Re: DS doctor close to New England?

November 5, 2001

Barbi,

Thanks for the info? Does anybody have an idea as to how long it takes on

the average from the first telephone call for an appointment for a consult

to the actual surgery date? I'm kind of in a bind. I was laid off from my

job in June and have been paying for COBRA medical coverage since then. I'd

like to have the surgery before I start a new job for several obvious

reasons. Also, I know my weight (I weigh close to 400 lbs) is a major

hindrance to my successful job search in the first place. Ideally, I'd

like to have the surgery in January or February. Does this sound at all

possible, or am I being totally unrealistic?

Thanks for any help or guidance you can provide.

ann

Re: DS doctor close to Milwaukee?

ann,

I live in New York and I think this is as close as you are going to

find a DS doc to you. I'm not certain, maybe someone knows of one in

your area. I do have a friend who lives in New England that had the

RNY instead of the DS because she didn't want to travel (it happens a

LOT). But to me it's totally worth any travel. Fortunately I had

several docs locally to choose from.

The NY docs are listed on the DS website, their addresses and phone

numbers.

Good luck!

Barbi

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

November 5, 2001

Hi ann,

I was in the EXACT same position you are. I wanted to get my surgery

done quickly as I was on Cobra and it was good coverage. Didn't want

to take a chance on getting a company that wouldn't pay.

From the time of my first consult to the time I had surgery took less

than a month, but there's a catch. I had surgery with Dr.

Ren who has just begun the Surgical Weight Loss Program at NYU,

therefore she wasn't booked up.

Unfortunately, although I had the DS, Dr. Ren isn't doing the BPD/DS

anymore, she's doing the BPD which is similar but it is a different

surgery, some say it has the same results, some prefer the DS. If

you are interested I'm sure you can find some info on the net. One

of the gals on the DS site had a BPD ten years ago, here is a link to

her page.

http://www.duodenalswitch.20m.com/Patients/Sharon/sharon.html

Right now I believe Dr. Ren's time table is 6 to 8 weeks from

consultation to surgery and you can get a consultation in less than a

month. That would mean having the BPD without the DS.

As for Dr. Gagner's group at Mt. Sinai, back when I was checking into

surgeons it was taking three months or so to get in for a consult.

BUT.... don't go on that. Give them a call. You never know, and if

you explain your dilemma they might move things a bit faster. If you

are flexible maybe they can get you in if someone else cancels.

Also there are other docs in NY that are on the DS site list. I had

scheduled a consult with one (I forget whom) and it was only a two

week wait, but then I found out he didn't do lap so I cancelled.

Call them all! The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

http://www.duodenalswitch.20m.com/Surgeons/surgeons.html

> Barbi,

>

> Thanks for the info? Does anybody have an idea as to how long it

takes on

> the average from the first telephone call for an appointment for a

consult

> to the actual surgery date? I'm kind of in a bind. I was laid off

from my

> job in June and have been paying for COBRA medical coverage since

then. I'd

> like to have the surgery before I start a new job for several

obvious

> reasons. Also, I know my weight (I weigh close to 400 lbs) is a

major

> hindrance to my successful job search in the first place.

Ideally, I'd

> like to have the surgery in January or February. Does this sound

at all

> possible, or am I being totally unrealistic?

>

> Thanks for any help or guidance you can provide.

>

> ann

November 5, 2001

ann,

I think it really depends on the surgeon you pick. Although my

surgeon is very experienced, because he just set up his own practice,

you can get an appointment and your surgery within 2 months right

now. His previous associate is booked for surgery through the end of

February right now.

I believe the NY contingency of doctors is booked quite ahead and the

Canadian doctors are booked 3 years in advance!

If urgency is an issue, and travelling to San Francisco is a

possiblity, I am more than happy to provide you with email addresses

and phone numbers for my surgeon, Dr. Jossart!

Best of luck,

Theresa

> Barbi,

>

> Thanks for the info? Does anybody have an idea as to how long it

takes on

> the average from the first telephone call for an appointment for a

consult

> to the actual surgery date? I'm kind of in a bind. I was laid off

from my

> job in June and have been paying for COBRA medical coverage since

then. I'd

> like to have the surgery before I start a new job for several

obvious

> reasons. Also, I know my weight (I weigh close to 400 lbs) is a

major

> hindrance to my successful job search in the first place.

Ideally, I'd

> like to have the surgery in January or February. Does this sound

at all

> possible, or am I being totally unrealistic?

>

> Thanks for any help or guidance you can provide.

>

> ann

>

> Re: DS doctor close to Milwaukee?

>

> ann,

>

> I live in New York and I think this is as close as you are going to

> find a DS doc to you. I'm not certain, maybe someone knows of one

in

> your area. I do have a friend who lives in New England that had the

> RNY instead of the DS because she didn't want to travel (it happens

a

> LOT). But to me it's totally worth any travel. Fortunately I had

> several docs locally to choose from.

>

> The NY docs are listed on the DS website, their addresses and phone

> numbers.

>

> Good luck!

> Barbi

>

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

--

>

November 5, 2001

ann,

Wait. I thought Dr. Ren no longer does the DS. Are you aware that

the surgery she does has a lot more long term side affects? Maybe I

am confused, I just don't want you getting the wrong surgery!

Hugs,

Theresa

> Barbi,

>

> THANK YOU!!!!! I just called and have an appointment scheduled

with Dr. Ren

> on January 7th at 2:00. I asked how long the wait was for the

surgery

> presuming all would be okay, and was advised approximately 1

month. I'm

> excited because all this would fit into my timeframe. Even

insurance wise,

> effective January 1st, my COBRA plan switches to Blue Care Elect

Preferred

> which doesn't require a referral from a PCP.

>

> I was originally planning on having a RNY, but after much research

would

> prefer this procedure. So..., you were in the same position as me

as far as

> the job and Cobra coverage. It's pretty unnerving being

unemployed, but I

> figure now is the time to take care of myself, and get my life and

health

> back in order. As you can appreciate it's bad enough with the

impact being

> so obese has on one's health, but when it is also impacting my

ability to

> obtain comparable employment to my former position it's really

scary. How

> long were you out of work? How soon after your surgery did you

find a job?

> Any words of encouragement and/or advise would be greatly

appreciated.

>