Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hi Jennie, I'm the you were referring to in your post. I had Dr. with Pacific Bariatric. I had originally wanted the Lap, but decided I didn't care that much about the scar to wait another 4-5 months to get it done. I also thought that they'd have a better chance of finding anything else that might be wrong with me if I did the open. Yes, the scar is not pretty. But it will fade over time. I did develop a little blister on a part of it and had to take some antibiotics and drain it, but it's just a memory now. I also had 2 drains ( a lot of people only had 1), so I have those 2 little scars as well. They'll probably be unnoticeable with time. There was some pain for a few weeks. My situation was complicated in that I caught something akin to the flu about a week after surgery. Let me tell you, coughing and sneezing were no picnic. Thank god I had my Bari Buddy. It's a little bear you can get from www.wlscenter.com. It cost me about $20 or so, but it was so worth it. It harder than a pillow so it helped with the coughing and sneezing more than a pillow did. PB is fabulous. And so is Mercy Hospital. Most of the nurses were wonderful. Very compationate and anticipatory of my needs. I did have one nurse and her assistant who I didn't like. They were on the night shift and when I rang for them at 4:00 am, they were nowhere to be found. They popped up at 4:30 and it seemed they had been gone from their posts. But the rest of them were great. Dr. is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. She cares so much and is so positive. She didn't require me to loose any more weight after I saw her the first time since I had lost 10 pound on my own, but she said she wouldn't cancel my surgery if I lost more. They also make you get weighed by someone who can document it (physician or gym-I used Curves) 1 week prior to surgery. I guess they want to be sure you haven't gained any weight. You will need to get in as good physical shape as you can prior to surgery. It will make it a lot easier to cope. Follow all the instructions PB will give you in their handouts. Most importantly, get your head in the right frame of mind. It is a lifesyle change and you have to ready to accept the limitations that your new stomach will put on you. I have been amazed at how many people have not realized that they needed to be ready to accept this new way of life. I found the 12 weeks of classes very helpful. But be sure you follow up and make sure that PB gets all your labs on time. I had to become a squeaky wheel for myself. Kaiser was not working quite as smoothly as they should have. Feel free to email me privately if you want to discuss it further. Good luck, ------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 19 Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 14:50:26 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time) Subject: APPROVED Hi all... I have been reading all the post for some time now. I started researching this surgery last year around June. My medical group requires that we take 5 1/2 months of classes before they will send it over to the insurance department. I finished the classes back in December, but because I never received my mail I had to schedule my physh eval. in January. After reading all the post about the horror stories about the physh eval, I was afraid to take it. But when I got there he asked,maybe, 10 questions in about 10 minutes and it was all over. After my doctor finally received all the paperwork and faxed it over to the insurance department, it took them a week to approve it. I got the notice and was shocked, because I have heard that many of you have been denied many times. I have blue shield Now I need to go to a meeting at the hospital in San Diego on March 2. I could have gone before, but i thought I would be going to another hospital. I see my doctor tomorrow to start all the testing in preparation for the surgery. Pacific Bariatric in San Diego told me that the waiting time for the lap is about 12 weeks out while the open is 4 weeks out. I had my heart set on the lap, but I really don't want to wait that long. Has anyone had the open? and is the scar bad?. Is it better to wait, or get it over with? I remember reading a post of a lady named in California, who had hers done in San Diego, Can you, , tell me what doctor you saw and your experience dealing with that hospital. This group has been a blessing and very knowledgeable. Thank you all and I look forward to being with you all on the losing side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hi Jennie, I'm the you were referring to in your post. I had Dr. with Pacific Bariatric. I had originally wanted the Lap, but decided I didn't care that much about the scar to wait another 4-5 months to get it done. I also thought that they'd have a better chance of finding anything else that might be wrong with me if I did the open. Yes, the scar is not pretty. But it will fade over time. I did develop a little blister on a part of it and had to take some antibiotics and drain it, but it's just a memory now. I also had 2 drains ( a lot of people only had 1), so I have those 2 little scars as well. They'll probably be unnoticeable with time. There was some pain for a few weeks. My situation was complicated in that I caught something akin to the flu about a week after surgery. Let me tell you, coughing and sneezing were no picnic. Thank god I had my Bari Buddy. It's a little bear you can get from www.wlscenter.com. It cost me about $20 or so, but it was so worth it. It harder than a pillow so it helped with the coughing and sneezing more than a pillow did. PB is fabulous. And so is Mercy Hospital. Most of the nurses were wonderful. Very compationate and anticipatory of my needs. I did have one nurse and her assistant who I didn't like. They were on the night shift and when I rang for them at 4:00 am, they were nowhere to be found. They popped up at 4:30 and it seemed they had been gone from their posts. But the rest of them were great. Dr. is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. She cares so much and is so positive. She didn't require me to loose any more weight after I saw her the first time since I had lost 10 pound on my own, but she said she wouldn't cancel my surgery if I lost more. They also make you get weighed by someone who can document it (physician or gym-I used Curves) 1 week prior to surgery. I guess they want to be sure you haven't gained any weight. You will need to get in as good physical shape as you can prior to surgery. It will make it a lot easier to cope. Follow all the instructions PB will give you in their handouts. Most importantly, get your head in the right frame of mind. It is a lifesyle change and you have to ready to accept the limitations that your new stomach will put on you. I have been amazed at how many people have not realized that they needed to be ready to accept this new way of life. I found the 12 weeks of classes very helpful. But be sure you follow up and make sure that PB gets all your labs on time. I had to become a squeaky wheel for myself. Kaiser was not working quite as smoothly as they should have. Feel free to email me privately if you want to discuss it further. Good luck, ------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 