Re: Lap DS or Lap RNY or open DS or...

August 17, 2001

I would pay the money if I could and do the surgery I wanted. I think the worst

thing to do is " SETTLE " for something. I had open DS and its not that bad. Now

doesn't the network pay more if they don't have a dr in network that covers the

surgery you choose? Keep looking around...and good luck. I hope you find a way

to do it. Just remember if you know what you want, don't settle, keep working

it till it fits...

AJ

" Alyssa " wrote:

>Sigh...I have a problem, and I want to know what y'all think...

>

>I have the wheels in motion for Dr. Rabkin to do a lap DS (first

>consultation appt 10/29, so I'm at the *beginning* of the wheels moving),

>but he's no longer contracted with any HMO or PPO. My insurance will cover

>the surgery, but Dr. R's professional fee is $12,000. Since he's an

>out-of-network provider, Cigna will pay what's " reasonable and cu stomary "

>(for them!), but whatever's left over will be out-of-pocket by me. That

>means that on top of the $1000 out-of-pocket max for the surgery itself

>(hospital stay, anesthesia, etc.), I'll be paying upwards of $10k out of

>pocket to Rabkin (not to mention waiting and waiting for the other $2k from

>the insurance company). That's a whole lotta money.

>

>My quandary is this: After reading about the DS vs. the RNY, I'd pretty

>well decided for the lap DS (no dumping, less restrictive lifestyle, better

>weight maintenance stats, etc), but there are other doctors who are in the

>network who will do a lap RNY, so my cost would be $1000. TOTAL. (I

>know -- there's no amount of money that you can pin on your quality of life,

>but bankruptcy would affect my quality of life, too!) ARE THERE ANY DOCTORS

>IN CALIFORNIA WHO DO THE LAP DS other than Rabkin (Jossart has moved onto

>other things, from what I've heard)?? I looked on the

>fourlane.com/mgb/findadoc site, and it lists a handful in NY, one in OR, one

>in GA, one in MS, and one in VA, but that's about it. Do I opt for the open

>DS with another doc who is in-network (are there any in Northern Cal??) or

>do I do the lap RNY or do I fork over approximately $11k to Rabkin to do the

>lap DS? Or do I find a way to get myself to Oregon and hope that Welker is

>in-network?

>

>Something else to keep in mind...I have two small children and a full-time

>job as a teacher, so I can't bounce all over the country very easily.

>

>Thank you all in advance for your replies...I know you'll come up with good

>ideas!

>

>alyssa

>

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

>

August 17, 2001

Alyssa,

Dr Keshishian in Delano, CA (Central Valley) does the open DS and just started

the lap DS in August. He has experience with lap intestinal surgery and bowel

resections, but not the lap DS yet. Given his prior experience, I would think

his learning curve would be shorter than others. There is also open DS...Dr

Anthone in LA does the open DS only and he's in network for many people,

including myself. I think Dr Anthone's great, but I'm not so thrilled about his

staff or USC hospital. Dr K, on the other hand, has a great staff, accepts

insurance and works out of a hospital that just added it's own bariactric wing

for Dr K's patients. So now Dr K has his own OR so he doesn't have to share and

every room in the bariactric wing has a bari-bed and a recliner in it. Lap is

definitely great, but if it was a choice between lap RNY or open DS, I would

choose open DS. Why would you want to choose a surgery (RNY) that only has 55%

average excess weight loss after 5 years, compared to the DS which is 80%

average excess weight loss afte 5 years ?

Anita

Pre-op in Denver

> Sigh...I have a problem, and I want to know what y'all think...

>

> I have the wheels in motion for Dr. Rabkin to do a lap DS (first

> consultation appt 10/29, so I'm at the *beginning* of the wheels moving),

> but he's no longer contracted with any HMO or PPO. My insurance will cover

> the surgery, but Dr. R's professional fee is $12,000. Since he's an

> out-of-network provider, Cigna will pay what's " reasonable and cu stomary "

> (for them!), but whatever's left over will be out-of-pocket by me. That

> means that on top of the $1000 out-of-pocket max for the surgery itself

> (hospital stay, anesthesia, etc.), I'll be paying upwards of $10k out of

> pocket to Rabkin (not to mention waiting and waiting for the other $2k from

> the insurance company). That's a whole lotta money.

