I need help

I need help finding a doc that takes medicare and will preform surgery on a person with a BMI of 81.5----- My name is Angie, I'm a 32 yr old woman with a BMI of 81.5 and my health problems are as follows: high blood pressure sleep apena diabetis degenaritive arthritis high colestrol nuropathy in my feet depression Today I was turned down for the 2nd time by a surgeon who I thought would preform surgery on me. When I called his office the first thing I asked was if they did patients over 450 lbs because the hospitals around my home do not. The answer was yes they do patients up to 800 lbs. So my hopes were high and I was very excitied to get this done. I got a phone call about an hour ago saying that the doctor will not preform surgery on me do to my BMI and underlying health problems. So once again my hopes are smashed. I have all the preop testing done and am well aware of the risks and complications that could occur with this surgery. That is a chance I am willing to take. It's either surgery or die for me. I weight 534 lbs and am 5'8" tall. I am really starting to lose my hope for having this surgery. I know this is the tool I need to lose my weight and stay reasonably healthy. I have been over weight since I was 2 so I've never known what it's like to be skinny and DO NOT have the desire to be skinny. I just want to be healthy and walk and live my life again. Thanks for any and all advice---and yes I have been searching and searching and searching....

Hey Angie - I'm Angie. I am not sure how to answer your question because I just don't know. My BMI was a little over 40 when I had my surgery so I don't have the answer for that. I can tell you my surgeon is wonderful. It is Dr. Mark Gibbs and I had my surgery done at Baptist Medical in Little Rock. I don't have his phone number with me but you can find him on the site - he has a surgeon's page and get it there. He was amazing and took excellent care of me. All I can tell you is keep going. Only you care enough about it to make it happen so you just dig in your heels and keep trying. AT

Hey Angie I am not sure how far you are willing to travel but my husband had his RNY in Shreveport by Dr. Kenneth Jones. His BMI was aroung 80 he weighed 430lbs, and that was two years ago and is now down to 190. You can get his info by googling his name. I have his number if you want to call just let me know. I to used Dr. Gibbs in May, only because my insurance will not cover anyone unless they are in Arkansas. He is a good surgeon, just not very personable.  Good Luck, I know how the rejections can be, one minute you are approved, then the next they put up a road block. Just hang in there, and give it to the LORD he will get you through. I don't know what I would've done without him and my husband.

Best of luck to you, Angie.  I hope you will keep searching and searching until you find just the right surgeon for you.  I used Dr. Gibbs in Little Rock and think he did an awesome job, but I'm not sure about his policy for accepting patients re: their BMI.  Bless you.  I hope you find exactly what you are looking for. casey

My doctor, who is in Shreveport La., has operated on people at 780 pounds with multiple problems.  I had, sleep apnea, diabetis, high blood pressure and still have the rheumatoid arthritis.  He takes medicare too.  give him a call.

Hi Angie, My name is Rhonda, and I used Dr. John Baker in Little Rock, and he is AWESOME!!   I cannot say anything negative about him at all, and I know he takes medicare.  He is very compassionate, attentive to your needs.  He requires you to attend a seminar, support group and do an phone conference with his nutritionist, but I would let him do this surgery on me again tomorrow.  My BMI was 41 or so but he did a great job.  Feel free to message me personally, or on the forum for any other questions.  Ill be glad to help. Rhonda 80 POUNDS GONE FOREVER

Made a mistake, thats 86 pounds gone forever!!!

Hello, currently in Arkansas there is one hospital (center of excellence) that will take Medicare/Medicaid patients, that is Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.  There are only 2 surgeons who can take Medicare/Medicaid as well, they are Dr. John W. Baker in Little Rock (501) 221-9175 his website is http://www.obesity-surgery.net The other surgeon is Dr. Mark R. Gibbs (501) 227-9080 I do not know if he has a website or not. Make sure that you have atleast 18 months out of the last 24 months of failed supervised dietary attempts through your dr (or dr's if you have more than one) and that they are in your medical files, because medicare won't pay for your surgery unless you have this.  I know Dr. Baker is strict about this and will not take you as a patient if you have not tried to lose weight on your own. The best thing you can do is call each surgeon and talk to someone in their offices and ask questions and request a packet to fill out.  Each Dr will want you to attend their seminar/class, there you can learn more about the surgeries they do and help you make a decision on which surgeon would be best for you.