The WISH CENTER!!

Ok....so this is my first post ever. I am very excited & pleased to post! Has everyone seen the commercials on TV for The Wish Center? I am so glad that I did! On Aug 29th, 2003 I went to a required seminar at the Wish Center. It was very informative! I have been researching and waiting for this operation for 2 years. Dr. Salvino is sooooo nice & his staff are the best! So a couple weeks after the seminar I called and scheduled my first appointment for Oct. 13th. The reason I waited was family and money issues....see The Wish Center not only takes insurance (however not Medicaid) but they also have financing available. For those of us uninsured (yep I have no medical insurance) The Wish Center will FINANCE you!! The total cost for all visits, surgery & hospital stay is around $22,000!!!!! I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to know that it does not cost the patient $40k or more! Ok, so I had my appointment on Oct 13th & guess what?!?!?! You get to see all the people you need to without having to make appointments outside the doctors office (ie Psych, Nutritionist, Dietician, Lab Work, etc)! The only thing I did have to do outside the Center was to get a chest x-ray. They give you so much information on the surgery (they ONLY perform Gastric Bypass!) and their office is very comfortable! They gave me instructions & a diet to follow until my next visit Dec 8th! On Dec 8th I went back for my second visit & everything was a go since I had done everything they had asked me to. Got more information on the surgery & they tell you many of the risks. That about scared me out of it right there but then I started thinking about how my life may turn out if I don't have this surgery (medical conditions that run in my family)! Ugh! So, I am going to be in a private room at the hospital. And I set my date for surgery later in the day as the surgery scheduler was not in before I left the office. My date is set for Dec 30th! I am anxious, nervous, scared, etc all at the same time!

CONGRATULATIONS DEBRA I AM SOOOO PROUD OF YOU TO TAKE THE JOURNEY TO THE OTHER SIDE THIS IS THE BEST NEW YEARS GIFT TO YOUR SELF THAT YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE !!! MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALONG WITH THE ALMIGHTY ONE HOLDING YOU IN HIS ARMS. MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU. YOUR WLS SISTER, QUEEN DIVA

Hi Debra, I am having my surgery on monday, 12/22 with the WISH center. Dr Dietrick will be doing it. I thought Dr. Salvino only comes down to assist Dr. Dietrick with the laps? I love their program also. I feel I need the structure & follow up & am comfortable that I can call when I need help & will get a response , Keep in touch. Dawn

Hi Debra I have insurance but so far have been denied and I live right across street from TNC hospital where the wish center does seminars, you say the cost is 22K, do they say how much you have to pay up front and what the monthly payments are. Am hoping this is a last resort for me but if it is then I will have to take that route. Peachie

I just wanted to let you all know that the Wish Center is wonderful! I had surgery with Dr. Salvino at Town and Country on September 26th (the first week of Wish Center surgeries in Tampa). It's a great set-up. The dietician, exercise guru, financial advisors, nurses and staff are all amazing! I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a self-pay option. Also, for those of you looking to save even more money, ask them to give you prescriptions for the blood work, chest x-ray, etc and if you have a great relationship with your PCP they will rewrite them and most insurance companies will cover them in that case. Good luck to all of you!

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE WRITE ME AT SMILEYSTOREY @AOL.COM AND GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN ON THE WISH CENTER PLLLLLLLEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSEEEEEE. THANKS SO VERY MUCH

hi, go to www.wishcenter.org and you can get all you need to know from the site! i have an appt. to go see them myself. good luck