Any Dr. Steven Clark patients?

I am new here and was wondering if anyone out there had RNY surgery with Dr. Steven Clark at St. Francis through their Weight Loss Medical Center at Southport Rd. and U.S.31?

I know there are several people here who have.  Angie comes to mind first, but I haven't seen her post much lately.

Thanks!  I'll keep checking back.  Can you tell me what kind of tests are routinely done pre-op?

I had Dr. Cacucci, but it seems to be pretty similar for most patients, depending of course on your comorbidities.  I had an upper GI (ICK!), some blood work, and a respiratory test, and that was about it. For the record, I've never heard any of Dr Clark's patients say a single bad word about him.  THey all love him.

Oh Good!  Thanks for the encouraging words.  I have an all day seminar on 10/15/07 and I guess that I will meet him that day.  I really don't understand everything that is going on.  I had originally called my family doctor at the end of the August and told her I wanted to finally have gastric bypass after she had asked me about it probably 4 or 5 years ago and I kept telling her no.  Anyway I saw her on the 18th and then called about going to a support group meeting and found out that the authorization i had received from Mplan basically meant that as long as I pass my psych eval and that Dr. Clark thinks I am a good candidate I will be having surgery before the end of the year!  Originally I was thinking that it would probably be next summer because I figured I had to "jump through the hoops" for the insurance company and do 6 months of doctor supervised diets etc.,  but evidently I don't have to do that.  So now, I am gearing myself up to be ready for surgery around christmas.  Of course, I'm nervous but having been doing a lot of research and glad i found this site.

I had Dr Clark via St Francis's weightloss center. Although I had the band and not the RNY I can atest that he is a very excellent doc. I know of several patients that have had him for either surgeries actually. His asst. Julie is pretty awesome too.

Congratulations on your baby!

Did Dr. Clark put you on a liquid diet or any other kind of diet prior to surgery?  If so, what was it, how long were you on it and did he want you to lose a percentage of your weight, a specific number of pounds or just lose weight in general? My BMI is pretty high (too embarassed to put it here where everyone can see it) and I was told b nancy today that I may have to lose weight to reduce my BMI prior to surgery.  I havev mixed feelings - am afraid that I won't be able to have surgery and also that I will have surgery - is that crazy?  My insurance, MPlan, is going out of business at the first of the year so I really need to have the surgery before then or I will have to start all over with a new insurance company.

I have Dr. Clark!! I seen him back in March for the initial consult, I loved him!!  My ins (BC/BS fed employee of Indiana)- requires 4 psych evaluation visits, but Dr. Clark requires 8 before surgery and one right before, after you go through pre-op testing. Dr. Nixon, the psych evaluator was very nice and since i live so far away- 2hrs from them she dooubled up on my visits so instead of coming there 8 times I came 4 times and stayed for 1 1/2 hrs. instead of 45 minutes. I then went through a sleep study for sleep apnea, they then sent in my paperwork to ins. and about 1 week later I was approved, my bmi is 40.1. I then was scheduled for my pre-op testing which consisted of: upper gi, gallbladder ultrasound, chest x-ray,bloodwork and an ekg. This took about 3 hrs. total to do and then 2 days later I went in for my nutrition class with the dietician and 2 hrs. later I went for my last psych eval. before surgery. They called me 3 days later to tell me my paperwork was being sent to Dr. Clark's surgery office to be put onto their surgery list. That was a weeka go, so I am very jittery waiting for them to call me to let me know when my surgery date is!! If you have any more questions let me know!!

Oh, I forgot to tell you, the dietician said I have to do a full liquid diet a week before surgery, to shrink my liver.