New surgeon

Does anyone know if their surgeon accepts patients  from another office - I am fed up with the staff at my surgeons office. Between cancelled appointments and not getting back to me  when I call. Let me explain - I was banded almost tow years ago and all went fine until recently - Well actually last summer when it was thought I had a leak and then it was discovered that the doc missed the port when giving a fill and I wen months without a fill because I couldnt get an appointment then went to Mexico for a few weeks. Now I am overfilled and concerned that the daily pb and vomitting will hurt my band but but cannot get an appointment until late in the month - No one at he office seems towant to hear from me - I am frustrtated and am considering finding someone else to take on my post surgical care. - With a band that goes on for quite a while. I know most docs dont want to take on another surgeons patient but I feel I am being ignored.  Cananyone help with info Betty

I highly recommend Dr. Raftopoulos out of St Francis, though I am preop, he and his staff/office have been awesome!!

Thanks for  posting this  info...I am thinking about changing as well.  I'll have o check out Dr. Raft for consideration

I'm with Annette - Dr Raft is awesome an he does accept other patients who previously had WLS.  He is out of St. Francis.  Call Andrea.  Here is their website:  http://www.saintfrancisdoctors.com/bariatriccenter/

Hello,  I am sort of new to the website (join about a month ago, first post). This is a little off subject however I though this would be a best thread to ask. I'm not looking for a new surgeon however I am looking for everyone's comments.... I was wondering if anyone has Dr. Timothy Elrich as a surgeon. I guess I am wondering how has everyone's experience with him and the office has been.  My insurance requires a 6 months diet and so I was sent on my way to wait out the 6 months. Personally, he is nice person but I sort of feel a little dismissed.  Any opinions or comments.... Thanks and Good Luck Everyone!!!

Have you done any of your other testing yet?  I didn't have that surgeon, but my insurance also required 6 months of supervised diet.  I would think that your surgeon would have you do the other required testing during that 6 month period, so that you're ready to go in 6 months.  Good luck!

Hi Danielle,  Thank you for replying. I have starting my testing. So far I have complete the ultrasound for gallstones, a sleep study, and my blood work. I THINK I need to have a Upper Endoscopy since I was givin Dr. Wang Lam contact info but it wasn't checked on my Pre-op worksheet.  I was just just wondering if any one had more information. Thanks for the info.

Dr. Ehrlich is part of the team along with my surgeon, Dr. Neil Floch. While Dr. E is not my surgeon, I can tel you this. He is excellent as a surgeon. He is fierce in his commitment to his patients. He expects his patients to do their part and holds nothing back when communicating that to them. While his bedside manner is not warm and fuzzy,  he cares deeply about his patients. I have not been in the office for a while, so I cannot tell you how that is. This I know... you have the right to feel heard. I would say just that. " I need to be heard when I am here. " As for the 6 month diet requirement, I had to do the same. IF you are seeing Nancy Murphy (my awesome nutritionist), then you are in the right  hands. She is a true listener and will guide you through the process of meeting your insurance requirement and at the same time prepare you for post op eating. It's worth the wait. It is not time lost or in vain. One more note. You can switch docs in the practice if you choose to do so. Neil is more warm and fuzzy. And of course, there is Danielle. She is the queen of listening and caring. Good luck. Towanda

Thank you so much for the info. I don't have intentions to changes surgoens. I was just wondering if anyone else any experience with Dr. Ehlrich. Thanks for the reassurance. Nancy Murphy is my nutritionist and I am very happy with her. I am now in month 3 and I guess the waiting game is getting to me. I guess I am getting nervous and anxious.  How were you able to make through the 6 months. Just wondering... Thanks again. 

Betty: Some thoughts to ponder. We are pretty fragile by the time we get to this point, having been (many of us-perhaps not all) pushed aside by society because of how we look. So going in we are in need of reassurance. And having a doc who is not the fuzziest, can be a bit unsettling. I have a sense that you can work around that and if not, change to one of the bros. Enough about that. As for Nancy... an angel in the form of a caring nutritionist... and those dreaded 6 months... Think of it this way... not as a waiting game, but as a learning time. Think of it as a time to prepare your "head" as well as your body. Many people go into this with no conscious intent of making any emotional/eating ha*****anges. Not a good plan for longterm success. We think, because we have been on every diet under the sun, we know. But I have a strong sense... we really don't. This miracle requires us to be active participants. So this time (now only 3 remaining months)  with a caring and present nutritionist who is well versed with how we need to eat pre and post op, is a golden opp for you. I looked at it that way. This is my time to slowly and steadily give myself a true education about eating well and properly. Learn, question, try things out. This is your time. This is NOT A WASTE OF TIME. It is not a waiting game... it is part of the plan. It is not a punishment, but rather a new beginning. It is your time to learn how to create new habits. Talk to Nancy about how you and she, as a team, can make some changes as you approach that golden date. Remember it is a process. A journey of many steps that will open you up to meet the true you. Think of it as doing the prerequisites at a community college before going to the big university. Nothing that teaches us is in vain. Hang in there. You are worth all the time and effort. Towanda