The first step taken .... on to the next...

Hi all - It's me, the new girl! Just wanted to give an update on the seminar I went to last night at Hurley Bariatric Center (Flint). It was just for information and to learn a bit more about Hurley and to hear the doctor talk about the surgeries. As it turned out the seminar was focused on Lap Band rather than the RNY (which I plan to have) so I was a bit disappointed. However, it turned out to be alright since by learning more about the Lap Band I realized it wasn't the procedure for me and reaffirmed my decision to go with the gastric bypass instead. Also, I've set my first consultation with the surgeon. WooHoo!!! Dr. Obeid was my first choice and he was the one who conducted the seminar last night, so I was happy to meet him and find that he was available. I'll have a private consultation with him on September 12th. Now I just get to tackle all that paperwork they gave me last night and start contacting all my dr. offices to have medical records sent - oh joy! LOL! So, I've taken the first of many steps. And I'm feeling good. Pam T. http://www.pamtremble.blogspot.com

Pam, I remember how great I felt when I signed up for the seminar with Hurley. I wasn't able to go though, I forget if I had another appointment come up or they called and said that it would be cancelled. However, I went ahead and set up my consult with Dr. Farhan for June 12. I was so excited. I had everything in order when I went, I just had to get my psych eval done. I got that done yesterday (Wooo Hooo). I had some miscommunications with my regular pychologist or I would have had it done sooner. I know exactly where you are at and how you are feeling. Once you have everything in order, all your stuff to them, and see Dr. Obied, then they will submit it to your insurance. I hoping to have mine submitted in the next couple weeks. Maybe we will end up with surgery dates that are close to each other. Start working on getting an appointment for the psych eval now, that can take a while depending on where you have to go. Good Luck! Shawn M.

Shawn - That is so awesome... sounds like you're getting close to getting a date set. Congrats. I asked about the psych eval last night and they said they have a Dr. on staff who can do the eval for me - I plan to start there and see what happens. Good advice to get that scheduled right away. I have a lot of my ducks in a row as far as paperwork goes. I started doing a lot of that during my research process. (Already have my diet history finished.) I just need to deal with the fact that I don't have the 12 months consecutive clinical dieting history and need to talk to my PCP and Gyn about that. I'm really shooting for a surgery date sometime in October or November - it would be cool to have someone with a similar date so we could follow each others' progress. Pam

Pam, Good luck with getting in to "their" psychologist. I had the name and number on a paper that they had sent me. I called 5 days in a row, and left a message for them to return my call so I could make an appointment for my psych eval for bariatric sugery. I still have not heard from them and it has been about 3 weeks now, and I have already found someone else, gotten an appointment and had my eval. Maybe you will have better luck than I did. I just don't understand why they never returned my call. If you don't speak to them or hear from them within a few days, I would start calling around. Oh and I was hoping for a date in Octoboer as well, so maybe we will be getting things done around the same time. Shawn M.

Shawn - Ok, you got me nervous with your message about not being able to reach Dr. Williams' office. So I just called. They answered the phone and were very pleasant to talk to. I have an appointment for my psych eval on September 20th. WOW! That makes it feel real, huh? Pam

That is great Pam. I am glad to went ahead and called them right away. I don't understand why they never answered when I called. Unless I had a different number than you. Hopefully by getting a date for that in Sept it wil help move you along in the process a lot sooner. Maybe we will end having a date close to each other. That would be so cool. Congrats on getting that taken care of. Shawn M.

Hi Pam...I am still getting all my tests done and waiting for a date...but I am going to Grand Rapids with Dr Foote at MMPC. Next week I have my EGD done and I think that is all and then wait for the insurance to approve me. Congrats on getting started!! Hugs Judy

Judy - How cool would that be if we both has the surgery in October. My ideal window of time for surgery is October through Christmas for time off work coordinate with projects at the office. I'll keep ya'll posted on my progress. Pam

Hey Pam that would be cool...but I am hoping for an earlier date as we get busy around holiday time...but I am excited for you to be getting started!! Hugs Judy

Hi Pam! I just sent an e-mail to you, but I wanted to post, too. I'm so thrilled that you have hooked up with Dr. Obeid and Hurley. My experience, including my hospital stay was excellent!! I'm glad you got your psych eval set up with no problems, I didn't have any trouble either, I used a Dr. thay my psychiatrist (yeah, I have my own psychiatrist) recommended and it went very well. Congratulations on the success you've had to date and I pray all else will go as smoothly for you! Lizzie B