Re: Concerns about the doctor I have chosen

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/22/00 7:01:05 AM Central Standard Time,

wermagpie@... writes:

<< they have to have the $216 as either cash, credit card, or money

order--doesn't that sound weird to you?

>>

My consult fee had to be in cash also. You would be surprised how many

people out there write bad checks and they just don't want to have to deal

with it.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/22/00 8:45:22 AM Central Standard Time, marym@...

writes:

<< Most surgeons start doing different techniques as a result of information

received from colleagues. If a surgeon has performed a number of gastric

surgeries including the RNY, then the change to the DS is not excessively

difficult to adapt to doing. Certainly working with another surgeon

performing the procedure is a plus, but not absolutely necessary. It is

possible to view videos of the surgery and/or discuss it with an experienced

surgeon. I think that this is the essence of what Dr Welker said in his Oct

meeting. (Gayle correct me if I am wrong)

>>

It might be from the Bariatric conference in June. I would ask him if he got

info there. The timing would be right. Of course, most of the docs were

there so he would have gotten first hand info.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Hi Peggy, I'm going to give you my opinion, but remember, it it just an

opinion.

The doctor you have chosen may have only done the DS for four months, but how

long has he been doing surgery and what types of surgeries? Most of the

surgeons do only open when they are new to the procedure, then add

laproscopic after they are comfortable with open.

You'll need to talk to the surgeon, rather than an office person to get all

of your questions answered. Only then will you be able to make an informed

decision.

My opinion is for you to go ahead with the consultation and go prepared with

a written list of detailed questions and write down the answers given. Then

you can research and compare to determine your decision.

Best of luck...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.<A HREF= " apapararo@... " >apapararo@...</A>

BMI: 50.1, 5'7 " , 320, age 40

Pacificare/Sutter Medical Group/Approved

Dr. Rabkin/Dr. Jossart BPD/DS

SURGERY DATE: 11/27/00!!!

[Guest guest]

Peggy--

You need to research www.duodenalswitch.com. There is a Dr. Booth in

Ocean Springs, MS who specializes in bariatric surgery who may be of help.

His office staff is very good. I've talked to them a couple of time in

getting the ball roling for my journey. I'm a Fed, too, who is looking at

options with insurance. BC/BS apparently is messing around a bit with

approvals, so I'm very cautious. Do lots of homework, make lots of calls,

and keep using this wls web for support.

//chris

[Guest guest]

Peggy - I have never heard Dr. Sifer's name mentioned on this list.

Given that he has only been doing the DS for 4 months, it is probable

that no one here has heard of him yet and that is why you have not

gotten a response. I would not judge the doctor's competence based

solely on the competence of his office staff. Does Dr. Sifer have a

support group? Has he done other types of weight loss surgery? Is

there a means by which you can talk to other people on whom he has

performed bariatric surgery? Do you have an internist or PC that you

can ask about Dr. Sifer's reputation? That is how I would go about

determining his competence. If the information from others checks

out, then meet him and assess your comfort level with him.

If his inexperience bothers you and you really want to have the DS

done lap, there are several competent surgeons who can assist you -

but you (like many of us)will need to travel. Good luck to you.

Kathleen B.

land

Lap DS w/ Dr. Gagner 8/7/00

CareFirst BCBS

Minus 77 lbs as of 11/15/00

[Guest guest]

There a quite a few Surgeons that do DS Lap. None near Kansas, None

in the Midwest.

Check out.

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/

[Guest guest]

Most surgeons start doing different techniques as a result of information

received from colleagues. If a surgeon has performed a number of gastric

surgeries including the RNY, then the change to the DS is not excessively

difficult to adapt to doing. Certainly working with another surgeon

performing the procedure is a plus, but not absolutely necessary. It is

possible to view videos of the surgery and/or discuss it with an experienced

surgeon. I think that this is the essence of what Dr Welker said in his Oct

meeting. (Gayle correct me if I am wrong)

It is perfectly reasonable to have there concerns and want to know more

about the experience of the surgeon. What might be interesting is to know

how he came to add the DS to his list of options for patients. These

queries regarding experience and knowledge and skills are important.. and

also very difficult to find out if the surgeon is not readily disclosing

information.

BTW, I do not think that 20 surgeries is a tiny number. It is a good start.

