Anyone have surgery in davenport?

I was just wondering if anyone here had surgery done at genesis in davenport? That is where i am looking into having it done. They do lap, not open....this appeals to me since i have a taste of this one when my gallbladder was taken out. Pretty sure i qualify for wls, just going to infomation meeting on the 26th of may, at genesis. Telling my pcp tomarrow. Not sure if he is a big fan of wls but at least hopefully he will respect my long awaited decision about having the surgery. Tonite i am just trying to forget i have a migraine til hubby gets home so i can go to er and get that wonderful shot i love to hate, goes in hip causes pain but at least it dont cause the pain in my head no more. I posted in another room at this site and really dont know if it shows here but if it dont..here goes I am going to be 29 on friday, i am 5'6" and weigh now 275..i am holding a lot of water cause the other day i weighed and i weighed 267. Tricky scale maybe? Anyways i take metformin for my insulin resistantance and a water pill due to edema. I have back pain and migraines, as well as the all known fatigue disease. Did i mention im tired? Lol. I have 2 small kids 3 and 6 years old. I have a minor leaky heart valve w/ a murmor. Minor huh? Leaky? i dont know but when it acts up, it scares the beegeezies out of me. That is really my story. I havent been on any dr supervised diets...just have been on one constant diet since i have been 15. wow...nearly half my life. I have john deere health, i think choices. Dont know but pretty sure they will cover it. Wont know til the time arrives.

Morning! Just want to welcome you to the board Can't help you out with Davenport, but you do have some local gals there that can give you more insight on things. Be persistent with your PC! It's your body! I had lap RNY, recovery time is shorter with that. I'm not sure what requirements John Deere has maybe someone else can help you in that respect. That's what we are here for! Good luck & keep us posted. Hugs Carolyn

Hi Rebecca!! I'm one of those gals that Carolyn mentioned had surgery with Genesis. As a matter of fact, I was patient number 12 through the program when it started out new. At that time, they didn't do any lap - only open. I'm envious of those who are now able to have the surgery laprascopically. Anyway, Dr. Christophersen is my doctor and is wonderful! In fact, I am impressed with the entire program - it is very comprehensive and includes all aspects of resources that will help you through this time: doctor, nurse manager, dietician, psychologist, physical therapist/recreation therapist, (I'm not sure what they are calling this person now, because it was someone else when the program first started.) Anyway, Terri Pool is the secretary and is also wonderful. Just tell them that you have talked to me on this site and they will probably all giggle! About the insurance - I had HCH and John Deere Choice - John Deere was my secondary insurance but were the first to approve. I had heard, however, that John Deere had quit covering the surgery. Be sure to look into that some more. Anyway, good luck to you. Let me know if there is anything else that I can help you with. God bless, Andrea

Yeah i need to check into it. I heard many people that have jdh choices are still getting approved, they just need co-morbilities. Im lost in the whole process...Some telll me to go to my doctor and tell them, some say i dont need to. Which one is it? How did you do it? Im still going to the informational meeting on the 16th, maybe i will find more answers there? Just really kinda in the clouds. Went to the hospital last night for yet another migraine....darn things. Had to have 3 shots in the hip :cry: Also still cant feel part of my foot. Wi****s week long sleep will wake up soon...kinda scaring me a little since my family has lupus and vasculitus. Oh well i am just going to take a deep breath and see how things go in the next couple of weeks. Congrats to everyone and best of wishes to everyone on their own life journey.

Wow, Rebecca, migraines that bad ARE scary. Is the numb foot from the migrains also? I know that a couple of times, I have had them and it send my hands numb. Can't stand that feeling. About the surgery, I went through my personal care physician (pcp) first - mainly to prove to my hubby that I didn't need the surgery. I had looked into it a long time ago, but was too healthy. Then, hubby heard, in the summer of 2003, that his insurance was paying for it because a couple of ladies at work had it done. When he brought it up to me, (since I had gained more weight and was up to at least 350), I chewed him out over and over again. I couldn't believe his audacity!!! Well, I thought that I would go to my pcp and ask him and he would not recommend surgery. When he did recommend it, my chin hit the floor! Turns out his sister had the surgery and was doing well with it. Here's a man that is buff and toned and darn good looking! Can't believe that he has a sister that needed the surgery AND that he recommended it for me. After that, it was just a phone call to get set up for the orientation meeting. I attended the meeting in August and it wasn't until October before I made a decision and completed and turned in the paperwork. Surgery was in December, then. My opinion is that you need to get yourself tons of knowledge about the surgery, look into things with the orientation and then make your decision. It really is a personal choice. Well, hope that this helps. Let me know if you have further questions that I can help with. God bless, Andrea

