Info on University of iowa

Can anyone give me the low down on the university of Iowa's Bariatric program. I am being sent a packet, but was wondering how things work there. Like how many visits, how long it can take, and was just wanting to hear any one's experience with the process. I am new to all of this and just starting this journey so sorry if I ask questions you have been asked 1000 times!!

Faith, Welcome to the Iowa Board and Welcome to the new journey of you new life you will be getting. Ask away we all have been in your shows. I have never had to work with university of Iowa. but i do think there are people out there that has....Again welcome here and hope to see more of you on here. lynda

Hello Miss Faith! I too am in the tri-state area.....Dubuque to be exact, are you near me? I had my surgery at U of I Dec 8th of last year! My surgeon was Dr. Maher. Dr. Maher was the head surgeon but left in the summer for a very good job on the east coast I was sad to see him go! As far as I know the only surgeon they have there for the bariatric program now is Dr. Samuels. They were/are looking to add another surgeon, just no luck I guess! The wait is pretty long I hear since there is only one surgeon. I am sure you talked to Debi if the packet is being sent, did she give you an estimate of time? After you send your packet in, the will schedule a consualt if you meet their criteria....and it can be months away, or if you ask them to be you on a cancelation list sooner.....they make you go on a diet and lose weight before surgery, if you don't lose weight they won't operate......I don't know the set number it varies from person to person, but the usual diet they put you on is three months and they evaluate you afterwards and if you have succeeded then they schedule the surgery! If you haven't succeeded, then it is another 3 month diet! The pre-op and operative care is WONDERFUL.....I really cannot stress that enough! Their post-op care is lacking tho! When they schedule your follow up appts, they aren't very flexible.....since there is only one surgeon and he only see's patients in clinic on Thursdays....he is always BOOKED!!! They scheduled my 6month check-up on my twins 5th b-day so I had to reschedule....didn't get in again until I was 9 months out And that is the other thing, you don't pick the days, they do and mail it to you! My one year check-up is on the 16th.....it is the day of my twins school xmas play, and Of course I cannot reschudule, they are booked through the year and I lose my insurance DEC 31st......so I will fly home to try and make it! Well my insurance is changing so I want it down before Jan 1!!! I would love to answer any questions you might have......feel free to email me anything....Have you considered Genesis in Davenport? They are an exceptional program, I know a lot of folks who have went through them with great results......and there after care is amazing! I actually go to their support group meetings......U of I has no support groups whatsoever! Anywasy Take Care and keep us updated Jesi By the way I was 293 when I had surgery......I am almost a year out down 130lbs at 163!

Everything Jesi said is right! I have a tentative date of December 28th for my surgery. I had my first appointment on July 1st of this year. From what I hear, this is considered fast. Read my profile, and email me if you have more questions! molly

Thanks for the welcome to the board and all the info!! They did not give me an estimate of how long it would be for an appt. ( I did not ask either, I should of!!) If I get it done with in a year I will be happy!!! I am afraid I will not get approved. I live on the Iowa/Illinois Border and have Illinois public aid for my secondary coverage and ebs for my primary. Ebs has gastric bipass listed as a plan exclusion for any reason so I will be relying on Illinois public aid for coverage. I am not sure how hard it is to get approval through them. My BMI is high enough( It think it was 52), I have acid reflux, knee, ankle,and back pain caused by bulging discs and was recently started on Glucophage because my sugars are running a little high, indicating I am heading into diabetes. I am going to be evaluated for sleep apnea, I have had some problems that indicate that may be going on. The paper that tells about Illinois public aid coverage for the surg. says that coverage is limited to extreme obestity with morbid complications. I am not sure I have morbid complications, and "I" think I am in the categorey of extreme obestity. So who knows!!!

I, like Jesi, have had surgery at the U of I. I sent my packet in on December 18, 2003 and had my initial consult on February 19, 2004. At that time I was given the goal of losing 30 pounds before my next appointment which was scheduled for May 6, 2004. Unfortunately I did not lose 30 pounds prior to that appointment so another appointment was scheduled for July 8, 2004. At that appointment I was within 10 pounds of my goal, so they started the insurance approval process. It was about 3 weeks for that approval, I had one pre-op appointment on August 24 and the final pre-op was scheduled for September 23. Unfortunately my surgery was postponed so my final pre-op appointment was postponed as well, original surgery date was October 5th. He, Dr. Samuel was scheduled for his citizenship court hearing that very day, so it was rescheduled for the 25th of October, then rescheduled for the 26th at the last minute. I realize that the process is a lengthy one but my main concern was having it done lap versus open. I am still very impressed with the U of I's program although I realize the post-op care is lacking. They are a very reputable and busy facility with only one main doctor for this program but I am very happy that I chose to wait it out. Debi is awesome and when I have any questions, I email her and she always responds. I have never felt like just a number while being a patient there and they are a very caring facility. My opinion is that without Debi, I would be very unhappy. She has always been there for me when I have had issues and is always willing to answer my questions. If you have any questions whatsoever, please feel free to email me. The program has changed within the last year in regards to the hospital stay as a post-op along with some other changes. I love talking about this surgery and my total experience has been awesome and I am only 5 weeks post-op. In fact, the total overall experience has been so much easier than I had heard or thought. Tamara