19 Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 14:50:26 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time) Subject: APPROVED Hi all... I have been reading all the post for some time now. I started researching this surgery last year around June. My medical group requires that we take 5 1/2 months of classes before they will send it over to the insurance department. I finished the classes back in December, but because I never received my mail I had to schedule my physh eval. in January. After reading all the post about the horror stories about the physh eval, I was afraid to take it. But when I got there he asked,maybe, 10 questions in about 10 minutes and it was all over. After my doctor finally received all the paperwork and faxed it over to the insurance department, it took them a week to approve it. I got the notice and was shocked, because I have heard that many of you have been denied many times. I have blue shield Now I need to go to a meeting at the hospital in San Diego on March 2. I could have gone before, but i thought I would be going to another hospital. I see my doctor tomorrow to start all the testing in preparation for the surgery. Pacific Bariatric in San Diego told me that the waiting time for the lap is about 12 weeks out while the open is 4 weeks out. I had my heart set on the lap, but I really don't want to wait that long. Has anyone had the open? and is the scar bad?. Is it better to wait, or get it over with? I remember reading a post of a lady named in California, who had hers done in San Diego, Can you, , tell me what doctor you saw and your experience dealing with that hospital. This group has been a blessing and very knowledgeable. Thank you all and I look forward to being with you all on the losing side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2004 Report Share Posted March 3, 2004 HI : I don't have a private e-mail for you, but I would like one. I went to their seminar last night. It was pretty much a review of the last 5 months of classes through my medical group. I decided that the open surgery was not that big of a deal. They, the surgeons, recommend it. I have some further questions, for you. do you live in San Diego, or out of town? Did you have to say in San Diego How long did it take you from beginning to end? I already have labs done. I am doing x-rays now. The ultra sound in not scheduled until April 1 2004, which is way to long. I have already been approved through the insurance company. I faxed over the history and exam this morning. Outside of the ultrasound, they said to wait until a coordinator to call. Also, how was it at the psych eval. I had one through my medical group, but they said they need one through their hospital. How long ago did you have the surgery and how much weight have you lost? any information will be helpful. thank you -- APPROVED Hi all... I have been reading all the post for some time now. I started researching this surgery last year around June. My medical group requires that we take 5 1/2 months of classes before they will send it over to the insurance department. I finished the classes back in December, but because I never received my mail I had to schedule my physh eval. in January After reading all the post about the horror stories about the physh eval, I was afraid to take it. But when I got there he asked,maybe, 10 questions in about 10 minutes and it was all over. After my doctor finally received all the paperwork and faxed it over to the insurance department, it took them a week to approve it. I got the notice and was shocked, because I have heard that many of you have been denied many times. I have blue shield Now I need to go to a meeting at the hospital in San Diego on March 2. I could have gone before, but i thought I would be going to another hospital. I see my doctor tomorrow to start all the testing in preparation for the surgery. Pacific Bariatric in San Diego told me that the waiting time for the lap is about 12 weeks out while the open is 4 weeks out. I had my heart set on the lap, but I really don't want to wait that long. Has anyone had the open? and is the scar bad?. Is it better to wait, or get it over with? I remember reading a post of a lady named in California, who had hers done in San Diego, Can you, , tell me what doctor you saw and your experience dealing with that hospital. This group has been a blessing and very knowledgeable. Thank you all and I look forward to being with you all on the losing side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2004 Report Share Posted March 3, 2004 HI : I don't have a private e-mail for you, but I would like one. I went to their seminar last night. It was pretty much a review of the last 5 months of classes through my medical group. I decided that the open surgery was not that big of a deal. They, the surgeons, recommend it. I have some further questions, for you. do you live in San Diego, or out of town? Did you have to say in San Diego How long did it take you from beginning to end? I already have labs done. I am doing x-rays now. The ultra sound in not scheduled until April 1 2004, which is way to long. I have already been approved through the insurance company. I faxed over the history and exam this morning. Outside of the ultrasound, they said to wait until a coordinator to call. Also, how was it at the psych eval. I had one through my medical group, but they said they need one through their hospital. How long ago did you have the surgery and how much weight have you lost? any information will be helpful. thank you -- APPROVED Hi all... I have been reading all the post for some time now. I started researching this surgery last year around June. My medical group requires that we take 5 1/2 months of classes before they will send it over to the insurance department. I finished the classes back in December, but because I never received my mail I had to schedule my physh eval. in January After reading all the post about the horror stories about the physh eval, I was afraid to take it. But when I got there he asked,maybe, 10 questions in about 10 minutes and it was all over. After my doctor finally received all the paperwork and faxed it over to the insurance department, it took them a week to approve it. I got the notice and was shocked, because I have heard that many of you have been denied many times. I have blue shield Now I need to go to a meeting at the hospital in San Diego on March 2. I could have gone before, but i thought I would be going to another hospital. I see my doctor tomorrow to start all the testing in preparation for the surgery. Pacific Bariatric in San Diego told me that the waiting time for the lap is about 12 weeks out while the open is 4 weeks out. I had my heart set on the lap, but I really don't want to wait that long. Has anyone had the open? and is the scar bad?. Is it better to wait, or get it over with? I remember reading a post of a lady named in California, who had hers done in San Diego, Can you, , tell me what doctor you saw and your experience dealing with that hospital. This group has been a blessing and very knowledgeable. Thank you all and I look forward to being with you all on the losing side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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