A Change of Plans

[Guest guest]

Good morning all:

I want to share with you some very very good news. I live in Wisconsin,

there are only a few Dr's here who do WLS. NONE of them do the MGB. They

do the RNY.

Back in February of this year, after I had been on this email list for a

while I contacted one of the Dr.'s at the University of Wisconsin Hospital

and Clinics who does the RNY. I'm not sure if any of you know about this

hospital. It is one of the leading research/teaching hospitals in the US.

Always on the cutting edge, very well known, etc. He had never heard of the

MGB and at the time my insurance (DeanCare) does not pay for any WLS.

(sorry, I tend to jump around a bit). I sent him the Patient Manual, as

well as the website for Dr. R. He told me that he would be very interested

in following my progress after my MGB.

I switched to BC/BS in October during open enrollment, in order to have the

MGB covered. In the meantime, The Dr. from WI contacted Dr. R and paid him

a visit in November. I received an email from him when he returned saying

that he was very impressed with the procedure. He is a very reputable

bariatric surgeon, and has done extensive lap surgeries. I told him that if

he was considering doing the MGB, that I would much rather have it done

here - at home, then to travel to NC (No offense Dr. R). In the meantime I

checked with BC/BS who said that as long as it is the EXACT same procedure

as I was originally approved for, that there is no problem having it done

here in Wisconsin.

From what I'v learned, there has only been 7-8 people from WI who have had

the MGB. I contacted him last week and he told me that he now has the

instruments, and asked if I was serious about being " his first " I said

YES!!! I checked with my own PCP, as well as a couple other Dr's - and they

were all very encouraging and supportive of this. I'm VERY nervous about

being the first one, but hey - they have to start somewhere right? He's

done LOTS of lap surgeries, and is very familiar with the RNY, read the

manual, visited the Dr. observed him in surgery, and read the website, how

can I go wrong? We discussed the various problems that can come from this

type of surgery - but every surgery carries a risk, and it's one I'm willing

to take.

I hope thru my learning and experience, I have just opened the door to

helping others from Wisconsin (as well as the health insurance industry)

change their lives. He also asked how I felt about contacting the media

about this... YIKES!!!!

Anyway - I wont' be joining you in January in NC, but I will be here in

Wisconsin!!! Not sure on the exact surgery date, I asked to keep it for the

same week (1/10/00) because of my work schedule, etc. I'll keep you posted.

I'll obviously be staying on this email list - but if you ever find someone

from WI has joined, please feel free to have them contact me - I'd love to

help others get started!!!

Thanks so much to all of you.

Have a GREAT Holiday

Waunakee, WI

MGB - sometime in January IN WISCONSIN!!!!!