Rebbeca: I had surgery last July 14th in Davenport and also had John Deere choice insurance it did cover my surgery but i know they made me do alot of leg work before it was covered. I don't regret the descion to have my surgery I am down 101 pounds of heaviest weight 94lbs since surgery.I no longer have back pain and much fewer migranes. If I can be of help to you please feel free to post Barb Schneckloth

Hi Barb, That is great!!! So wonderful to hear that you are doing well on your adventure. I still dont know what to expect or what to do. I am taking the first step by going to the informational meeting. I have had a migraine for the last 3 days and it is really bringing me down, that and today was my birthday and you know it really seems depressing. I have become a hermit and it is amazing how people forget you. I cant say as though i blame them. I make petty excuses so i dont have to go out in public. I feel as though i am the beast in the castle. Just really horribly depressed today. I just want to live and be happy and play with my kids and go out with my friends. I am so embarrassed. I feel as though my world as i know it has fallen apart. I looked in the mirror really well today. Can i say BIG mistake? I didnt even reconize the person staring back at me. What have i become, and what worse, what will become of me? I have tried so many diets that it is insane. I have got to do something with this weight and this is the only thing i see working for me. I dont mind the leg work i have to do in order to get approved for this surgery. Just really want to work on me this next year. I know that is selfish but i have been looking after people my whole life and making sure that they are alright. I will always do what is best for my kids and right now this is what is best for my kids...a healthy active mommy. i also have a lot of back pain that prevents me from cleaning and cooking a lot. I have to take a lot of breaks otherwise my legs will shake and my back feels like it is breaking. Here lately i have a burning sensation in the back of my right thigh..in the middle. It feels as though there is a fire there in the size of a quarter. Anyone else experience this? That and i still cant feel parts of my right foot. I am so worried that i am beside myself. I popped another vein in my leg today and it hurt so bad. Im sorry i am being such a downer, just hasnt been a very good week for me and trying to figure out how to go about this surgery. Found out that my doctor is going to be on vacation til after the informational meeting and so he will not know that i did it. Just lost , dazed , depressed and really confused. I dont want to mess up my chances of doing the best thing for my health. I will take all the help i can get. Thank you all...you have been so nice and caring and helpful. Please continue to do so and kknow that your efforts are not made in vain. Thanks again, Becka

Andrea, No my migraines are not what is causing my foot to go numb. I have it all the time 24/7. I try to bang it on the foot board to wake it up, and nothing...dont even feel the banging. My aunt, maternal, has vasculitis...this is what scares me cause she has dead nerves in her foot caused by her feet sweeling and pinching the nerves. My feet swell so bad sometimes that it doesnt look like i have a foot at all. And they stay this way for a few days. I am just really worried that it has caused nerve damage like it had in my aunts case. I have tons of information about the surgery, just not sure how to go about getting it. I have a few friends that have had it, one open...one lap. The one that had the open surgery didnt have a good time with it and the one who did it lap is doing great(not to mention the one who had it open cheated a lot and did stuff she was not suppose to do and doesnt follow her doctors orders and advice). I know a lot of the risks as i have researched it for 2 years now. It is definatly something i want to do. I am a relatively shy person and humble. I just hope i get up enough courage to ask to have it done. It is not that i dont want to have it done, just scared they will say no...dont take rejection all that well. But i am working on that side of me. I know i want it and i have to do this for my sake, for my happiness, no one elses. This year is for me and i wont take no for an answer...my body...my decision. Can you tell i am trying to psy my way up to it? Cant help it..just the way i am. Doing a lot of little pep talks and waiting for the information meeting....then i will go from there since my pcp is out of town. You guys are wonderful...ty for everything, and if i dont mention it in the future....thank you for that too. Becka