Just starting, need info on May 5th.

Ok here I go with wanting more info. I see my PCP in the am and i am going to break the news to her that I want surgery for this body. I have high blood pressure and have been on meds for 15 years or so and the response by drs is push yourself away from the table. Jerks!!!!! How many times does one have to push. I should be in another country by now or at least another time zone. I also have asthma that gets worst each year. I take alot of meds for that more than blood pressure. Anyway, I am in real need for info and am hungery (sorry ) for any. I live in Spring Hill and it is just an 1 1/2 hr away to drive to Orlando. Do I need to stay overnite or can I just attend one day and get the info I need? Is it only one day? What time would this all start and what discussion groups should I attend first. I know I will have a fight on my hands with the insurance, I have bcbs of fl and they have stopped paying for it unless necessary. (live in my shoes for one day---it WILL be necessary). The 5 year will not be a problem if I can get the info from the doctors I have had (which have been many). Try to find someone who you can talk to about this issue here. I have walked out on them crying after what they have said. This is not something I want to be. No one plays as a small child that I want to be obese when I grow up. I have not picked anyone yet to do the surgery, I am not even sure which is best for me. I have had info from some of you to talk and I plan on doing that after the talk with my dr tomorrow. I plan on going to Dr Zarad's seminar on the 14th, and want to talk with Overcash's office. I do not want to go to Tampa General. My husband has a kidney transplant and I do not feel that hospital is clean enough. Snob I guess. I know this is long and I am sorry but wanted to try and cover what I need. I have read alot of the posts and you all seem like you care and are willing to direct me. Sorry, one more, that time frame from start to surgery is usual. I know every one is different but on average. Thanks Sandy (confused)

Hello Sandy, I know how you feel, when I started my process my Dr was a jerk & wasnt for surgery at all. I now have changed to another primary Dr. I too had to fight with my insurance company. But it's worth the fight. It may seem like it's never gonna happen, at least thats what I thought after my 3rd denial. You have co morbs., so that will make your fight easier. I went with Overcash, my 1st appt. with him took less than an hour, so you wouldn't need to do any overnight trip. I never went to Jrwald, so I don't know about his process. Everyone's time frame is different, I went to my 1st appt. with Overcash 1/06 & had my surgery 11/22/06. But it can happen sooner than that. Email me if you wanna talk. [email protected]

Sandy Look above in EVENTS, for info on & where for the OH Conference in May'07. You can drive over that morning and stay part or the entire day. Which we will hope you do stay to the Eventful endding. I was Pre-op my first year attending also. Lunch is included with your attendence fee ($20.00 in advance, $35.00 at the door). As to Surgeon's have you've looked at Dr.Rehnke at the Palms of Pasadena Hospital in St.Petersburg? Here is his Website: http://www.obesitynomorefl.com/ Or the 3 Surgeons who work within the Morton Plant Hospital cicuit of Clearwater, FL.