Help!!!!!!!

Oh thanks DeAnne..glad I can help..and listen speaking of helping..when you get to the hospital tell the anesthetist about your fears and nausea..they will take care of it..doesn't hurt to mention it to the surgeon but the anesthetist has the goodies.. does it sound like I am speaking from experience? lol I had my gallbladder out last month, I requested a particular anesthetist I got to know while training as an advocate at St. Luke in Florence, with Dr. Sonnanstine.. I told him I didn't want to feel pukey when I woke up and I didn't want to be drugged before going into the OR..(something you will want them to do) I however, am a bit nutty and wanted to see the OR..and to say hello to the staff...lol Dr. Sonnanstine said he came in and held my hand (right after they gave me the drugs on the OR table****il I fell asleep, unfortunately I don't remember, now if you saw Dr. Sonnanstine you will understand why you would want to remember him..LOL) look at his pic on the surgeon site..ok ok i got off the subject here..lol....sorry doc if you read this...I am so bad!! the care you receive while in the hospital will make a huge difference, let them know your fear....Ask at your office if they have an advocate that will be there for you the day of surgery. I go to the hospital often just to hang out with the patient or speak to the family the day of surgery, to calm their fears.( I had the pleasure of being with a few folks who post on this board).I am a true believer that being quiet and and peaceful before surgery is so important and may have an impact on the way you wake up ( no scientific fact that I know of, just seems to be my experience) hopefully you will find someone to talk to and who can visit you that same day, maybe ask at a support meeting, etc..if you were coming my way I would be there for you, sorry to say you are just to far for me..but I will be thinking of you and anxious to hear from you.. you will do just fine!!!! Brenda

Ok. I'm gonna jump in and be a bit brief. I happen to work for Medicare. I know..I shouldn't publish that. Medicare is actually a good insurance to have. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has a tendency to change policy and procedures about every 4 hours. It does not surprise me a bit that they decided that the COE had to step in and get facilities certified and they did it without much notice. That must be very frustrating for you. However, look at it this way...with the COE involved, they are making sure that the facility, surgeon and the equipment used to operate on you are doing what they should be doing. I think that having certificates are a good thing. It means that someone has to check them out first. In the long run, it only benefits the patients. Hang in there!! If you want to do any research on Medicare's coverage or comparisons...you can go to: www.medicare.gov This is a very helpful website to people with medicare.

Hi Mimi, Thanks! And, I was just telling myself, today, exactly what you just stated. That it is a GOOD thing that the facility has to go through this and that it is BEFORE I have surgery......because then I will know that everything and everyone is up to snuff. ha ha I try to turn everything into a positive. I have been checking the approved centers list every day. I can't wait until Norton's Bariatric Center/Norton's Hospital is on that list!!! But, until then....I will fill other people's lives with positive thoughts on their journey through weight loss. Thanks again! Sharee

Thanks for the info Mimi..I know it's difficult for some to put this into perspective..it does make you wont to go ..Huh? but as I said the centers are working hard to get their COE..it really isn't about them..blame medicare..lol

You are exactly right....It IS Medicare's fault! Thank you for saying that. lol

Oh, I forgot to mention. I went to the website you suggested and took a look at the Certification process. OMG it is so entangled. I just don't know if 90 days is even enough for them to get the certificate. What if something doesn't go right. Does that mean it will be another 90 days? and another 90? and so on? I mean, I'm impatient now. Just think what I will be after next week. (I can't wait forever, you know? So, I don't actually KNOW if it is in my best interest to keep waiting, or go somewhere else. Has anyone else seen the flow chart on what happens, step by step, to get the Certificate of Excellence? If you don't pass one step, you go back and do it again, and then go forward and could hit another snag and go back and so on. All I know is...these poor centers that already have their certificates must have had a head start, or do not have more than one or two surgeons in their practice. Not to mention, the Hospitals have to do the same thing, right? Is 90 days a realistic number? Or is that just to pacify us for the first 90 days? I hope all goes smoothly for Norton's; don't see why it shouldn't. But, I just don't want to get my hopes up to be let down again so soon. I'm trying to position myself somewhere in the middle right now. I'm trying to think positive, but at the same time, I'm doubtful too... ha ha It's almost like I have two personalities... ha ha But I am almost ready to just say forget about it. Like the new yorker's (italians) say it..... Fo git a boud it..... LOL) Is Dr. Tom Italian? (I just love italian men!!! ha ha YES, I'm married!!! So, shhhhhhhhhh!!!..... LOL) Sharee

sharee..hang in there, going to another center is going to prolong things, Nortons shouldn't have a problem gettng the COE.. nope Dr. Tom is not Italian..not with those blue eyes..LOL

I know what you are trying to do now.... lol You are using reverse psychology on me so I won't try to steal your surgen.... ha ha Anyway..... I'm going to do what you said, about to the left and take a look. If he has dark hair to go with those blue eyes.....well.....we'll talk about that later..... ha ha (I do hope he is a good sport. If he reads this, I will be embarrasses, I'm sure..... lol) I hope I'm not posting anything that is not allowed here.... ha ha Everyone beware!!! I'm just a big kidder!! I love to make people laugh. And everyone is raving about this Dr. Tom, so I HAVE to check him out, I'm sorry!! Hey, I'm in now --- I gotta know, you know? I'm part of this thing too!! ha ha Ok, enough blabber. I'm going to see what the rave is about. Sharee

ok we need to calm down, and not lose sight of the fact that Dr. Sonnanstine is the best surgeon around. He is a handsome young man and is as nice as he is good looking but he is a wonderful surgeon. I am sure he would not appreciate us going much further here and I have to face him...so pleasesss ladies..lets behave our selves.. Thanks... Brenda

I agree. And I apologize if I, personally, have offended anyone in any way, especially Dr. Tom!!! or Brenda!! I do hear so many great things about him from many people!! I got the impression that he is a wonderful person, and he is one of the best surgeons too, with a great bedside manner, somewhat of a kidder himself, and he really cares about his patients and their care. I do want to say again that I am only kidding around, but do respect his professionalism! It certainly doesn't hurt to have so many great qualities on the inside that he can share with others and be handsome to boot!! It sounds like he has everything going for him and has gained much respect from his patients and people who know him. I can only hope I am fortunate enough to have the honor of meeting this man that so many people love and respect someday, at a conference or wherever it may be. I would like to say this though -- if it were not for Dr. Tom and other doctor's like him, we would not have the opportunity to get our lives back, that we do right now. Thanks to him and all of the Bariatric Surgeons around the world!! I can't wait until it is my turn to take that journey. Sharee