New here.....

I live in Morgan County, Indiana.............between Paragon and Eminence to be a little more precise. I am 54 years young with a BMI of about 38 and looking at weight loss surgery seriously.......the laporascopic type, I think, would be best for me. I have high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol and I think that insurance will approve if I decide to go this route. I am just simply sick and tired of the struggle and believe this surgery may be the help that I need. Hoping to be able to get some comments about what facilities/doctors you used if you live in the central Indiana area. I have requested info from both Community South and St. Vincents (Carmel). Should receive it soon via snail mail. What I read online at other sites so far makes me think St. V's at Carmel has the best to offer. I want to read from real people who have gone to hospitals in the area, though, because I know that will give me the best picture. Thank you. Kathy

Hi Kathy, I'm new to the board too. I'm 53 and approaching 54 this year. Sounds like we have a few things in common. Anyway, welcome. I am from NW Indiana so I am not familiar with central Indiana doctors. I just wanted to say HI and good luck. I had my Lap RNY done on 5/1/06 and feel great. I'm just waiting to have the last drain removed tomorrow. I can't wait. Lap is definitely the way to go is the doctors can do it that way. Good Luck Lynn

Hi Kathy! My surgeon is Dr. Steven Clark who I found through Barix. I couldn't say enough good things about him.. He is very good at what he does, has a nice bedside manner and has a follow up plan for the rest of our lives. I had my surgery at St. Francis in Beech Grove and my experience exceeded my expectations. The nurses were very attentive and personable and always available when I wanted them. I never felt like they were hurried and were always more than happy to come for walks with me or help me up. I was always spoken to and treated with dignity and respect and not once did I feel like "the fat girl". I loved that they had the beautiful Franciscan crosses in every room too. Very comforting when you feel like your life is in jeopardy. All in all, if I could change the decisions that I made about the hospital and surgeon, I wouldn't.

Hi Kathy, I had been denied by my insurance and decided to go to Mexico for the surgery. But while I was trying to get approved I was with Dr. Gupta in St. V in Carmel. The whole facility was great. I loved the staff, I loved the doctor. If only my insurance would have loved to approve me! Best of luck Amy A

May I ask why you were denied? I am wondering if I will be approved or not (of course I haven't even tried yet.....) I have read other places on the 'Net and so many GOOD things have been said about St. Vincent/Carmel. Kathy Paragon, Indiana

Kathy, My first denial was due to the fact that the insurance company stated that my doctors medical records were not detailed enough. After 9 months I had to start at square one with a new doctor. Then I went to another job and started new insurance and submitted my information and they stated that I didnt have enough history, wasnot old enough, did not weigh enough for the surgery. I was not pleased because I had been with many different doctors for over 18 months, was over 23yrs old, and over 420 pounds. But at that point another customer service lady stated that I would have to go to the same doctor every month for 18 consecutive months. I was at an emotional break down. So I researched the lap band in Mexico and here I am, down 24 pounds and still doing good. 3 weeks out. -Amy A

hi there....have you called your ins to see what they say you need to do to get this surgery,,,,,dr clark ROCKS,,,,,,,he is sure my hero....community south is just me talking now...it may be just great for anyone else.. i am gonna be 53 this year

I did research on this web site also. I just turned 50. I decided on St Francis Surgical Weight Loss Center. They have one office at US31 and Southport Rd. They do the surgery at St Francis hospital in Beech Grove. Dr. Mandelbaum did my surgery (R-n-Y) and I couldn't be more pleased. The operation went smooth - so has the recovery. I'm 11 weeks post-op and I have lost about 75 lbs with no complications. I was loosing about 10 lbs a week but my wife and I went on a 12 day cruise. In those 14 days I only lost 7 lbs. But I'm back home and eating well again and I'm back to loosing 10 lbs per week. I really like the follow up at the Weight Loss Center. They schedule me for a doctor/nutritionist review every six weeks or so. They also sponsor monthly support group meetings, (I've been to 4) usually chaired by a nutritionist, sometimes by a nutritionist and their insurance specialist. I shopped around before surgery and ruled out St V's and Community North simply because of the distance and traffic traveling from Greenwood for the follow up visits. The people I talked with that had their surgery done at IU, downtown Indy, seemed to not have the follow up that I've needed and gotten. This is still a weight loss program not a magic bullet.

Welcome Kathy! I went to St. V's so I'm partial to there..just as you will find that each of us are partial to the place we went. If you check out the hospital reviews on here, it will give you a better idea of each and the satisfaction people had at it. Also check out the surgeon's reviews. You may way to first make a call to your insurance company though. Ask them if WLS is covered in your policy...and ask them to send you the guidelines and any other information they may have. Then ask them which facilities are covered in your policy. Some have requirements that you can only go to certain ones. No sence in falling in love with St. V's if they will only allow Community South, etc. Good luck and if any of us can help in any way, please feel free to let us know. Sherri

HI! I am 50 and live in Morgan County.. Mooresville.. I went to ST V with Dr Cacucci.. Like Sherri said everyone likes their s best! MY BMI was off the chart and I have gone from a size 28 to a 16 SO FAR in 1 year.. I Had Lap RNY and it has been great!! The road to weight loss is not always smooth but it mostly downhill!! Best of luck Linda