>

> My quandary is this: After reading about the DS vs. the RNY, I'd pretty

> well decided for the lap DS (no dumping, less restrictive lifestyle, better

> weight maintenance stats, etc), but there are other doctors who are in the

> network who will do a lap RNY, so my cost would be $1000. TOTAL. (I

> know -- there's no amount of money that you can pin on your quality of life,

> but bankruptcy would affect my quality of life, too!) ARE THERE ANY DOCTORS

> IN CALIFORNIA WHO DO THE LAP DS other than Rabkin (Jossart has moved onto

> other things, from what I've heard)?? I looked on the

> fourlane.com/mgb/findadoc site, and it lists a handful in NY, one in OR, one

> in GA, one in MS, and one in VA, but that's about it. Do I opt for the open

> DS with another doc who is in-network (are there any in Northern Cal??) or

> do I do the lap RNY or do I fork over approximately $11k to Rabkin to do the

> lap DS? Or do I find a way to get myself to Oregon and hope that Welker is

> in-network?

>

> Something else to keep in mind...I have two small children and a full-time

> job as a teacher, so I can't bounce all over the country very easily.

>

> Thank you all in advance for your replies...I know you'll come up with good

> ideas!

>

> alyssa

August 17, 2001

Alyssa,

Go for the open DS for sure! The (true)laprascopic DS is still in

the experimental stage. The morbidity rates are higher. Dr. Rabkin

has good success with his assisted DS, but you already know about the

money problem.

Dr. A and Dr. K are both excelent suregeons. Dr. A has done over 500

surgeries, and Dr. K has done over 100. You can probably get through

the system quicker with Dr. K, though Dr. A is world class and worth

the wait (IMHO). I have been in correpondence with Dr. K, and he is

really good at working hard for his patients. His volume of patients

is much lower than Dr. A and you will probably get a bit more

personal treatment. On the other hand the equipment in Delano might

not be quite as up to date as USC.

Don't go for the lap RNY. Sure, you will recover quicker, but the

consequences are with you for life! Say it takes an extra week to

recover - so what.

Hull

> Sigh...I have a problem, and I want to know what y'all think...

>

> I have the wheels in motion for Dr. Rabkin to do a lap DS (first

> consultation appt 10/29, so I'm at the *beginning* of the wheels

moving),

> but he's no longer contracted with any HMO or PPO. My insurance

will cover

> the surgery, but Dr. R's professional fee is $12,000. Since he's an

> out-of-network provider, Cigna will pay what's " reasonable and cu

stomary "

> (for them!), but whatever's left over will be out-of-pocket by me.

That

> means that on top of the $1000 out-of-pocket max for the surgery

itself

> (hospital stay, anesthesia, etc.), I'll be paying upwards of $10k

out of

> pocket to Rabkin (not to mention waiting and waiting for the other

$2k from

> the insurance company). That's a whole lotta money.

>

> My quandary is this: After reading about the DS vs. the RNY, I'd

pretty

> well decided for the lap DS (no dumping, less restrictive

lifestyle, better

> weight maintenance stats, etc), but there are other doctors who are

in the

> network who will do a lap RNY, so my cost would be $1000. TOTAL.

(I

> know -- there's no amount of money that you can pin on your quality

of life,

> but bankruptcy would affect my quality of life, too!) ARE THERE

ANY DOCTORS

> IN CALIFORNIA WHO DO THE LAP DS other than Rabkin (Jossart has

moved onto

> other things, from what I've heard)?? I looked on the

> fourlane.com/mgb/findadoc site, and it lists a handful in NY, one

in OR, one

> in GA, one in MS, and one in VA, but that's about it. Do I opt for

the open

> DS with another doc who is in-network (are there any in Northern

Cal??) or

> do I do the lap RNY or do I fork over approximately $11k to Rabkin

to do the

> lap DS? Or do I find a way to get myself to Oregon and hope that

Welker is

> in-network?