----- Original Message -----

> I'm really new here and I'm so glad I found you all! Since no one

responded

> that they knew of my doctor ( Sifers) and no one chimed in to say

> they lived nearby, I presume I am all alone in western Missouri/eastern

> Kansas! I'd like some opinions, though, on my current concerns, if you

have

> a minute.

>

> The above doctor is the ONLY one in this area who does the DS (which is

what

> I want, for a variety of reasons). He has only been doing the surgery for

> four months now! He has done 20 or so patients without a problem, but

this

> is obvious not many and, equally obvious, short term results!

>

> Now we all know a doctor has to start somewhere and sometime to do this

> procedure and it is obviously needed in this area! However, I don't know

if

> I want him to " practice " on me! Also, I spoke with his office again

> yesterday (I haven't even met him yet!) and they said that no one in the

> country did this surgery laporosciplly (sp)--I told her I knew that wasn't

> so (thank you, list). She then said that the Dr. preferred open surgery

> because it was easier in case an emergency arose during the procedure.

This

> makes some sense and I'm not against the open surgery (although I'd rather

> have the lap), but what really concerns me is the lack of knowledge.

> Additionally, when discussing pre-op testing, she said they basically did

> EKG, blood work, chest x-ray standard--and any other tests if patient

needs

> indicated. When I then said that I knew I would need a colonoscopy first,

> because of my IBS, she said, oh no, we don't need that! We've done lots

of

> folks with IBS and had no problems! From what I've read on here, this

> worries me.

>

> Now bear in mind, I haven't even met the doctor yet! I've only been

> speaking with whoever it is that answers the office phone. But I'm

starting

> to get worried. And I really don't want to shell out $216 up front (their

> requirement) just to find out he's not the dr. for me! And, by the way,

> they have to have the $216 as either cash, credit card, or money

> order--doesn't that sound weird to you?

>

> What do you all think? Your opinions would really be appreciated!

>

> Peggy

>

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to thank everyone who has given such a warm welcome, both on

list and privately. It has made me feel very welcome. I do have a question

for those of you who have had the surgery; what is the ballfield estimate of

time that one is out of commission? ie: no work? I understand that this will

vary widely per person, and complication levels. Although my weight is 376,

I am still fairly active, I work full time and am on my feet moving the vast

majority of the time. I (so far!) have no comorbidities.

~*~Ru

.·:*´¨`*:·..·:* ´¨`* :·

::: (³) :::

*: ^)^ :*

*·. ( .·*

*·-:¦:-*

Almost RN

Atlanta GA

~~ Walking in the PawPrints of Bast, Listening to the Wisdom in Her Purr~~

[Guest guest]

Peggy,

I am in the Midwest too! I just had a Lap DS by Dr. Sudan in Omaha,

NE at University of NE Hospital. So as you mentioned your DR is

incorrect. I would be concerned about his office lack of updated

information and defensiveness. Dr. Sudan knew about the other

Doctors that perform Lap DS and told me about them and their

techniques. " Me thinks he doth protest too much. "

11/10/2000 Lap DS

> I'm really new here and I'm so glad I found you all! Since no one

responded

> that they knew of my doctor ( Sifers) and no one chimed in

to say

> they lived nearby, I presume I am all alone in western

Missouri/eastern

> Kansas! I'd like some opinions, though, on my current concerns, if

you have

> a minute.

>

> Peggy

>

______________________________________________________________________

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> Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download :

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[Guest guest]

Peggy,

First of all, I'd like to welcome you to the DS list! In regard to

your colonoscopy question, I think I would need to ask you a few

questions about it. How bad is your IBS? Does it take the form of

alternating constipation with diarrhea, or is it mainly diarrhea? Was

it diagnosed by a specialist? Did you have a colonoscopy before, in

the process of getting a diagnosis? How old are you? And, did the

receptionist go ask the Dr. about a colonoscopy for you or did she

answer off the top of her head, without asking the Dr.?

Sometimes doctors have receptionists who have excellent office

skills, but don't have extensive medical knowledge, and had you been

in a consult with the doctor, you might have gotten a different

response. My G.P. doctor who is an outstanding doctor, has had this

kind of difficulty with his office staff; he usually corrects the

problem as soon as his attention is drawn to it, but sometimes that

can take a few complaints from patients first.

Joe and I did have colonoscopies before our surgeries, but we are

older and getting to that age when polyps and stuff commonly occur.

