Newbie Here

Hi Everyone, I have been lurking on this site for the last several months. I am working my way through all the phases leading up to surgery. I have already had my PCP write my letter of medical necessity and I also got one from my Orthopaedic Doctor. I have already had my appointment with spectra and have been cleared by everyone there including the Nutritionist, the Psychologist and Dr. Koche. My file has been sent to Dr. Murr & Dr. Gallagher. I thought I would be having Dr. Murr for my surgery but they made my appointment with Dr. Gallagher. My appointment with him is for December 2nd. I will have 4 months of my 6 month supervised diet by then. Does anybody know anything about Dr. Gallagher, what did you think about him. I found alot about Dr. Murr but can't find anything about Dr. Gallagher. I am really getting cautiously excited. I can't wait until we can submit it to the insurance company. I don't want to get my hopes up and then have them crushed so I am just taking it one step at a time. Hopefully by February or March I will be joining you all on the losers bench. Keep a spot open for me. Thanks for listening. If anyone has any input about Dr. Gallagher please let me know.

Welcome,, I wish you all the best,, I swear the pre-op stuff is so much more stressful,, just hang in there and your time will come Christy

Laurina, Welcome! I am pretty new here as well. The preop stuff can be a real challenge. I have read a lot of profiles and some of these poor people on this board have been through so much to get this surgery. I have to admire their courage and determination. My own journey just took another hit when the surgeon's office called today and said they can't do my heart cath down there because I am too heavy. I will have to start making phone calls Monday to see if there is any other place that can do it. I know noone in Jacksonville can do it or it would have been done a long time ago. If I can't find anyplace that can do it I will have to try extra hard to lose 50 lbs. (I have lost 15 recently) so I can have the cath to get cleared for surgery. Good Luck on your journey! Oh yeah Thanks for a great idea - I will have to see if my ortho will write me a letter too. Everytime I see him he says into his little recorder that it is medically necessary for me to lose weight and has been encouraging me to have this surgery for 1 1/2 years now. Well gonna run. Again I wish you the best and hope you get approved right away! Kat

HEY GLAD I SAW YOUR POST. I AM ALSO HAVE THAT SAME DR'S MURR IS WHO I WANT BUT I GUESS I WILL SEE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ALL OF THIS SINICE AUGUST I HAVE BEEN TO SPECTRA I HAVE TO GO BACK TO SEE CURTIS ONE MORE TIME IN NOV THEN THEY SHOULD ALSO SEND MY PAPER WORK TO DR MURR'S OFFICE. I HAVE 2 MORE VISITS WITH MY PRIMARY. THEN THEY SHOULD BEABLE TO SUMIT MY PAPER WORK TO MY INSURANCE AMERIGROUP. IT SURE SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. MY HOPE FOR SURGERY IS BY FEB 2006. WELL GOOD LUCK AND KEEP ME POSTED. SHERRY HERNANDEZ