>

> Something else to keep in mind...I have two small children and a

full-time

> job as a teacher, so I can't bounce all over the country very

easily.

>

> Thank you all in advance for your replies...I know you'll come up

with good

> ideas!

>

> alyssa

August 17, 2001

Ditto....

The DS procedure is KEY.

I was converted from Lap to open.....minimal pain, one extra day in

hospital, really no problem. Remember< Lap may need to be converted

to open, but no one converts from open to lap.....

Go with your gut......the DS procedure is the key

Dan

> Alyssa,

>

> Go for the open DS for sure! The (true)laprascopic DS is still in

> the experimental stage. The morbidity rates are higher. Dr. Rabkin

> has good success with his assisted DS, but you already know about

the

> money problem.

>

> Dr. A and Dr. K are both excelent suregeons. Dr. A has done over

500

> surgeries, and Dr. K has done over 100. You can probably get

through

> the system quicker with Dr. K, though Dr. A is world class and

worth

> the wait (IMHO). I have been in correpondence with Dr. K, and he

is

> really good at working hard for his patients. His volume of

patients

> is much lower than Dr. A and you will probably get a bit more

> personal treatment. On the other hand the equipment in Delano might

> not be quite as up to date as USC.

>

> Don't go for the lap RNY. Sure, you will recover quicker, but the

> consequences are with you for life! Say it takes an extra week to

> recover - so what.

>

> Hull

>

> > Sigh...I have a problem, and I want to know what y'all think...

> >

> > I have the wheels in motion for Dr. Rabkin to do a lap DS (first

> > consultation appt 10/29, so I'm at the *beginning* of the wheels

> moving),

> > but he's no longer contracted with any HMO or PPO. My insurance

> will cover

> > the surgery, but Dr. R's professional fee is $12,000. Since he's

an

> > out-of-network provider, Cigna will pay what's " reasonable and cu

> stomary "

> > (for them!), but whatever's left over will be out-of-pocket by

me.

> That

> > means that on top of the $1000 out-of-pocket max for the surgery

> itself

> > (hospital stay, anesthesia, etc.), I'll be paying upwards of $10k

> out of

> > pocket to Rabkin (not to mention waiting and waiting for the

other

> $2k from

> > the insurance company). That's a whole lotta money.

> >

> > My quandary is this: After reading about the DS vs. the RNY, I'd

> pretty

> > well decided for the lap DS (no dumping, less restrictive

> lifestyle, better

> > weight maintenance stats, etc), but there are other doctors who

are

> in the

> > network who will do a lap RNY, so my cost would be $1000.

TOTAL.

> (I

> > know -- there's no amount of money that you can pin on your

quality

> of life,

> > but bankruptcy would affect my quality of life, too!) ARE THERE

> ANY DOCTORS

> > IN CALIFORNIA WHO DO THE LAP DS other than Rabkin (Jossart has

> moved onto

> > other things, from what I've heard)?? I looked on the

> > fourlane.com/mgb/findadoc site, and it lists a handful in NY, one

> in OR, one

> > in GA, one in MS, and one in VA, but that's about it. Do I opt

for

> the open

> > DS with another doc who is in-network (are there any in Northern

> Cal??) or

> > do I do the lap RNY or do I fork over approximately $11k to

Rabkin

> to do the

> > lap DS? Or do I find a way to get myself to Oregon and hope that

> Welker is

> > in-network?

> >

> > Something else to keep in mind...I have two small children and a

> full-time

> > job as a teacher, so I can't bounce all over the country very

> easily.

> >

> > Thank you all in advance for your replies...I know you'll come up

> with good

> > ideas!

> >

> > alyssa

August 17, 2001

Ditto....

The DS procedure is KEY.

I was converted from Lap to open.....minimal pain, one extra day in

hospital, really no problem. Remember< Lap may need to be converted

to open, but no one converts from open to lap.....

