Lynnette/Tri-state support

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynette,

I agree with . The two main LAP DS surgeon groups in the NYC

are Dr Ren at NYU and Drs Gagner, Inabnet, Herron and Pomp at Mt

Sinai. Cannot speak for Dr Ren, but my surgeon is Dr Pomp and for

BMIs >60, the Sinai group has been doing the DS in two parts if the

patient insists on a LAP procedure. If the patient is willing to

have it done open, they can do it all at once.

Unless you don't mind having it done in two parts (some patients are

finding this to be an advantage) you may be fighting a battle with

your insurance, only to be told by the surgeon they wouldn't do it

all at once as a LAP procedure anyway.

Is it Dr Jerzy Macura in Staten Island who participates in your

insurance? I believe he does the DS, but only open. I have heard

some good things about him from some on this list who have had him.

Terri Hassiak

BMI 60

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=H980366398

5/19/01 surgery date CANCELLED due to " Out-of-Network " Ins. Denial

email(no spaces): bunsofluff @ hotmail.com

> > I need a list of possible PCP's. I have an insurance

> > co with a small network

> > and I'm in New York City. Are there any ds-friendly

> > PCP's in this area? The

> > more names the better! I will need to convince my

> > PCP that I HAVE to have

> > lap surgery as opposed to open, with a bmi over 60.

> > We have open ds IN

> > network, but no lap, I'll have to go out of network

> > for that and I'm trying

> > to get my insurance co to pay in network for that.

> > Suggestions?

> > Tri-state support

> >

> >

> > > For those of us DSrs in the Southern Jersey,

> > Greater Philadelphia, and

> > > Northern Delaware regions, we have started

> > exchanging messages on a

> > > related site:

> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-philly

> > > This allows those of us who have to travel to our

> > surgeons to exchange

> > > information, and we hope to get together

> > occasionally (with or without

> > > a medical professional to answer our concerns).

> > Please post at the

> > > ossg-philly site if you are in the tri-state area

> > - we'd love to meet

> > > you!

> > > Debbie in Philly

> > > BMI 43, Age 42

> > > Pre-op Dr. Ren, 07/12/01

> > > Pending insurance approval

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

> > >

[Guest guest]

My BMI is only 61. I'm hoping to either sneak under the wire, or get it done

in 2 parts. Does insurance cover both surgeries?

Tri-state support

> > >

> > >

> > > > For those of us DSrs in the Southern Jersey,

> > > Greater Philadelphia, and

> > > > Northern Delaware regions, we have started

> > > exchanging messages on a

> > > > related site:

> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-philly

> > > > This allows those of us who have to travel to our

> > > surgeons to exchange

> > > > information, and we hope to get together

> > > occasionally (with or without

> > > > a medical professional to answer our concerns).

> > > Please post at the

> > > > ossg-philly site if you are in the tri-state area

> > > - we'd love to meet

> > > > you!

> > > > Debbie in Philly

> > > > BMI 43, Age 42

> > > > Pre-op Dr. Ren, 07/12/01

> > > > Pending insurance approval

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

> > > >

[Guest guest]

for

> BMIs >60, the Sinai group has been doing the DS in two parts if the

> patient insists on a LAP procedure. If the patient is willing to

> have it done open, they can do it all at once.

Hi. I had my consult with Dr. Gagner on Wednesday. I weigh 391.7 with a

BMI of 63. I was pleasantly suprised when Dr. G. said he'd prefer to do

the lap. He'll go in and do the sleeve gastrectomy and if I'm handling

the anesthesia well, he'll finish. If not, he'll close me up and do the

second part after I lose about 100 lbs. He said complications drop

dramatically with the Lap. Incisional Hernia from approx. 30% to 3 or 4%.

Expected recovery time if he only does the sleeve(1 to 1/12 hrs. in

surgery) is 1-2 days in the hospital, 1-2 weeks at home, then back to

work. If he does the whole surgery (2-3 hrs. in surgery) 3-4 days in the

hospital and back to work in 3-4 weeks. He said the risk of death remains

the same 1-1 1/2% as these risks are based on the risks of anesthesia when

you're morbidly obese, not the particular type of surgery. I have to say

I'm amazed at the rapid improvements and changes regarding this surgery

that I have read about in a few months on this list. I'm sure it's

different with each Dr. and in the end, we all will chose who we're most

comfortable with. Just wanted to share my experience with you. GOOD LUCK

TO ALL OF US!!!

--- Terri Hassiak bunsofluff@...> wrote:

> Hi Lynette,

>

> I agree with . The two main LAP DS surgeon groups in the NYC

> are Dr Ren at NYU and Drs Gagner, Inabnet, Herron and Pomp at Mt

> Sinai. Cannot speak for Dr Ren, but my surgeon is Dr Pomp and for

> BMIs >60, the Sinai group has been doing the DS in two parts if the

> patient insists on a LAP procedure. If the patient is willing to

> have it done open, they can do it all at once.

>

> Unless you don't mind having it done in two parts (some patients are

> finding this to be an advantage) you may be fighting a battle with

> your insurance, only to be told by the surgeon they wouldn't do it

> all at once as a LAP procedure anyway.

>

> Is it Dr Jerzy Macura in Staten Island who participates in your

> insurance? I believe he does the DS, but only open. I have heard

> some good things about him from some on this list who have had him.

