars to get it fixed. I know it's unlikely to have

> something serious happen - but I have heard of it - and this is

> significant surgery. Just something to think about.

>

> For me I was so impatient about getting the band, that I kind of

> forgot that I'd have to wait to get some fill in it. With

> Christmas, I've had to wait 6 weeks to get the fill done (because

> they wouldn't do it at 2 weeks before they closed for Christmas -

> you usually you wait 4 weeks so you've had some time to heal). So

> right now, I feel like I'm playing an endless waiting game. Only 2

> weeks to go now though!!!

>

> Wishing you all the best!

>

> Kate

>

>

>

>

>

> Make the switch to the world's best email. Get the new Yahoo!7

Mail now. www.yahoo7.com.au/worldsbestemail

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kellie,

SIOS still bulk bills their fills. When I heard the rumour that it

was going to stop, I called them to make absolutely sure - as it was

part of the reason why I chose them. I have been assured by them that

they have no intention of stopping the bulk billing of fills.

Cheers,

Kate