Go with your gut......the DS procedure is the key

Dan

> Alyssa,

>

> Go for the open DS for sure! The (true)laprascopic DS is still in

> the experimental stage. The morbidity rates are higher. Dr. Rabkin

> has good success with his assisted DS, but you already know about

the

> money problem.

>

> Dr. A and Dr. K are both excelent suregeons. Dr. A has done over

500

> surgeries, and Dr. K has done over 100. You can probably get

through

> the system quicker with Dr. K, though Dr. A is world class and

worth

> the wait (IMHO). I have been in correpondence with Dr. K, and he

is

> really good at working hard for his patients. His volume of

patients

> is much lower than Dr. A and you will probably get a bit more

> personal treatment. On the other hand the equipment in Delano might

> not be quite as up to date as USC.

>

> Don't go for the lap RNY. Sure, you will recover quicker, but the

> consequences are with you for life! Say it takes an extra week to

> recover - so what.

>

> Hull

>

> > Sigh...I have a problem, and I want to know what y'all think...

> >

> > I have the wheels in motion for Dr. Rabkin to do a lap DS (first

> > consultation appt 10/29, so I'm at the *beginning* of the wheels

> moving),

> > but he's no longer contracted with any HMO or PPO. My insurance

> will cover

> > the surgery, but Dr. R's professional fee is $12,000. Since he's

an

> > out-of-network provider, Cigna will pay what's " reasonable and cu

> stomary "

> > (for them!), but whatever's left over will be out-of-pocket by

me.

> That

> > means that on top of the $1000 out-of-pocket max for the surgery

> itself

> > (hospital stay, anesthesia, etc.), I'll be paying upwards of $10k

> out of

> > pocket to Rabkin (not to mention waiting and waiting for the

other

> $2k from

> > the insurance company). That's a whole lotta money.

> >

> > My quandary is this: After reading about the DS vs. the RNY, I'd

> pretty

> > well decided for the lap DS (no dumping, less restrictive

> lifestyle, better

> > weight maintenance stats, etc), but there are other doctors who

are

> in the

> > network who will do a lap RNY, so my cost would be $1000.

TOTAL.

> (I

> > know -- there's no amount of money that you can pin on your

quality

> of life,

> > but bankruptcy would affect my quality of life, too!) ARE THERE

> ANY DOCTORS

> > IN CALIFORNIA WHO DO THE LAP DS other than Rabkin (Jossart has

> moved onto

> > other things, from what I've heard)?? I looked on the

> > fourlane.com/mgb/findadoc site, and it lists a handful in NY, one

> in OR, one

> > in GA, one in MS, and one in VA, but that's about it. Do I opt

for

> the open

> > DS with another doc who is in-network (are there any in Northern

> Cal??) or

> > do I do the lap RNY or do I fork over approximately $11k to

Rabkin

> to do the

> > lap DS? Or do I find a way to get myself to Oregon and hope that

> Welker is

> > in-network?

> >

> > Something else to keep in mind...I have two small children and a

> full-time

> > job as a teacher, so I can't bounce all over the country very

> easily.

> >

> > Thank you all in advance for your replies...I know you'll come up

> with good

> > ideas!

> >

> > alyssa

August 17, 2001

Alyssa,

I'm sorry you're being put in such a position. Are you 100%

committed to lap? I'd think there would be those who did open in

your network. I had open, and it wasnt so bad. Better than a lap

Rny...BTW, my out of pocket was $5,000, now that stunk!

Meli

-43lb

> Sigh...I have a problem, and I want to know what y'all think...

>

> I have the wheels in motion for Dr. Rabkin to do a lap DS (first

> consultation appt 10/29, so I'm at the *beginning* of the wheels

moving),

> but he's no longer contracted with any HMO or PPO. My insurance

will cover

> the surgery, but Dr. R's professional fee is $12,000. Since he's an

> out-of-network provider, Cigna will pay what's " reasonable and cu

stomary "

> (for them!), but whatever's left over will be out-of-pocket by me.

