Question for those who have out of state or out of country surgeries???
I plan on going to my surgeon for the first 6 mos - year, but I really want someone local too. Anywhere within an hour drive from Stockbridge would be great.
I have checked with both local DS surgeons and was declined. I don't care if it is a DS surgeon. I assume any wls surgeon would be more knowledgeable about DS than a regular pc*****thing at all. I just would feel better knowing I had someone close by in case of an emergency situation.
If you had your surgery outside of Ga, please share what you are doing for follow-up.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I 
MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
I am just doing my followup care with my PCP. Since all I really need for follow-up care is yearly bloodwork it makes it less complicated than with the RNY (and I assume for the DS? do not yall need bloodwork every couple of months? I am not educated in the DS, so I am not sure).
If I had a leak - I would most probably go back to Dr. Alvarez, but at this point, the only thing that is going to cause a leak is my not following his aftercare protocol. If I had anything else, stricture, PE, etc., I would just go to my local emergency room - or my PCP, depending on how urgent the situation was.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
And I was previously waking myself up a little when I would have little snores, but no more little snores!
All in all, its been an amazingly smooth experience!
Like my NP I see - she would see you as long as they took your insurance (or probably would be fine if you were self pay too).
She is down here in Newnan. I can call her and see, if you like. She is under Dr. Archie Walden (so if your insurance covers him, they would cover her too). Her name is Holly Hicks-Deridder. (maybe I spelled that wrong).
And also, I think they have Saturday hours.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
Anyway, Dr. H is doing phone consults with me. If there were a reason for me to actually go see him, then I'd make the 6 hr drive. But in my consult right after surgery, I sent him close up pics of my incisions, and we had a consult over the phone.
I'm really surprised that my PCP is stepping up to the plate and researching the DS. I gave him a BOOK of print out stuff that various people on the DS board gave me (medical stuff). I seen him 2 weeks ago, and he mentioned that he had been looking and reading the book "the other day".
So I'm hopful that he's going to become knowledgeable.
But I'm with you that I'd like to have a doc that KNOWS about it already and can help in an emergency.
Diana DS Revision from '99 RNY
UHC Denied Jan'09/APPROVED Feb'09
DS-SW287; CW/190 GW/152
As far as D. Smith, I would have preferred him over Dr. Voellinger, but they are dragging their feet getting in network with Cigna.
It doesn't seem like many pcp's know much about DS. I have been trying to educate my pcp too, but I am kinda scared of an emergency situation too. I guess we just really have to stick to the follow up guidelines because we don't have any room for error.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
