Dr John Baker patients.

I have a question for you. My cousin has been approved and is undergoing blood tests before she even has her first appointment with him. They gave the insurance company a date for asurgery as April 5th but since she has yet to even meet the good Dr I am assuming that that will not actually be her date. HOw does this work with this Dr. I did not get any sort of surgery dates until I was approved and had seen my Dr. After my first visit I was called with a date. I am planning on being there for her for her surgery but I need to kinda know how this is going to work so I can plan a little trip before I go be with her. Thank you in advance for your help and explaining. Chelle E. -44 lbs

hello chelle, first she will go to the consult at dr. bakers and then to the hospital where the will do her bloodwork. be prepared to stay all day. they give you a date so that you will have that spot, but things can change, if any of her bloodwork is off they will change the date or postpone it, at the consult they will show a film, talk to you and do a semi-exam of your stomach. dr. baker is the best, i am 5 months out and have had no problems at all. a word of warning though at your first consult he is very demanding and will question you every chance he gets.this is to make sure that you are ready to do this.where is your cousin from ? take care and i wish her the best. - amanda

She is doing all her blood work this week. She still doesn't have a consult day. She is about done with her blood work. My cousin lives in Rogers. I live in Alabama and won't be able to go with her to her first appointment but her husband will. I had surgery 11 1/2 weeks ago and I am her angel. Thank you for all your help and filling me in on what to expect.

That probably IS her date. Their steps are: 1. Insurance approval. This may require some tests to support whatever basis is used for approval. This also requires an extensive questionaire that Dr. Baker reviews before the insurance is even submitted for him to determine if the person is qualified. 2. Once approval is done, they schedule the surgery and consultation dates. These are usually a week or two apart. 3. Consultation Day is an all-day thing. Mine was 7:30 am - 5:30 pm. You can bring a family member or friend and this is encouraged. This consists of pulling last papers together, weighing in, individual exam by the doctor, individual meeting with the dietician, group education (about 4 patients) with the dietitician, group education with Dr. Baker. This ends about 2:30, with no lunch break. Bring a snack, but it had better not be junk food! Then you shuttle over to the hospital for pre-registration, blood work, EKG, chest xray. The education part is where they like family/friends to be. He will not repeat this post-op on day of surgery. 4. Surgery Day - show up and go for it. Who is your cousin? We'd love to have her posting! Joy (surgery 3/1)

Thank you so much for breaking it down. That really helps a lot. She have completed all her initial paperwork and had approval with a date. She is just this week taking care of all her blood work. I don't believe she has a consult date yet. She hasn't mentioned it, she would if she had one. My cousin and Sheila D. Her profile can been seen at:http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=D1064885942 I am her angel and plan on being there for her surgery day. Her husband will be her main support I just had surgery myself almost 12 weeks ago and wnated to be there for my best friend.

That's so cool that you are coming that far for her! I just realized you just went through this too. You could teach the education classes from first-hand experience! Dr. Baker is a really good doctor. Sheila has chosen the best! Joy

I am there for her for anything. Her and I are close, like sisters. and this is the one thing her and I can share together besides being there for her husband. Yes, I had surgery on December 22nd. She started her research a few months after I did and we found out that each of us were looking into the surgery at the same tiime before we actually told each other. Yes, we both discovered that Dr Baker is really great. She would pick a Dr and I woulddresearch him online, I actully am on a web site support group with one of his patients and she was able to let me know the sort of Dr he was. I am greatful she found such an experienced Dr. Thank you so much for your help. I emailed her everyones responses so she knows as well as I do waht to expect.

Once Dr Baker gives your insurance a date, they do the best to make it definite. Everything everyone else has said here is very true for his process. However make sure your cousin is aware that he has a no nonsense approach. At first he takes a "My way or the highway" attitude, but that all changes after surgery. He just wants you to be prepared for anything and to make sure that you are 100% positive this is what you want and need. If your cousin has any more questions, let her know she can email me anytime. Luv & Hugs, Karin 374/257/160 RNY 8/12/03 Dr Baker

Karin, Thank you for the information. I will make sure she knows this. I think I have more questions then she does right now since her (your) Dr does things so differently then my Dr does. Every Dr is different so I am trying to figure all this out. I appreciate your help.

Hi, my husband had his surgery with Dr. Baker two and a half years ago, and he also got his date before he ever met with the doctor. It was actually three months before he met the doctor. I am having surgery with Dr. Baker myself in three weeks on March 31. My husband's surgery went great, Dr. Baker is a great doctor, and I feel safe having him as my surgeon too.