Just got referred to Northern Colorado Surgical Assoc.

Hi I am Sarah and am an AF wife. I just got my referal from Tricare and am waiting on my paperwork to set up an appointment. I am 5'2 and weigh 216. My BMI is 40. I have several co-morbidies so I am hoping that they wont hassle me about the weight being borderline. I feel awful at this weight and have tried dieting for years. I am only 34 and can't imagine what will happen if I can't get this done. I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about the Ft. Collins clinic or hospital. I am having to drive there from Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota. I will have to stay at Warren AFB for post op in TLF I suppose. My husband will be here with the kids at home. How much assistance do you need after surgery will I probably be able to handle a week alone post op? I hope it will be laperscope if not then I know there is no way I can handle it in a hotel room alone. Sarah B.

Hi Sarah~ I don't know anything about the Ft. Collins clinic or hospital. I had my surgery 13 months ago and had several co-morbidities also and they have been gone ever since I had the surgery done.After surgery, I was kept in the hospital for 3 days (had mine laproscopic). They have you up and walking that same day. I stayed with my parents for a few weeks. You'll be sore but I know that I didn't need any help with anything. I'm sure everyone is different though. Good luck on your journey!

You are a very lucky lady!! They are wonderful!!! Northern Colorado Surgical is well known and the surgeons have a lot of experience. My surgery was done by Dr. Pettine and I have 3 friends that I knew before I had it done that had him too. We all think he is wonderful. I also have an acquaintence that had Dr. Quaid. They are absolutely wonderul and experienced surgeons and the hospital is recognized as a "Center of Excellence" by the Bariatric Association. The office staff is also very much a support staff and they provide you with a toll free number if you don't live in that area. They encourage you to call with questions and concerns and you just need to be sure you tell them you are having gastric bypass (or bariatric) surgery and the date you are scheduled. If the question is medical, they usually have the nurse call you back which they do in a timely manner. These surgeons prefer doing lap rather than open, but if they run into problems they reserve the option of changing to open. They normally require you to stay within a 1 hour drive for the first several days after you're released. Because of some secondary problems I was hospitalized for a couple of extra days but I was able to return home and care for myself when I was released. The hospital (Poudre Valley Hospital on S. Lemay) also can arrange reduced rates with motels etc. in the area for you and/or family members if you need it. I'm not sure where Ellsworth is located in SD, but I'm in southeast Colorado and drive 4-5 hours one way to get there and consider it worth all the hassle to know I have the quality of care I do have there. I asked for the name of someone to do my psych eval and was able to schedule it the same day as my first consult. I was given a surgery date on during the first consult and they took the ball and ran with it for me with my insurance. No problems at all although my insurance waited until just a few days before my scheduled date to apporve it. I went the day before for a pre-surgery check up followed by lab work at the hospital. Oh, they do require you see their nutritionist and your insurance may require that before approval. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Hugs, Shirley