Guest guest Posted April 4, 2001 Report Share Posted April 4, 2001 In a message dated 4/4/01 5:02:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time, JVaszil@... writes: << I'm hoping some of you can tell me the better ones for approving WLS with either of these 2 doctors. My choices for September 2001 open enrollment are Aetna U.S Healthcare >> THIS ONE (wispering in your ear) Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2001 Report Share Posted April 4, 2001 OR I could stick with Dr. Vanguri in Baltimore, MD who does the DS open and is covered under my current insurance MD IPA (100 % I believe) If it was ME, I would stick with Dr. Vanguri and have the Open in a minute. I could just not wait that long if it was me. I am not afraid to have it open that is not one of my concerns, but I guess if you are really set on having it lap maybe you should wait. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2001 Report Share Posted April 4, 2001 Personally, I would never have open surgery if I was medically eligible to have LAP. LAP is the newest way to go, less risk of wound infections, less recovery, etc... It was not too long ago that gallbladders were removed only open with a week stay in the hospital, a large scar and 6 weeks recovery. Now, 95% of gallbladders are removed LAP, usually 1-2 days in the hospital, and back to work in a week. Open gallbladder surgeries are not performed routinely unless there is an underlying reason. Doctors that are not offering LAP surgery haven't learned how to do it. It angers me when a surgeon that cannot perform LAP surgery then tries to convince their patients that Open is better, they can see more, etc... etc... Granted, in certain situations a Lap becomes an Open surgery or just has to be an Open surgery because of a particular medical reason or concern. My first choice would be the more modern procedure with the least amount of stress on my body. Please do not be upset about my feelings nor think that I am " putting down " perfectly qualified surgeons, because I am not. You could compare what my point is with this example: You go to a new dentist and he wants to drill your tooth with an old-fashioned manual pump drill that's slower, causes a little more pain and isn't that exact, would you let him take care of your tooth or would you go to a different dentist that uses the latest high speed, painless drill and can fix your tooth with precision??? Ironically, both dentists charge the same fee. Either way, your tooth gets fixed, right???? , have you called NYU? The surgical weight loss director is Dr. Ren, she was trained by Dr. Michel Gagner, assisted him for a year and has been at NYU just as long. Dr. Ren just published a joint research paper with Dr. Gagner. NYU Medical Center is first rate. The website is www.thinforlife.org The phone number is 212- 263-3166. Just another option if you want to have LAP BPD/DS. Jane J. Pre-OP Dr. Ren, NYU Medical Center, NYC April 26, 2001 > Pros: > > excellent, experienced surgeon > great post-op comments/referrals > > Cons: > Mt. Sinia--heard all bad things > Far from home, no one to travel with me, added travel expenses, far to travel > for follow up care > > The next biggest road block is insurance. Neither doctor is covered by my > current insurance. I can switch during the next open enrollment season which is > SEPTEMBER 2001 : ( Since I work a government job, I have many choices of > insurance. I'm hoping some of you can tell me the better ones for approving WLS > with either of these 2 doctors. > > My choices for September 2001 open enrollment are > > Aetna U.S Healthcare > Capital Care > Free State Health Plan > Washington Univ. Health Plan > Kaiser Permanente > MD IPA (which I have now and neither surgeon is covered) > BCBS > Postmasters > Alliance > > OR I could stick with Dr. Vanguri in Baltimore, MD who does the DS open and is > covered under my current insurance MD IPA (100 % I believe) > > > What to do???????????????????????????????? > > jvaszil@m... > first ever consult with Dr. Vanguri on 5/10/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2001 Report Share Posted April 4, 2001 Personally, I would never have open surgery if I was medically eligible to have LAP. LAP is the newest way to go, less risk of wound infections, less recovery, etc... It was not too long ago that gallbladders were removed only open with a week stay in the hospital, a large scar and 6 weeks recovery. Now, 95% of gallbladders are removed LAP, usually 1-2 days in the hospital, and back to work in a week. Open gallbladder surgeries are not performed routinely unless there is an underlying reason. Doctors that are not offering LAP surgery haven't learned how to do it. It angers me when a surgeon that cannot perform LAP surgery then tries to convince their patients that Open is better, they can see more, etc... etc... Granted, in certain situations a Lap becomes an Open surgery or just has to be an Open surgery because of a particular medical reason or concern. My first choice would be the more modern procedure with the least amount of stress on my body. Please do not be upset about my feelings nor think that I am " putting down " perfectly qualified surgeons, because I am not. You could compare what my point is with this example: You go to a new dentist and he wants to drill your tooth with an old-fashioned manual pump drill that's slower, causes a little more pain and isn't that exact, would you let him take care of your tooth or would you go to a different dentist that uses the latest high speed, painless drill and can fix your tooth with precision??? Ironically, both dentists charge the same fee. Either way, your tooth gets fixed, right???? , have you called NYU? The surgical weight loss director is Dr. Ren, she was trained by Dr. Michel Gagner, assisted him for a year and has been at NYU just as long. Dr. Ren just published a joint research paper with Dr. Gagner. NYU Medical Center is first rate. The website is www.thinforlife.org The phone number is 212- 263-3166. Just another option if you want to have LAP BPD/DS. Jane J. Pre-OP Dr. Ren, NYU Medical Center, NYC April 26, 2001 > Pros: > > excellent, experienced surgeon > great post-op comments/referrals > > Cons: > Mt. Sinia--heard all bad things > Far from home, no one to travel with me, added travel expenses, far to travel > for follow up care > > The next biggest road block is insurance. Neither doctor is covered by my > current insurance. I can switch during the next open enrollment season which is > SEPTEMBER 2001 : ( Since I work a government job, I have many choices of > insurance. I'm hoping some of you can tell me the better ones for approving WLS > with either of these 2 doctors. > > My choices for September 2001 open enrollment are > > Aetna U.S Healthcare > Capital Care > Free State Health Plan > Washington Univ. Health Plan > Kaiser Permanente > MD IPA (which I have now and neither surgeon is covered) > BCBS > Postmasters > Alliance > > OR I could stick with Dr. Vanguri in Baltimore, MD who does the DS open and is > covered under my current insurance MD IPA (100 % I believe) > > > What to do???????????????????????????????? > > jvaszil@m... > first ever consult with Dr. Vanguri on 5/10/01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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