That

> means that on top of the $1000 out-of-pocket max for the surgery

itself

> (hospital stay, anesthesia, etc.), I'll be paying upwards of $10k

out of

> pocket to Rabkin (not to mention waiting and waiting for the other

$2k from

> the insurance company). That's a whole lotta money.

>

> My quandary is this: After reading about the DS vs. the RNY, I'd

pretty

> well decided for the lap DS (no dumping, less restrictive

lifestyle, better

> weight maintenance stats, etc), but there are other doctors who are

in the

> network who will do a lap RNY, so my cost would be $1000. TOTAL.

(I

> know -- there's no amount of money that you can pin on your quality

of life,

> but bankruptcy would affect my quality of life, too!) ARE THERE

ANY DOCTORS

> IN CALIFORNIA WHO DO THE LAP DS other than Rabkin (Jossart has

moved onto

> other things, from what I've heard)?? I looked on the

> fourlane.com/mgb/findadoc site, and it lists a handful in NY, one

in OR, one

> in GA, one in MS, and one in VA, but that's about it. Do I opt for

the open

> DS with another doc who is in-network (are there any in Northern

Cal??) or

> do I do the lap RNY or do I fork over approximately $11k to Rabkin

to do the

> lap DS? Or do I find a way to get myself to Oregon and hope that

Welker is

> in-network?

>

> Something else to keep in mind...I have two small children and a

full-time

> job as a teacher, so I can't bounce all over the country very

easily.

>

> Thank you all in advance for your replies...I know you'll come up

with good

> ideas!

>

> alyssa

August 17, 2001

> I really like the idea of Lap instead of open b/c of the quicker

recover

> time -- I would rather not take 6 weeks off from work if I can

avoid it, and

> wouldn't I have to take 6 weeks if I had the open? The scars

aren't a

> pleasant idea, but if that's what I have to have, then sobeit,

right? Dan,

> what was your recovery time with open? (How long before you could

go back

> to work to sit at a desk for 6 hours?) What about you, Meli?

An important thing to remember is that recovery has so much more to

do with what has happened to your insides rather than the incision.

In that case both open and lap can recover quickly or slowly

depending on complications.

Open DS with Dr. Anthone 7/6/01

August 17, 2001

> I really like the idea of Lap instead of open b/c of the quicker

recover

> time -- I would rather not take 6 weeks off from work if I can

avoid it, and

> wouldn't I have to take 6 weeks if I had the open? The scars

aren't a

> pleasant idea, but if that's what I have to have, then sobeit,

right? Dan,

> what was your recovery time with open? (How long before you could

go back

> to work to sit at a desk for 6 hours?) What about you, Meli?

An important thing to remember is that recovery has so much more to

do with what has happened to your insides rather than the incision.

In that case both open and lap can recover quickly or slowly

depending on complications.

Open DS with Dr. Anthone 7/6/01

August 17, 2001

Hi,

Was back to work in 2 weeks 3days. Half day for first 3 days, then

full steam ahead. I was amazed how quick you bounce back.

dan

> Well, the consensus thus far seems to be to go with the cheaper

open DS than

> the more expensive lap and to avoid the RNY like the plague. I

would like

> to have my surgery around Dec 15th...maybe Dr. Keshishian will have

done

> enough lap DSs by then for me to feel safe with that? A friend and

I were

> trying to see if he was an in-network provider, but we couldn't

find him

> listed online...I'll call Cigna tomorrow and see. Dr. Anthone is

in-network

> with Cigna PPO, so maybe he could be a back-up?

>

> I really like the idea of Lap instead of open b/c of the quicker

recover

> time -- I would rather not take 6 weeks off from work if I can

avoid it, and

> wouldn't I have to take 6 weeks if I had the open? The scars

aren't a

> pleasant idea, but if that's what I have to have, then sobeit,

right? Dan,

> what was your recovery time with open? (How long before you could

go back

> to work to sit at a desk for 6 hours?) What about you, Meli?

>

> Thanks, guys!

>

> alyssa

>

> Re: Lap DS or Lap RNY or open DS or...

