DS Help Please

Hello everyone,

I live in Atlanta but I am originally from Chicago.  I am on month 4 of my 6 month supervised diet for my insurance.  I have found a DS a doctor I really like in Nashville.  While thinking things over I started to feel like all of my family is in Chicago...and being that I have 2 kids and not alot of help here in atltanta I am starting to thing I should go HOME...for my surgery.


Here are the hospitals my insurance covers...I only want DS surgery though.

Anyone have any DS experience with any of these doctors or know someone who has?

Thank so much!  I really need help. 

Chicago

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

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Eric S Hungness, MD

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Chicago

Alexander P Nagle, MDUniversity of Chicago Medical Center

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John C Alverdy, MD

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Evanston

Vivek Prachand, MDNorthShore University Health System

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Stephen Haggerty, MD

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Joliet

Erwin W Denham III, MDSilver Cross Hospital

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Brian E Lahmann, MD

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Christopher Joyce, MD

Dr Joyce is my surgeon.I had lap band surgery over a year ago. I have nothing but good things to say about his program. He has a wonderful staff for follow up care. I would recommend him highly. Dr Lahmann shares the same office and is just has good. There are several of their patients on this board. Silver Cross Hospital is a excellent hospital also. I'm glad I made this choice.

Thank you for the reply...Unfortunately they do not do the DS surgery...back to thedrawing board.  I know about the two at University of Chicago I guess I will start there

Hi! We've "spoken" before, but I will post this for the benefit of others, as well.

The only docs in the Chicago area who are trained to do the DS (as it takes extra training and proctoring with an established DS surgeon) are at the University of Chicago. If you want to ask about Alverdy and Prachand, please ask here on the DS forum. I have been an angel for many there and they have been pleased with their care. A few have expressed that they wish they had a better aftercare program, but I think many bariatric surgeons are guilty of this.

The U of C docs prefer to reserve the DS for their heaviest patients, with a BMI of 50+, even though that is NOT conventional wisdom anymore--the DS can be done on relative lightweights with BMIs of 35+. I certainly would have qualified for the U of C docs, but I went with a surgeon with more DS experience, John Rabkin, MD (his practice has done more than 1500 of them!!).

If you would like to meet John Rabkin (from San Fran) our support group meetings are the third Mondays of every month. The next one is tomorrow, from 6-8 p.m. at

MercyWorks at Dearborn Station 47 W. Polk, Chicago, IL 60605 Suite 1G, (1st floor, NW corner)

He has dozens of DS patients in the Chicago area. If you want to check out their web site, please visit www.paclap.com.

Traveling for the DS was a breeze, actually. Since many of Rabkin's patients travel to him, they have it down to a science. It IS nice to recover with family or friends, though. I stayed in SF for a total of 12 days. My hubby was with me, so we were just fine in a hotel. We visited some friends and family out there, did some sightseeing, et****il I got the clearance to go home, as scheduled.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I wish you all the luck in the world!

Nicolle

Thanks for the info Nicolle.  I currently live in Atlanta and I will only be coming to Chicago for the summer.  Doctor Rabkin is not covered under my insurance...unfortunately .... But the reputation of University of Chicago is great.  I have selected Dr. Houston from Nashville and I really like how things are going so far...but all of my support is back home in Chicago.   I can not even figure out who can watch my kids while I go have the surgery if I am doing it in Nashville.  Luckily I am a teacher so I have the summer off.  I dont want to compromise my surgery due to location...however if the surgeons at U of C are good I could be persuaded to change my mind.  I know one thing I am not willing  to compromise and that is the DS  I am DS or BUST at this point.  BTW my BMI is 51.  I qualify for everything!...OIh one other factor is how far out they schedule the surgery... I really need it done this summer..I am supporting my kids on my own and it would be great not to miss work!


Thanks again!

Atta girl!!! Fight for what you want. I was "DS or bust" also.

Well, if you decide on Chicago, let me know and I can visit you in the hospital.

Do you want a list of OHers I know who had the docs at U of C? You can contact them and ask about their experiences, if you like. Let me know and I will send you a PM.

BTW, Dr. Rabkin was covered by my insurance, but since he is not in any networks, I had to pay some of his fee myself. BEST money I ever spent! But you gotta do what's right for YOU.

Nicolle

Nicolle.  I would love to get some information.  I called yesterday and the lady in the office was so RUDE!!!  That is strike one.  I need a goood office staff if I am going to be dealing with someone so far away.  But we will see.  Please let me know about  your DS friends from the hospital

Aw gees. Sorry the U of C person was not nice. I will say that when I was doing my research on them, they were kind of short with me, too. They did not want to give info over the phone, but via the contact form on their web site, etc. I was put off by that imperonal approach to my very personal situation, but if I had decided to go with them, that would not have stopped me. The person answering the phone is not doing the surgery, etc.

I looked back and found my list of U of C DSers (also add Tonya and Bill, from this thread):

carmen 3823 (just had hers there a year ago)
biggeekgirl (had it a couple of years ago, just had baby)
scaryreader (had her DS a couple of years ago)
Sandra N. (and her hubby, Charlie had their DSes on the same day about 18 months ago)
Julia K. (had her DS a couple of years ago)
chickflickstyle (she and her hubby had their surgeies about 16 months ago)

All are doing very well, to the best of my knowledge. I'm sure they wouldn't mind it if you PMed them, too, to ask questions about their surgery, after care, etc.

Good luck!

Nicolle

LOL

Since I am a native of Houston, Texas who is now enjoying living in Schaumburg, Illinois I can tell you that you have become spoiled by the manners displayed by those in the south.  The Chicago office staff was likely not rude they just were Chicago's version of polite.  It has taken me some getting used to and you may have to get used to it as well because you have to be persistant to get through that first layer.

I wondered though if any of your Chicago family might be in a position to fly down and help you out.

Dr. Denham is fabulous - but is not at Silver Cross. He is currently head of minimally invasive surgery through Northshore University Health, which would be Evanston or Highland Park (yes, there are more hospitals in the group, but that's where he does surgery), and he does not do DS, but does do VSG, RNY and band.

Good luck finding a way to make things work!

Rebecca