>

> Terri Hassiak

> BMI 60

> http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=H980366398

> 5/19/01 surgery date CANCELLED due to " Out-of-Network " Ins. Denial

> email(no spaces): bunsofluff @ hotmail.com

>

>

>

>

> > > I need a list of possible PCP's. I have an insurance

> > > co with a small network

> > > and I'm in New York City. Are there any ds-friendly

> > > PCP's in this area? The

> > > more names the better! I will need to convince my

> > > PCP that I HAVE to have

> > > lap surgery as opposed to open, with a bmi over 60.

> > > We have open ds IN

> > > network, but no lap, I'll have to go out of network

> > > for that and I'm trying

> > > to get my insurance co to pay in network for that.

> > > Suggestions?

> > > Tri-state support

> > >

> > >

> > > > For those of us DSrs in the Southern Jersey,

> > > Greater Philadelphia, and

> > > > Northern Delaware regions, we have started

> > > exchanging messages on a

> > > > related site:

> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-philly

> > > > This allows those of us who have to travel to our

> > > surgeons to exchange

> > > > information, and we hope to get together

> > > occasionally (with or without

> > > > a medical professional to answer our concerns).

> > > Please post at the

> > > > ossg-philly site if you are in the tri-state area

> > > - we'd love to meet

> > > > you!

> > > > Debbie in Philly

> > > > BMI 43, Age 42

> > > > Pre-op Dr. Ren, 07/12/01

> > > > Pending insurance approval

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Lynette: There are other reasons that the 2 part bpd/ds is

recommended for certain patients other than the desire to have the

surgery done lap. I, for one, was totally okay with having my

surgery done open--my rationalization (although, it was only my

opinion) was tht it wouldnt be much worse than be cut open in a c-

section...Now, dont everyone flogg me--i said it was my opinion, not

fact.

My surgeon, Dr Inabnet at Mt Sinai, recommended the 2 part for me

because of my co-morbidities & recent health issues. i.e.=I had a

stroke in october 2000, then is the hospital for congestive heart

failure feb 2001. While I have no residual definciencies from my

stroke--the fact remains that I did have a stroke. I was still be

treated for the chf with lasix at the time of consult. By having my

surgery done in 2 parts, I did not have to be under anesthesia for

the extended period of time. My part 1 took about 2 1/2 hours--& i

was in recovery for 16 hours & then transferred to the stepdown unit

for a couple of days for observation--i was hooked up to the monitors

only when i was in bed--i was still up walking the next day & got my

catheter out, etc.

Ideally, what will happen is that after my part 1 I will lose a

significant amount of weight in about 6 months (about 100 lbs) & then

the stress on my heart & other vital organs will be greatly reduced &

I can go back for part 2--without the increased risk of

complications, that I would have had if I had the entire procedure

all at once.

I am a believer in that this is a decision for you & your surgeon..I

in no way would want to influence you to have your surgery done open

or lap, 1 part or 2. I feel that that is a very individual

evaluation, to be done by your doctor. You must feel comfortable

with that recommendation. I felt very comfortable & understood why

dr inabnet was recommending my surgery be done in 2 parts. Not just

for the lap procedure or not to have a huge scar, but so that i would

experience a quality of life after surgery (2), & would hopefully be

blessed with a complication free surgical process.

good luck with your consult & decisions ...take good care

ogretta

post-op part 1

may 4, 2001

dr inabnet, mt sinai

down 42lbs

In duodenalswitch@y..., " Lynette Settles " wrote:

> My BMI is only 61. I'm hoping to either sneak under the wire, or

get it done

> in 2 parts. Does insurance cover both surgeries?

> Tri-state support

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > > For those of us DSrs in the Southern Jersey,

> > > > Greater Philadelphia, and

> > > > > Northern Delaware regions, we have started

> > > > exchanging messages on a

> > > > > related site:

> > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-philly

> > > > > This allows those of us who have to travel to our

> > > > surgeons to exchange

> > > > > information, and we hope to get together

> > > > occasionally (with or without

> > > > > a medical professional to answer our concerns).

> > > > Please post at the

> > > > > ossg-philly site if you are in the tri-state area

> > > > - we'd love to meet

> > > > > you!

> > > > > Debbie in Philly

> > > > > BMI 43, Age 42

> > > > > Pre-op Dr. Ren, 07/12/01

> > > > > Pending insurance approval

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------

----

> > > > >

[Guest guest]

It's true that I'm not happy about the scar, but the reasons I'm insisting

on a lap procedure go a bit deeper. I had a myomectomy a few years ago and

it took me about 2 months to recover from it. I don't have that kind of time

away from my job. I can probably get away with about a week unpaid, but

certainly not 8. I would lose my job. Also, I've noticed since I started

researching these surgeries that the majority of the ugly complications

appear to be coming from the incision. I'd like to avoid that. Mostly I want

to be back on my feet as quickly as possible. I can't take the time off that

the open procedure requires (I work through an agency as a consultant)

because I'd lose my job.

Tri-state support

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > > For those of us DSrs in the Southern Jersey,

> > > > > Greater Philadelphia, and

> > > > > > Northern Delaware regions, we have started

> > > > > exchanging messages on a

> > > > > > related site:

> > > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-philly

> > > > > > This allows those of us who have to travel to our

> > > > > surgeons to exchange

> > > > > > information, and we hope to get together

> > > > > occasionally (with or without

> > > > > > a medical professional to answer our concerns).

> > > > > Please post at the

> > > > > > ossg-philly site if you are in the tri-state area

> > > > > - we'd love to meet

> > > > > > you!

> > > > > > Debbie in Philly

> > > > > > BMI 43, Age 42

> > > > > > Pre-op Dr. Ren, 07/12/01

> > > > > > Pending insurance approval

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------

> ----

> > > > > >