>

> > Alyssa,

> > I'm sorry you're being put in such a position. Are you 100%

> > committed to lap? I'd think there would be those who did open in

> > your network. I had open, and it wasnt so bad

August 17, 2001

Hi,

Was back to work in 2 weeks 3days. Half day for first 3 days, then

full steam ahead. I was amazed how quick you bounce back.

dan

> Well, the consensus thus far seems to be to go with the cheaper

open DS than

> the more expensive lap and to avoid the RNY like the plague. I

would like

> to have my surgery around Dec 15th...maybe Dr. Keshishian will have

done

> enough lap DSs by then for me to feel safe with that? A friend and

I were

> trying to see if he was an in-network provider, but we couldn't

find him

> listed online...I'll call Cigna tomorrow and see. Dr. Anthone is

in-network

> with Cigna PPO, so maybe he could be a back-up?

>

> I really like the idea of Lap instead of open b/c of the quicker

recover

> time -- I would rather not take 6 weeks off from work if I can

avoid it, and

> wouldn't I have to take 6 weeks if I had the open? The scars

aren't a

> pleasant idea, but if that's what I have to have, then sobeit,

right? Dan,

> what was your recovery time with open? (How long before you could

go back

> to work to sit at a desk for 6 hours?) What about you, Meli?

>

> Thanks, guys!

>

> alyssa

>

> Re: Lap DS or Lap RNY or open DS or...

>

> > Alyssa,

> > I'm sorry you're being put in such a position. Are you 100%

> > committed to lap? I'd think there would be those who did open in

> > your network. I had open, and it wasnt so bad

August 17, 2001

Hi Alyssa -

Dr. Ara Keshishian in Delano did his first lap DS earlier this

month. He had extensive lap experience, I am told, in his

residency. He also did lap bowel resections. He is very

conscientious and cautious.

I have since decided to have the surgery open, however.

I was going to go to Rabkin myself but had the same reaction to the

cost that you did. Also, his office isn't in the greatest shape.

The individuals are great. Collectively, however, there is confusion

everywhere.

You might want to join his group at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DS_Keshishian and check out his

website at http://www.gr-ds.com/.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at sage @

inland.net (no spaces).

Best-

Nick in Sage

August 17, 2001

Hi Alyssa -

Dr. Ara Keshishian in Delano did his first lap DS earlier this

month. He had extensive lap experience, I am told, in his

residency. He also did lap bowel resections. He is very

conscientious and cautious.

I have since decided to have the surgery open, however.

I was going to go to Rabkin myself but had the same reaction to the

cost that you did. Also, his office isn't in the greatest shape.

The individuals are great. Collectively, however, there is confusion

everywhere.

You might want to join his group at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DS_Keshishian and check out his

website at http://www.gr-ds.com/.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at sage @

inland.net (no spaces).

Best-

Nick in Sage

August 18, 2001

-Alyssa, I needed 8 weeks, as I have a very physically demanding job,

and 12 hour shifts. Sitting at a desk would be easier though. Your

recovery will go by quickly, you may not think so at the time(: Meli

-- In duodenalswitch@y..., " Alyssa " <alyssaj@m...> wrote:

> Well, the consensus thus far seems to be to go with the cheaper

open DS than

> the more expensive lap and to avoid the RNY like the plague. I

would like

> to have my surgery around Dec 15th...maybe Dr. Keshishian will have

done

> enough lap DSs by then for me to feel safe with that? A friend and

I were

> trying to see if he was an in-network provider, but we couldn't

find him

> listed online...I'll call Cigna tomorrow and see. Dr. Anthone is

in-network

> with Cigna PPO, so maybe he could be a back-up?

>

> I really like the idea of Lap instead of open b/c of the quicker

recover

> time -- I would rather not take 6 weeks off from work if I can

avoid it, and

> wouldn't I have to take 6 weeks if I had the open? The scars

aren't a

> pleasant idea, but if that's what I have to have, then sobeit,

right? Dan,

> what was your recovery time with open? (How long before you could

go back

> to work to sit at a desk for 6 hours?) What about you, Meli?

