Ochsner New Orleans ??

anyone use Dr Colleen Kennedy or Dr. Richardson at Ochsner New Orleans ?? If so how did you like him/her ?? Did you have a long wait from approval to surgery date ?? Liquid diet before surgery?? Any info you can give me would be great.. Thanks, Michele

I saw her on the noon news she seams like she really cares. Dr.L Martin did the surgery on me and my wife he saved my life and my wife is now wearing a size 2. I will keep my ears open for any news on your Dr.

My surgery was done by Dr. Richardson and I was very happy with him. I had to self-pay so I didn't have to wait - guess it depends on your insurance. I did do a liquid diet for a couple of weeks before surgery. Looks like you had RNY by Dr. French. Is this info for someone else? Like I said, I was very happy with Dr. Richardson as well as my results. My surgery was in December 2005 and I've lost 112 lbs. and am at goal. If you have any other questions please let me know.

Everyone Thanks for you info. I have not had my surgery as of yet. I keep changing my mind about my surgeon. Due to the fact that i have a medicare insurance policy and i didn't realize the surgeon has to be part of a center of excellence. So i am having to switch from having my surgery conviently in covington to New Orleans. Not really a big deal but i did all my research on the surgeons in covington and now i have to start my research over on the Ochsner surgeons. Probably in the end it will be better to have the surgery done at Ochsner since i got to ochsner in covington to see my PCP.. Everything happens for a reason.. ;O) Thanks again for replying. Michele

Dr Richardson at Ochsner Hospital did my surgery. I Love him, he is very nice and a good doctor. Dr kennedy did my endoscopy and she is also very nice. My insurance required 6-month supervised diet and I had 2-weeks liquid protein diet before surgery to help shrink my liver. Pattie

I had Dr. Kennedy AND Dr. Richardson. Kennedy did my pre-op stuff and was supposed to do my surgery, until she gave birth early. Richardson performed my surgery and sees me for follow-up care. Kennedy is very, very friendly and outgoing, and a little bit more lenient about "the rules." Richardson seems a little distant and awkward on first impression, and he's very by-the-book, but he's actually a very kind, compassionate doctor. He just likes to be careful, and that's never a bad thing. I like them both, and am just as pleased with Dr. Richardson as I would have been with Dr. Kennedy. I did not wait very long at all to have surgery after insurance approval. I would have been able to go about 3 weeks after approval, but I had to push back my surgery date to accommodate my brother's wedding overseas. The pre-op liquid diet lasts two weeks. You can eat yogurt and drink protein shakes, protein soup (mix unflavored protein powder into the soup of your choice -- I love Campbell's Select), milk, and other sugar-free beverages. In my case, because I was traveling the week before surgery, Dr. Kennedy allowed me solids, but extremely low-carb, so all I could eat was a little meat and a small amount of veggies at each meal. Like you, I started seeing all Ochsner doctors, so I really don't mind it that I had my surgery there. Plus, Ochsner is such a great facility that it's worth it. Hope this helps. Good luck with everything!

Thank You very much for your reply. It has really helped. Michele

Do you pick your surgeon or do they assign you one?

At Ochsner, you choose your surgeon. In my case, I was switched to Dr. Richardson only because of Dr. Kennedy having her baby early. When the nurse told me that Dr. Richardson wanted to continue seeing me for follow-up, she asked me if that was OK and I said yes. So, if I so desired, they would have switched me back to Dr. Kennedy upon her return from maternity leave.

I'm a nurse with 2 years experience in bariatric postop care.... and I am choosing Dr. Richardson for my surgery.... at first he seems a bit impersonal... but that's just his shyness He's a fantastic physician (I worked on the postop unit for him and Dr Kennedy for over a year) and I don't think I'd trust having my surgery anywhere else So I sure hope you pick him He's had excellent results and he's a great doctor... very caring, but that doesn't show in your first visit because he's so shy just give him a chance, I have no doubt you will be pleased. I am having surgery 3/3/07! Kat