Question about Dr. Baker??? What do you think?

I called and asked for one of their information packets. I got it in the mail today. And I was wondering if any of you had gotten one. I assume that if he did your surgery, you had to fill out his questionare? Well, forgive me for saying but it seems just a little ( LOT!!) overboard. Why does he need all of this information just to do the surgery? I mean so many personal things and all? The surgeons here don't ask all of this stuff. They just go over the good and bad things about what could and would happen and that is about it. I guess they figure like me that if you are thinking about haveing this surgery you are serious enough. I mean would any one do this on a whim? And what is the point of all the questions? Some seem legit, but some are just plain nosey. And I don't see the need for him to know everything he is asking. Medical stuff yes, but the rest shouldn't be an issue for him. What is the deal? I don't mean to be ugly or anything, I just want to know. And why all the medical test? Also not needed by the surgeons here.

I had Dr. Baker. At first I thought it was a lot of questions as well. Once you meet Dr. Baker and listen to him you get to understand why all the questions. While in the Dr.s office some people forget to mention family histories of certain medical problems...this way he knows. If you think you don't have sleep apnea but answer his questions a certain way, always tell the truth, you may have to have a sleep study. There is a rhyme and reason for all the Dr. Baker asks. He is thorough in every detail. I am a little over 3 months out and have zero problems. Two of my best friends had Dr. Baker same thing. Countless other friends I have met on this site had Dr. Baker and would say the same thing. What does it hurt to feel out the papers...if the doctors where you are at don't ask some of the questions I would wonder why. Good Luck and keep us posted. Angela Pruitt open rny 1-26-04 470/400/???

Bonnie, When it comes to Dr. Baker, He wants you to understand and know what caused this problem in the first place. and He as far as Dr.'s figuring you are serious if you are thinking about haveing the surgery. Well I know of 2 people personaly who had the surgery and not by Dr. Baker. The werent ready in there heads. 1 of them lost alot of weight alright but she also left her kids and husband and doesn't take her vitamens and has turned to drugs and Alcohal. It is a real shame she couldn't handel all the attention she got after losing all that weight. She is with a guy now who is a drug attic and she joins right in like an Idiot. She was a very good friend of mine. Now I rearly see her. She apparently had allot of issues that weren't taken care of by her Dr. That is one reason why he has all the questions. He gives you a great tool and you need to be able to use it. And your right something's maybe private. and shouldn't be an Issue. But sometimes those same issues can come back and bite you on the butt. I had no problems giving him or anyone all the info they need or wan't. This is one thing that helps me allot with my own Issues. He is a wonderful surgeon and a great Dr. Hugs Debbie Moya Dr. Baker 9/22/03 354/188/147

Well, I guess I can see some of what you are saying. But, it seems like just so many more hoops to jump through. And I don't think it should be that way. I mean which one of us doesn't know how we got this way? Who has been on a number of diets and doesn't know what a serving size is? I guess what I am getting at is that it seems sort of judgemental to me. And I am of the mind set that it is my buisness. Weather or not I choose to have this surgery is MY buisness. So why does my spouse have to sign papers? What if my spouse doesn't want me to have the surgery? Will he not do the surgery then? What happened to Dr. patient confidentiality (sp?) And even some of the test? Just that much more money I have to come up with? Like I have any? And are they truely necessary for him to do the surgery? I am thinking no wonder insurance wouldn't pay for some of this. Some of it just doesn't seem all together necessary. Sorry, I gotta go for now. Will try and explain better later.

Lab tests: most surgeons/hospitals are requiring more people to have HIV and Hepititus testing pre-op. The TSH and T4 are thyroid and hormonal tests. These are used because some people have thyroid and hormonal problems that contribute to the weight and don't know it. I hope this helps. Good Luck Angela

Dr. Baker is extermely controlling and particular. He is demanding of his patients and of the hospital staff. It is sometimes irritating, but his complication rates are much lower than the national averages. Also, his success rate in getting the procedure covered by insurance or other providers is way above average. The information pack is a tool that helps with this. The truth is that obesity is both a physical and emotional problem. Surgeons can operate on the body and change the physiology to support weight loss, but they cannot operate on your head. WLS is not a "fix" for obesity. The many who have had the surgery and not lost as they should, or who have regained the lost weight bear this out. Success is as much a matter of changing your attitudes about food and your lifestyle as it is having the physical modifications. Dr. Baker wants to see that both of these things happen. He comes on very tough and pushy. It is because he cares and wants to make a real difference in his patients' lives and health. If you are not ready to integrate this opportunity into your whole self (medical, physical, emotional, intellectual), you may not be ready for the surgery. Give it some serious thought. Joy -41 lbs

Joy, You have made some very great points. Just wanted to let you know. You pretty much summed it up in a nut shell. Hugs Debbie Moya Dr. Baker 9/22/03 354/186/147