>

> Thanks, guys!

>

> alyssa

>

> Re: Lap DS or Lap RNY or open DS or...

>

> > Alyssa,

> > I'm sorry you're being put in such a position. Are you 100%

> > committed to lap? I'd think there would be those who did open in

> > your network. I had open, and it wasnt so bad

August 18, 2001

-Alyssa, I needed 8 weeks, as I have a very physically demanding job,

and 12 hour shifts. Sitting at a desk would be easier though. Your

recovery will go by quickly, you may not think so at the time(: Meli

-- In duodenalswitch@y..., " Alyssa " <alyssaj@m...> wrote:

> Well, the consensus thus far seems to be to go with the cheaper

open DS than

> the more expensive lap and to avoid the RNY like the plague. I

would like

> to have my surgery around Dec 15th...maybe Dr. Keshishian will have

done

> enough lap DSs by then for me to feel safe with that? A friend and

I were

> trying to see if he was an in-network provider, but we couldn't

find him

> listed online...I'll call Cigna tomorrow and see. Dr. Anthone is

in-network

> with Cigna PPO, so maybe he could be a back-up?

>

> I really like the idea of Lap instead of open b/c of the quicker

recover

> time -- I would rather not take 6 weeks off from work if I can

avoid it, and

> wouldn't I have to take 6 weeks if I had the open? The scars

aren't a

> pleasant idea, but if that's what I have to have, then sobeit,

right? Dan,

> what was your recovery time with open? (How long before you could

go back

> to work to sit at a desk for 6 hours?) What about you, Meli?

>

> Thanks, guys!

>

> alyssa

>

> Re: Lap DS or Lap RNY or open DS or...

>

> > Alyssa,

> > I'm sorry you're being put in such a position. Are you 100%

> > committed to lap? I'd think there would be those who did open in

> > your network. I had open, and it wasnt so bad

August 18, 2001

Hi Alyssa:

thought I'd chime in here...

I saw Dr. Rabkin for initial consult on 7/12, and still haven't heard

back from his office on my insurance. I only found out about the $12K

up front payment from the support groups - his insurance person was

irate with me when I called the 2nd time to ask questions/follow up

on insurance issues. I now have a consult scheduled with Dr. K. for

10/9 and his office staff is great...they called my insurance to

verify coverage then called me back 10 minutes later to give me a

ballpark estimate on total costs: $2000 (program fee) and $10 copays.

The fact that Dr. K is in network for me is a huge selling point, but

being able to call his office and get information without getting

snapped at is even better. Dr. Rabkin is a very experienced surgeon,

and if I didn't have another choice I'd come up with the $12k to get

the DS done...but there are other options. I have Nick to thank for

turning me on to Dr. K!

Good luck on your decision!

> Well, the consensus thus far seems to be to go with the cheaper

open DS than

> the more expensive lap and to avoid the RNY like the plague. I

would like

> to have my surgery around Dec 15th...maybe Dr. Keshishian will have

done

> enough lap DSs by then for me to feel safe with that? A friend and

I were

> trying to see if he was an in-network provider, but we couldn't

find him

> listed online...I'll call Cigna tomorrow and see. Dr. Anthone is

in-network

> with Cigna PPO, so maybe he could be a back-up?

>

> I really like the idea of Lap instead of open b/c of the quicker

recover

> time -- I would rather not take 6 weeks off from work if I can

avoid it, and

> wouldn't I have to take 6 weeks if I had the open? The scars

aren't a

> pleasant idea, but if that's what I have to have, then sobeit,

right? Dan,

> what was your recovery time with open? (How long before you could

go back

> to work to sit at a desk for 6 hours?) What about you, Meli?

>

> Thanks, guys!

>

> alyssa

>

> Re: Lap DS or Lap RNY or open DS or...

>

> > Alyssa,

> > I'm sorry you're being put in such a position. Are you 100%

> > committed to lap? I'd think there would be those who did open in

> > your network. I had open, and it wasnt so bad

August 18, 2001