Guest guest Posted November 5, 2000 Report Share Posted November 5, 2000 I'm having a really hard time getting my posts to show up. If someone could tell me how I would greatly appreciate it. I really want to become part of the " family. " I'm almost 18 and pretty new at this. I'm working on my package. I also need contacts so if anyone is willing, please email me privately. Thanks so much Acoya Rivers pre-op BMI 48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2000 Report Share Posted November 5, 2000 Hello everyone... I live in the Raleigh-Durham area and consider myself very lucky to be so close to Dr. Rutledge. However, my primary care physician isn't too keen on the idea of the surgery. Can anyone recommend a physician that might be receptive to the procedure. I'm 42 years old with a BMI of 42 and luckily don't have any serious co-morbitiies as yet - only back pain from carrying all this weight around and being tired all the time! Also, what insurance companies have you had luck with. We're in the middle of our benefits enrollment and I need to make a decision pretty fast. Thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2000 Report Share Posted November 5, 2000 First, call Dr. Bartles in Cary, he is great and will be more than happy to do your physical, write your letter to Dr. R and follow you after surgery. He is a really nice guy. Look in the phone book under Bariatric physicians, or email me back privately and I can give you his number. He is a family physician and can do all of the stuff you need done beforehand, he just decided to concentrate in this field a while ago back. Second, I don't know where you work or what ins. options you have but my husband works for the state and we changed to the NC State Teachers and Employees Plan administered by NCBCBS during the open enrollment period. They cover the surgery as long as you meet their criteria which isn't hard to do if you truely are obese (Other than obesity I too have no other health problems). I had my answer back from them in about 4 days. They say 3-5 days so I was happy with that. The best advice I could give is to check and see which plans you have to choose from cover this kind of surgery. I know that some folks who have BCBS have had a hard time but it just depends on your individual policy that your employer offers and whether or not it is covered. If you work for the state though the State Plan is the way to go. It is an 80/20 plan though so there will be some out of pocket expense but I have heard that when it comes down to it that the expense is not as much as you would expect. If I can be of further assistance let me know. I live in Raleigh and will be having surgery 12-6-00!!!!! I would be glad to speak to you over the phone or otherwise, just let me know and I will email you my number privately. Price pre-op 12-6-00 still looks good to put that at the end of my name --- Liverman wrote: > Hello everyone... > > I live in the Raleigh-Durham area and consider > myself > very lucky to be so close to Dr. Rutledge. However, > my primary care physician isn't too keen on the idea > of the surgery. Can anyone recommend a physician > that > might be receptive to the procedure. I'm 42 years > old > with a BMI of 42 and luckily don't have any serious > co-morbitiies as yet - only back pain from carrying > all this weight around and being tired all the time! > > Also, what insurance companies have you had luck > with. > We're in the middle of our benefits enrollment and > I > need to make a decision pretty fast. > > > Thanks so much! > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2000 Report Share Posted November 5, 2000 Hi , It was reassuring to hear you say that the State Teacher's plan is not a big hassle. I'm sending my letter tomorrow. Did you mail or fax? Also, doesn't the 80/20 just apply if you have not already met your deductible and exceeded the $1000 out of pocket costs? I thought other than that there was only the physician co-pay for clinic and the $75 co-pay for hospital. That could make a difference in how soon I can have the surgery. Thanks Cheryl in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2000 Report Share Posted November 5, 2000 Jon, Your Doctor does not have to like the fact that your having surgery. you are only asking him to run your blood test and follow up after surgery to make sure you are healthy. A life time of dieting is exhausting for anyone. Ask him how long he is willing to let suffer when you have the means to live healthy and happy? just my 2 cents Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2000 Report Share Posted November 5, 2000 , My PCP isn't keen on WLS either, and since I'm a relatively new patient he's not entirely convinced that I've truly exhausted all more conservative measures. He thus declined to _refer_ me for surgery. What he did do, though, is