(1.) Dr. Baker is extermely controlling and particular. He is demanding of his patients and of the hospital staff. It is sometimes irritating, but his complication rates are much lower than the national averages. Also, his success rate in getting the procedure covered by insurance or other providers is way above average. The information pack is a tool that helps with this. (This much is apparently true from all of you that have used his service to have WLS. ) (2.) The truth is that obesity is both a physical and emotional problem. Surgeons can operate on the body and change the physiology to support weight loss, but they cannot operate on your head. WLS is not a "fix" for obesity. The many who have had the surgery and not lost as they should, or who have regained the lost weight bear this out. Success is as much a matter of changing your attitudes about food and your lifestyle as it is having the physical modifications. ( Excluding the physical modifications, this can be said for any diet. And how many times have we all been told that loseing weight is simply a matter of changing your attitude towards food and lifestyle?) (3.) Dr. Baker wants to see that both of these things happen. He comes on very tough and pushy. It is because he cares and wants to make a real difference in his patients' lives and health. Ok, apparently he's from the school of tough love? I understand there are times where tough love is necessary. I am not convinced that is the best policy always with all people. But apparently this is his way of doing things? (4.) If you are not ready to integrate this opportunity into your whole self (medical, physical, emotional, intellectual), you may not be ready for the surgery. Give it some serious thought. Please explain this comment. Isn't the medical, physical part of this opportunity what allows you to integrate the emotional, intelectual side of this into your life? Isn't it what allows you to change your attitude towards food and your lifestyle? Isn't WLS the tool that allows or helps you to acheive success. Without the medical, physical part of this, it wouldn't be any different than any other diet. Or is it? If so please explain. Lastly, I guess since I don't have insurance that will pay for any of this and has an exclusion policy for anything even remotely conscerning it, I sort of feel this stigma attached to me. Like there is somethig wrong with me since I can't "JUST EAT LESS AND EXERCISE MORE" Like I am somehow less human than other people. I mean all the questions and stern, dissaproving stares and the shakeing of the head. All the stuff I have had to endured and continue to endure, all in the hopes of getting to have this surgery, this tool; the hoops I am haveing to jump through, ect.ect.ect.... Not to mention getting medical care for all the comorbidities I suffer. I mean I don't even want to go anywhere because I don't want people to see me. I don't want folks to stare at me like I have three heads or something. I hate leaving my house. How does Dr. Baker change that? Short of the medical, physical part. The actual WLS it's self. Some of the questions just seemed like just more of the same. I guess it is all in my head. I just didn't understand why ALL the questions were necessary and they just seemed so familiar to what has been going on in my life. I probably shouldn't take it as an insult and I try not to. Perhaps I just need to think more of myself. I am trying. I am sorry, I didn't mean to be saying anything bad about DR. Baker. Honestly! I hope what I have said wasn't taken that way. I was honestly trying to understand the need for some of the information. I still don't. I guess it really doesn't matter anyway. As far as giving it some serious thought? Imagine what life would be like at #374.8 pounds.( down from #399, low carb diet ) I Think about it all the time. The 24 pounds aren't even noticable to me, much less anyone else.I think about what life was like when I could move. When I could go out in public and no one noticed me. When I could sleep laying down without a CPCP and a back ache. When I could get into the bath tub and take a long bubble bath. When I could wipe my own bottom without acrobatics and some sort of long wet towel. When I could go to the movies with my children and fit into the seats. Serious thought? I have friends and family that give me diet books and tapes for Christmas and birthdays. They say "Please don't be offended, I just want to help you." SERIOUS THOUGHT??? When it's all said and done, If I could have this surgery and weigh what you weighed going in, I would consider it a great accomplishment. If there is something I am missing here, please tell me. And thank you so much for trying to help.

I'm sorry that I offended you. We all come from slightly different places, but all of us have experienced pain (emotional and physical) in our obesity. This surgery is the most valuable tool I have ever experienced, but it is just a tool. It will not take the place of diet and exercise--it just makes that work for us for the first time. That opportunity is invaluable. But some people have become so burned out on diets not working that they are not ready to try again. Or others perhaps have never disciplined themselves to try at all. I don't know you, nor would I presume to judge you. I just know that Dr. B has seen many different things and this approach is what he has found to work best. If you have a personality conflict with him, you wouldn't be the first! I hope that you are able to have the surgery, and whatever you decide, you find a comfort level with whatever doctor you choose.

Hi Bonnie, Your current weight is very close to what I weighed at the time of my surgery. I was 373 lbs. and dying. I knew Dr. Baker from when he'd performed my husband's WLS two years ago, and I trusted him, so I chose him. We did a lot of research before my hubby's surgery, and found Dr. Baker to have one of the best reputations in the country. He is the best surgeon for high-risk patients, as well, which my hubby and I both were. He has patients from all over the world referred to him by their doctors because of their risk factor. He also has one of the best, lowest mortality and complication rate of all surgeons. And he has performed over 3000 WLS. Personally, I wasn't offended at his questioning, because I understood that it was a very big decision, and he wants everyone who comes to him for help, to realize that they are making a life-altering decision. Your life will never be the same after WLS. For me and my hubby, it was worth it. I didn't feel the tests were asking too much, either. The fact that he wants the information makes me feel that he cares about my health. After all, he isn't making any money off the tests -- some can be done at your local health department, and the others can be done at your local clinic. I know you didn't mean any offense, and I'm not taking it as such. I'm just trying to explain why I chose him and actually appreciated the fact that he takes the time and effort to find out about you and your current health. There are too many "assembly line" surgeons out there who learn this procedure in a weekend and start butchering people, no pre-op plan, no follow up, no information, no nothing. Just usher you in, cut you up, send you home. That is WAY too dangerous. I'd much rather have a surgeon who is thorough. I hope if you decide to have the surgery that you will go with Dr. Baker, as he is the best surgeon for WLS. I wish you the best in your journey! Tammy 373/330/160?