New to this board

Hi everyone, I'm renee i've been reading the boards for a few days and felt the need to delurk. I'm 38 and from wichita kansas, i have not had WLS yet and am here to get as much info as possible, my ins. covers WLS but i am having trouble picking the type and where do have it, i've spoke with livlite in junction city but was worried as i felt i was ill informed and just plain out lied to, i'm not going to totally disreguard  them but would like more options and am having little luck finding something close to wichita. i have to do a six month medically suipervised diet before having the surgery and am at the very start of it so i do have time but want everything in order to smooth out the process. if you are in wichita or close please give me a shout :)  thanks! Renee

Hey Renee!! I'm not in Wichita but I know there are lots of folks that have used my surgeon that live in Wichita, maybe someone will step forward.  I wish you the best....congrats on your insurance covering surgery!!!! I fought with mine for 5 years and finally just ended up self paying....BEST thing I EVER did or will do!!!!! Good luck to you!

Renee, I know there is a hospital in Topeka I think it's called Tallgrass that is a center of excellence in WLS you might check them out?  I know Kansas City is a ways for you but there are also a few places there.  I live in Overland Park KS and I have to travel to Sedalia to have my surgery because I couldn't find anyone locally who would accept my insurance.  I am going to Dr. Hornbostel which I have heard wonderful things about.  I am currently on my 6 mo. dr. supervised diet and I have my first appt. with the surgeon on Oct. 17th which I am looking forward to.  I wish you the best of luck in your new journey.

Renee, I am glad to see you on the board. This is a good place to meet people and learn about everything availible. I had RNY here in Wichita, Dr Porter was the lead and Dr. Dort did the assist. I am 21 months out and have had no problems. I have lost about 130.  Get to know everyone, ask questions and learn all you can. This is one yeck of a ride, enjoy the trip. Good luck and best wishes.

Hi Renee: I am from Topeka and I am in the pre-op stages to have lap-band (just waiting for approval now, I hope) and my doctor is Dr. Hamilton with Tallgrass.  They have a very nice center here and there are I believe 4 surgeon at this center who do WLS.  They do require that you attend their seminar before ever meeting with one of their surgeons.   Their website is www.topekaobesitysurgery.com    The bariatric surgery coordinator is Brenda Holliday at 785-228-4773 shoud you want more info.   Good luck

Hi Renee! I too, live in Wichita.  I started with Solution for Life here, then was working with LivLite in Junction City.  However, now I'm going thru the Bariatric Center of KC/Shawnee Mission and Dr. Hoehn.  At first I was discouraged and depressed about not being able to have my surgery done in Wichita....however now I'm very glad that I have had to "shop around."   If you'd like, I'd be happy to share my experiences of each program with you.   Looking forward to hearing from you. Jeanne

Hi Renee! I live in Hutchinson, and just had lap RNY on Monday. My surgery was in Columbia, MO, the closest facility my insurance would cover! A close friend had her surgery with the Tallgrass group in Topeka, and she lost 150# in about a year. She is doing well, and is happy with her choice of dr. My experience was good, though it was a hard ride home those 8 hours! I am thrilled it is done, and the staff was very competent and professional! Another friend had surgery in Tulsa at a facility there where the entire floor is for bariatric patients only. They have large size beds and etc, whereas the University of Missouri is not. I really wanted to go to Tulsa, but thank heavens the surgery is over and went well. Good luck with your decision. Check out the facility carefully before you choose if you have a choice! Welcome to the board! LaNeta

Hi everyone and thanks for replying to my thread, i am so happy that this board is alive and well. jeannee i added you to my friends list :) its so nice to see someone else in the wichita area who is going to be having the same thing done, who knows maybe we could be support buddy's? i've called a few of the places you all suggested and asked for them to send info and i have set up a seminar date in kansas city for the end of the month, i so need to get this ball rolling i want my fat days to be a thing of the past i ready to let the skinny girl out of the fat suit and enjoy the rest of my life. i saw a thread that they have a support group in wichita did that ever come to fruition?

Have you checked out the Duodenal Switch surgery? I live in Emporia and decided to make a 4 hr drive up to Omaha Nebraska, to have my surgery done by Dr Gary Anthone.

Email: [email protected] Director, Bariatric Surgery Program, Physicians Clinic 10060 Regency Circle Omaha, NE 68114 Phone: (402) 354-1320 Fax: (402) 354-1323 http://www.bestcare.org If you are not completly sold on the type of surgery you want to have, I would highly suggest that you check out the Duodenal Switch (aka the DS) There is a forum for it here on OH. Just click on the forums tab at the top of the page and click on the duodenal switch. Or you could go to www.duodenalswitch.com  and get all kinds of information about it. Good Luck

I was wondering about the support group in Wichita, too.  I've not heard anything more about it.  I see you're going to KC at the end of the month for their seminar!  I know it's a drive up there, but let me tell you, after being through a couple of the other programs...I think it's well worth it!