Anyone here use Dr. Whitehead in Hattiesburg?

I was thinking about trying WLS last year & chickened out. I'm thinking about it again & wondering who used Dr. Whitehead & how did/is it going? Thanks! Melissa

I used Dr. Whitehead and I love him and his staff. I would not trade them for anything.

I remember you from last year. I came here some. Went to one of the seminars & turned in an application. Never heard from them. Was going to give them a few days & then call them, but I chickened out. I thought maybe I wasn't supose to have WLS then. So I tried something else. From March until July I lost from 240 to 217. Unfortunately before Christmas I was up to 222 & now I'm around 230 . I can't win for losing. I'm so sad. I'm going to talk to DH & see if he'll attend another WLS seminar w/ me Thursday & turn in another application. I maybe more persistant this time. I feel so hopeless. I feel like a complete failure. I don't know if they would approve me anyway. My insurance says it has to be medically necessary. I'm 5'2 & weighing around 230. I barely slide by on being over 40 bmi. I have hypothyroid , & hypertension. Hypertension, heart disease & diabetes runs in the family. Don't know if this makes any difference but had Gall bladder taken out in 2003 & just had an umbilical hernia repaired Oct. 2005. Tell me again about the psychiatric evaluation please. What all do the do/ask? Sometimes I have the blues....is that going to disqualify me if I make it that far? Thanks! Melissa

I know his bariatric nurse is very very busy. I filled out my paperwork and started calling constantly after I turned it in. She and I had words a few times when I didnt think she was doing enough but now I see what all she does at that office and we are pretty tight. The psyciatric exam was miserable. I had a bad shrink. She was very anti-WLS and she and I didnt mesh too well. They have since added another shrink and from what I hear he is pretty good. Go with your gut. We are supposed to have a meeting 2morrow night at Pine Grove. Its at 6:30 if you want to come.

Your medical history sounds identical to mine. The BMI cut off is 35 when you have additional problems like history of Hypertension, and family history of diabetes. I am also 5' 2" same weight at surgery. I had surgery at the end of June, and now am doing great. I have lost 67 pounds and still losing. You will feel very blue after surgery and sometimes a bit crazy due to losing weight and the changes in your system, the fat releases some very nasty chemicals..... I am very glad that I went ahead with surgery, it took me 5 years to decide to have it, but now I wish that I had done it years ago.... Good luck in your journey! Cheryl

hi melissa, i used doctor whitehead and i was 5,2 231 so i feel ur pain but at that u are morbidly obese. i am 15 months out of surgery and have lost 93lbs i thought at first i was 229 but when janet(dr whiteheads nurse) looked back at my sheets my first weigh in was 231!! anyway i had a great experience no complications and would do it again in a second he gave me my life back and that being blue stuff i think is just bc u are unhappy with ur weight. and forrest general was great too all the nurses and stuff were great. best care ive ever had!there is another seminar this thursday night at 630 at the y if u wanna come and i was gonna come stick my head in if u want to talk to me since we are in the similar weight range.or if u just wanna call me i stay at home with my kids so i can talk anytime email me at [email protected] and i will give u my #. who is ur ins?mine was united healthcare and they covered it all i paid was my out of pocket. crystal 231/138/125

Hery Crystal... If you are going I think I will go too..

Dear Melissa, Several folks on her have used Dr. Whitehead. I have met him and guarantee he is a jewel. (I had my surgery at Keesler). I am glad you posted and hope to see you back often. MOST insurances say a bmi of 40 or a bmi of 35 with comorbidities - high bp, diabetes, etc. So even if you barely make the 40 bmi, with all the probs you have, you will prolly be qualified. PLEASE come back often and post alot. If we can help you, just let us know. And whining is also allowed!!! Trust me, I have done my share! Keep in touch and keep us updated!!! Smoochies Arlies

Can you met us for lunch tomorrow at 11 am at O'Charleys in Hattiesburg? There should be a group of us....Please come! Smoochies Arlies

Hi. Sorry I couldn't post sooner. I wasn't online yesterday or today until now. Thanks for the invite though. Very sweet of you. I'm trying to make my mind up for sure if I'm going to the seminar Thursday. I want to. I'm hoping DH will come along. Did ya'll absolutely know that WLS was for you? I mean, one minute I'm thinking "this is the only way..." & even though I believe that, I'm scared to death. What if I do get approved but die or have complications? My ins. told me that they only pay for the WLS but if I have problems after, they won't pay extra. I know I have to give it to G o d. I guess I'll do the same this time. I'll be more consistant after turning in the application. But if they are going to deny the surgery, I'll wait to hear it straight from them. I didn't hear anything from them the last time so I guess I didn't qaulify for the consult or there was a prob. Anyway, I didn't check into because I decided to try again w/o WLS. I'm blabbering...sorry, I'm tired. Tweedle Dum- thanks for the post. The thought of a phsych test freaks me out. I have a cousin by marriage who is a psych @ Pine Grove (I think pine grove) ....maybe I could get him to pass me LOL. Cheryl Lee- thanks for the post! Do you mind me asking what your size was then & what it is now? You're doing great! Crystal Green- thanks! I will let you know for sure if I'm going to the meeting. I'd love to meet you & to see (& have DH see) "the change". & we both could ask you questions. If for some reason you can't go, Email or phone is fine. I'll email you later & let ya know for sure! Thanks! OH, we have BCBS ins. My DH works @ Save Rite (owned by Winn Dixie). Thanks again Arlies & everyone. Arlies, you remind me a bit of one of my Aunts...atleast your picture does. She passed away almost 7 yrs ago. She had just had open heart surgery but was very sick. one ex. of heart disease in my family . Unfortunately theres more. Another aunt has had a heart attack but lived thank goodness. She has diabetes. Thats my dad's sisters. My paternal Grandparents both died from heart attacks. They were both (from what I can tell from pictures) overweight & diabetics. Alot of my dad's sisters are overweight while dad & uncle aren't. My maternal grandfather died of a massive heart attack. He was not overweight at all...under if anything. But mom's side of the family has hypertension...even the skinny ones (my mom & her brother). My grandparents had high bp too. My siblings & I (we are overweight). Ok, blabbering again. Thanks & I'll write later!