Response to Shelby's HELP

[Guest guest]

> Please, someone respond. I need help. I don't know where to

start with

> this whole thing. I don't know what to do first. I know I have

definitely

> decided that I won't quit until I have the MGB, but I am not sure

what to

> do. I have made an appointment with a doc to talk to him about

it. Then

> what? What do I expect? What next?

>

> Shelby in Florida

Hi Shelby,

The first thing you need to do is relax. These are the steps I took

when I first started thinking about having the mgb.

1) Download the patient manual and read it at least 3 times. This way

you will be prepared when you go to your PCP. You might also want to

make a copy for him and drop it off before your appt. date so he will

have a chance to look it over. I assume you've already done some

research on your own since you've decided to go with this procedure.

2) Copy the online form off Dr. R's website and fill it out by hand.

Then submit the form on-line using the hand-printed copy as a guide.

Make sure you make a copy of your on-line submission because you will

need it when you go to clinic. If you don't have it you will have to

fill one out by hand when you get there.

3) Make your appt. with your PCP. I had just recently had a physical

so I needed an appt. to talk with my PCP about the surgery. I had to

wait almost a month for an appt. so I used this time to do my patient

contacts and start writing my patient letter. I also had my family

start on their letter of support.

4) When you see your PCP, see if he can write your letter of support

while you are there. If not, ask him to mail it to you or ask when

you can come by and pick it up.

5)Your bloodwork has to be within 30 days of your surgery and your

PCP can do it.

Some of the steps are different now. When I had my surgery there was

no deposit and Dr. R's office was filing for insurance. I also live

in NC so I made my clinic visit and talked to Dr. R two months before

my surgery date. I think most out-of-state people have clinic the day

before surgery. I can't address all the things you should do, because

the process is a little different now and because you live out of

state, but I hope the few things I did mention will be of help to you.

If you need a contact, you can e-mail a list of questions to: slrc @

excite.com (leave out the spaces). Good luck on your journey. I hope

to see you on the other side real soon.

Suzanne in NC

mgb 7/17/00

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