Looking for a New Doctor

I have given up on the surgeon here in Jonesboro. I simply cant lose the amount of weight he insists upon. I know some do it...and thats great for them..but I cant do it, nor should I have to lose weight to have weight loss surgery..ridiculous....some of you might not agree...and thats ok.. I do know theres lots of doctors that dont require it...doesnt mean they wont put me on a diet...which is fine..but they arent going to make me lose weight. Does anyone know of a doctor in Arkansas that does the Sleeve? Im looking in the LR area. Id love to find one that takes Medicare as well as does the Sleeve bc thats the surgery Ive decided would be best for me. Ive talked with Dr. Wellborn and Dr. Baker's offices...neither one do the Sleeve...whos left?

I am not to familiar with the sleeve, well okay, I don't know anything about the sleeve LOL but have you taken a look at the OH forum for the sleeve?  Just put your mouse over Forums (right under the search box) and a menu will pop up with different forum names, and I see Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, which I am assuming is what the sleeve is (like I said I don't know anything about it).  I am sure you can find a surgeon there with others who have had that surgery.  Also, even if Dr Baker and Dr Wellborn don't do that surgery, they should know of other surgeon's in the state who do it, and can give you some names and numbers to help you on your journey.  I am sorry to hear that you had to give up on your surgeon, I know how hard that liquid diet can be.  Did you discuss with him your worries over not getting enough weight off for him?  Surely if he sees your trying he can set a more realistic goal for you.  Since your surgeon was in Jonesboro, have you tried looking at surgeons in MO that are near the AR border?  Here is the link to the Surgical Review Boards list of surgeons in MO that are able to take Medicare, you can find one that is close to you, and call and see if they do the sleeve.  I wish you good luck in your search.  Please keep us updated, and feel free to share information with all of us about the sleeve, and if you should get it done, share with us your journey with it. EDITED TO ADD:  Sorry I forgot to include the link to the Surgical Review Board http://www.surgicalreview.org/locate.aspx?state=US-MO#srchResults

Thank you.  Ive been on the VSG boards for some time now. The surgeon here in Jonesboro talked to me about the Sleeve - I had never heard of it. I got home and did my research and feel its a great option for me.  Ive looked at bordering states, but I know I probably missed some surgeons. Ive looked here on OH for surgeons in MO - they were all at least 4 hrs from me and I cant make trips like that back and forth - if it was just a one time trip there and back, it would be ok...but I would have to make several doc office visits, etc...and thats not a good option, unfortunately.  Im gonna take a look at the link you gave me...see what more I can find...thanks so much..

Lisa, I just wanted to let you know that Dr. Wellborn did not require me to lose one lb. before surgery. I started out with a 68 bmi..He also got me approved in 2 weeks!!! I was on medicade then. I had gastric bypass and have lost over 200lbs. I feel awesome and now getting ready for ps. I am anemic and was before I had rny so I gotta get that up before ps. If you need any questions answered I will be glad to help.

WOW 200 lbs....how awesome is that.    Have you had any trouble out of your RNY?  Ive been so against it bc of the malabsorption issues, that I really have only considered it once. Dr. Wellborn doesnt take Medicare though. I emailed Suzan yesterday, asking questions. I was so shocked that she got back to me so quickly. I was a bit discouraged when she said that they dont take Medicare yet nor do they do the Sleeve. I think if they took Medicare, I would consider the RNY again..

I posted about your liquids earlier post...Please hang in there... If you decide to go with the sleeve there is a lady from Conway that went to Mexico to have the sleeve done and her information should be on the sleeve message board...Shinn or something close to this is what she goes by on the board I htink I am not sure... Kathy

Lisa - I want to encourage you to not pitch the whole doctor just yet. You have progressed from excited to exasperated at a very quick rate and some of that may not have anything to do with the liquid diet. I tried to explain to someone thinking about WLS that it is hard to even comprehend the changes you will have to make until you are there - the liquid diet is some of the preparation forthat. Yes it will be easier after surgery because you have been physically altered to not want as much but the surgery does not take away the desire to eat or the desire to subsitute eating to meet our other needs (emotional, stress, etc). Getting control of the mental stuff is hard - and if you wait until after the surgery it's going to be even harder. The liquid diet forces some of that prior to the surgery.

The physical issues are there too. You may NEED to lose the weight ahead of time for your own safety during surgery. You need to ask yourself "Am I really ready to do what it takes to make this a success?" Going to Mexico isn't going to be the solution if you can't answer that question with yes. A yes answer will mean you will follow the program your doctor is requiring and you will prove to yourself and everyone around you that YES YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH! I know you are because I was - and sweetie I'm not anything special. I was just determined to make a permanent change in my life - are you there yet?

I don't mean to offend and I'm sure no better than anyone else - I just though you may need a little shaking to help you to see that only you can make the difference, not the surgeon, not the procedure and not us on this board - YOU are the key to the success or failure and you can do it.

I guess I do need to make a phone call to the surgeon here... I have not done so, but have been encouraged to call and tell him my troubles. I just dont think he will budge on the weight loss issue. And I just dont agree with the weight loss issue..I dont feel I should be forced to do it... Its not about going on a liquid diet for pre-op....i havent been on a liquid diet yet...I was just on a weight loss diet from the surgeon himself..which was worse than any protein shake ive ever tried..and being on low carb diets for so many yrs (on and off), Ive tried almost every shake there is. I dont mind going on a pre-op diet with the protein shakes....but i dont want to be told i HAVE to lose weight b4 they will agree to do the surgery. No, you didnt offend me at all....but believe me, Im not just jumping into one thing after another. This is on my mind 24/7 these days...all I do is think and research. I know Im ready for the surgery, mentally. I know it will be hard before, during, and after. I know Im strong enough, but i have to be given the chance...and so far, I have been given it yet.  I also have to think of the financial factor as well ...if I cant find a Medicare provider, I will have to be self pay... Mexico is the most inexpensive route available that Ive found so far. The surgeons in the US want so much money for doing the same job as the Mexican doctors.  I know that Im not going to be able to get this done until after the New Year...so I still have plenty of time to think and research...so Im not rushing into anything...just following leads and doing lots of research. I sure wish ALL surgeons would register with OH....would make my research alot easier lol

Lisa, One of the reasons your doctor is having you lose the weight is because of the equipment issues.  Many of the hospitals do not have ct scans to scan people over 400 pounds so the surgeons have the patients lose enough weight so that during surgery or after surgery if there's a problem, they can scan the patient instead of having to cut the patient open again.  Also, the equipment they do the actual surgery with requires a smaller liver that can only come about being on the liquid diet.  If you are set against doing the weight loss, my surgeon doesn't require the diet, of course he is in LA and is very strict with the post op diets.  I am still not eating a lot of beef and no pork and I am over a year out. 

I was just going to check on you...I feel I can really understand where you are with using the same surgeon and the same pre-diet and hope you are doing OK...please feel free to contact if you need to chat Kathy