excited

well i have been lurking around for the past 2 years on here and i just found this bord tonight didnt know they had 1 for CT. anyways iv been researching bariatric surgry for 3 years i was draging my feet for about 2 i was going to go and have it done in new haven with DR bell but i didnt like that i couldnt talk to him or any1 at his office inless i got all my stuff done, the 6 month thing for my ins. and all the other stuff they need u to do. i dont mind doing it i just wanted to feel like i was ready b4 i did it all. anyway so recently my RH Dr told me i have FMS and im geting biger and worse so he told my PCP that he wanted me to go to Hartford Hos cuz he said they would treet me better so anyways i just found out today that my PCP found a DR in Hartford and they gave me the # and they want me to call them and they will set up for me to go to info seminor (spelling?) and then they will schedual for my consault im so excited i just had to tell every 1. its finlay going my way and moving forward.

Congratulations on your decision....I'm almost at the end of all my pre-op stuff.  I'll be having my surgery at St. Francis in Hartford. hopefully sometime in May.  I think it's great that you've done a lot of research.  I've done that, too, and these boards have been such a help with that.  Best of Luck!

Congrats! I have heard nothing but good things about Dr. Tichler. My hubby works with someone who went to him and loves him.

Congratulations on your decision.  I too felt the same way about the "procedures" of Dr. Bell's office.  I have noted this in my review of his staff in my profile.  That being said, I absolutely have the highest regard for Dr. Bell and his staff, and Yale New haven Hospital.  I have had no complications, and now I enjoy the high level of aftercare by Dr. Bell, as well as the monthly support group meetings.  He is a true professional, and he really cares about what he does.  I wish you the very best of luck on your journey!

Congratulations on starting your journey!! Just to give you a timeline on the Dr. Bell thing, I started at the end of February 05 and could have been scheduled for surgery in the beginning of June 05 so my timeline would have been about 3 months from my first phone call to my surgery.  I had to wait until July in order to be able to take the time of at work though.  I didn't have to do a six month diet thing for my insurance. While he doesn't do a consult until everything is in order, you can go to any of the support groups and Dr. Bell does attend at those so you can meet him that way while still a pre-op.   You can also email him and he will respond to you.   Their office process is basically they send you a pile of forms to fill out and you make an appointment with a NUT and get your phych done, send it all in and within a few weeks you then see Dr. Bell.  I can see why it's frustrating to newbies but in reality it makes sense as everything is in order and you will get scheduled for your surgery faster that way.  It saves everybody time in the long run.  Dr. Bell is salaried by Yale so he doesn't run those info type sessions that the other surgeons do since drumming up business to do more surgeries doesn't earn him any extra $$.   The care you receive from him once you're in and post op is first class all the way.  He's got the best bedside manner of any surgeon I have ever had hands down.  I actually look forward every year to my follow up visits with him. My advise to move along quickly with any surgeon would be to schedule a NUT appointment and psych appointment and get letters from two of your doctors recommending you for surgery.  Having this stuff ready and out of the way will speed along your insurance approval process tremendously.   ~Sue 263/150

Susan is right - if you can prebook yourself for any of these things it will move you along faster.  I have all the criteria still....if you need names and phone numbers, let me know and I will email you.