Joe is 60 and I am 48. I do not think Dr. Welker would have required

either of us to get them if we had been younger. Even my IBS probably

wouldn't have required a colonoscopy first, because of the pattern of

it, and my symptoms. But, at 48, I'm approaching the age where it

would be prudent to make sure that I didn't have any pre- cancerous

growths or changes in my colon. As a matter of fact, Joe and I both

had polyps which needed to be removed and sent in to the lab, just to

make sure that they were benign. Joe's results came back benign, and

the GI doc thinks mine is the benign type, too, though we haven't

gotten the lab confirmation yet on mine.

Regarding the doctor's experience, perhaps you could ask the office

staff to mail you a curriculum vitae of his credentials and

experience with gastro-intestinal surgeries. Did he spend some time

training with an experienced DS surgeon? Also, see if you can get

names and numbers of his DS patients and ask them what they felt

about the care they received from him.

As for travel and distance, I think it has to be weighed into the

equation as a negative factor and balanced against the other pro's

and con's when choosing a surgeon. Joe and I can afford to travel,

and though it is a hassle, it is not the big financial consideration

that it might be for others, so we went with who we thought was the

best surgeon for us, regardless of distance. (Well, sort-of

regardless of distance. I wasn't willing to go all the way to Spain,

though Dr. Baltasar is one of the best DS surgeons in the world, and

his loving care of his patients draws continual raves from everyone

who has had him for a surgeon.)

Sorry for the long answer here; hope it is helpful.

Joy (Joe's Other Half!)

Pre-Op Age: 48 BMI: 48

Dr. Welker

Date to be determined--

(Waiting for insurance submission/approval & for Joe's DS)

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joy/joy.html

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Welcome,

The standard is six weeks I believe. But you are right YMMV.

Vickie Hewitt

Pre-OP Wt. 283.5 BMI 47.2

West Chester/Exton PA

DS Surgery w/ Dr Herron 12/08/00

Aetna USHC PPO approved me the day it was submitted.

> I do have a question for those of you who have had the surgery; what

> is the ballfield estimate of

> time that one is out of commission? ie: no work?

[Guest guest]

Just an FYI to those of you who are looking. There is now a doctor in

Kansas doing duodenal switch. His name is T. Sifers and his office is in the

Antioch Building on 75th Street by ee Mission Medical Center. Not sure

if the city is considered Merriam or Overland Park. I think it's on the

border of the two. (part of " greater Kansas City " area)

I have an appointment with him next Thursday, 11/30/00 for conslt. He too

requires $216 " up front " because too many people don't follow through on

payment, however, it is returned to you if/when your insurance pays for your

surgery.

kst1sumo@...

[Guest guest]

> Just an FYI to those of you who are looking. There is now a

> doctor in Kansas doing duodenal switch. His name is T. Sifers

> and his office is in the Antioch Building on 75th Street by

> ee Mission Medical Center.

Thanks so much -- I'll see about getting them added to the surgeons page of

the DS site.

M.

---

in Fremont, CA, age 38

Starting weight 299, now 175

Starting BMI 49.7, now 29.1

Lap DGB/DS by Dr. Rabkin 10-19-99

http://www.duodenalswitch.com

Direct replies: mailto:melanie@...

[Guest guest]

Hi Peggy...My Doc, Dennis if Marietta GA charged 260.00 for my evaluation...he also is light on tests...Blood, UGI, Psych eval($300.00 up front), and Nutrition eval. He spent over an hour with me answering questions and explaning the porcedure and it takes a really long time to write a LOMN - they run 14-30 pages depending on your health problems and the Doctor writing it, I think that it isn't unreasonable to want to cover those costs. If insurance will not cover the surgery, then it won't cover the consult and he does need to pay his rent <g> Dr. has only done 5 or 6 and he has us lined up wanting him to practice on us...go figure...I don't think that 20 is a bad number, and lots of doctors prefer to do it open - its much faster - and less time under anesthesia is better...

One thing you might do is ask the office if you could talk to one of his post-ops - if you get a good feeling from talking o one of his patients, and you think this is the guy for you...invest the $216.00 - you're worth it!!!

Hope you had a HAppy Thanksgiving... W

Pre -op Dr.

Denied on 10/26 and fighting mad!!! - Prudential POS

5'5'' 301 - BMI 51

Mire fuera de Prudencial, está muy enojado....