give me a complete physical (including stress test) and write a letter to Dr. R. acknowledging that I was talking to Dr. R. about the MGB, and giving a detailed report on my health, my EKG, my blood work and his opinion that I'm at low cardiovascular risk for surgery. He also said that, as my PCP, he is committed to providing me health care and would of course monitor my blood work and perform other follow-up after the surgery. This left him with a clear conscience and was sufficient support for Dr. R. (and me!) despite his skepticism about WLS. Note, though, that in my discussions with the PCP I gave him copies of the major materials on Dr. R's website, discussed my understanding of the risks, told him that I understood it was a tool and had to be combined with a serious commitment to healthy diet and exercise, etc., so that he was convinced that I had done my homework and made a reasoned decision. I had no luck with BC/BS of Ala. Hope this helps! Jon in Tuscaloosa > > Hello everyone... > > I live in the Raleigh-Durham area and consider myself > very lucky to be so close to Dr. Rutledge. However, > my primary care physician isn't too keen on the idea > of the surgery. Can anyone recommend a physician that > might be receptive to the procedure. I'm 42 years old > with a BMI of 42 and luckily don't have any serious > co-morbitiies as yet - only back pain from carrying > all this weight around and being tired all the time! > > Also, what insurance companies have you had luck with. > We're in the middle of our benefits enrollment and I > need to make a decision pretty fast. > > > Thanks so much! > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2000 Report Share Posted November 5, 2000 Trish, Thanks for your e-m. He's agreed to do just that, so all is cool, I'm approved, and will dance on Nov. 22. I was just trying to tell others that they don't need the full-throated approval of their PCPs, just the PCP's willingness to do follow-up. Best, Jon > > Jon, > Your Doctor does not have to like the fact that your having surgery. you are > only asking him to run your blood test and follow up after surgery to make > sure you are healthy. A life time of dieting is exhausting for anyone. Ask > him how long he is willing to let suffer when you have the means to live > healthy and happy? > just my 2 cents > Trish > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2000 Report Share Posted November 6, 2000 In a message dated 11/6/2000 1:19:31 AM Eastern Standard Time, jsb@... writes: << Thanks for your e-m. He's agreed to do just that, so all is cool, I'm approved, and will dance on Nov. 22. >> Your welcome Jon, I enjoy your post it will be fun to have you on the post-op list with the other guys. God speed on your journey to Rutledgeville. Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2000 Report Share Posted November 6, 2000 I am considering the surgery and I will have to be self pay. I was wondering if someone can help me to determine the total cost. I have heard I need to stay in Durham for 5 days even though I live about 2 hours away. Could someone give me the break down cost that I need to prepare for. Thank you. I am starting my packet and would love to hear from contacts who have had the surgery. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2000 Report Share Posted November 6, 2000 Cheryl, I faxed my letter then called to make sure they got it. When I called they had NOT recieved it so I had to refax and I called back immediately and had the girl go check the fax to make sure they got it the second time and they did. I'm not sure whether or not the 80/20 applies only if you have not already met your deductible, that may be so, I'll have to check on that and let you know. I'll look in the book and see and if it is not there it is probably on the website. It should not be a problem though for when you have surgery because any cost to you other than what Dr. R requires upfront should be billed after you have had surgery and the bills have been turned in to insurance. I know someone who has the State Teachers plan who had this surgery last year and the little bit she paid out of pocket was to the hospital and she made payment arrangements for that. Price pre-op 12-6-00 --- Cdenisell@... wrote: > Hi , > > It was reassuring to hear you say that the State > Teacher's plan is not a big > hassle. I'm sending my letter tomorrow. Did you > mail or fax? Also, doesn't > the 80/20 just apply if you have not already met > your deductible and exceeded > the $1000 out of pocket costs? I thought other than > that there was only the > physician co-pay for clinic and the $75 co-pay for > hospital. That could make > a difference in how soon I can have the surgery. > > Thanks > Cheryl in NC > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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