Duke WLS patients---where's the forum?

Thanks for the information.    I've established a username and password the day I went to the seminar.   The person responsible for giving out the patient manual wasn't there when I left.  I guess I'll go out to the website and get the list of everything I'll need.   Thanks for the info!  

You are very welcome.  If you need anything else please let me know.  I have tons of paper work from them and all the tests required if you should have any questions about any tests.  Good Luck with everything.  :)

I have left John 3 voice messages on his personal phone.  I called 5/5, this morning and then this afternoon about 3:30.  He has not returned any of my calls.  I think Deborah is screening his calls.  I am really beginning to worry that it may be weeks before I get a surgery date.  I faxed them the insurance approval 5/5.  In the past, when Beth was there, did she give you a date the very day she got your insurance approval?  How can it now be 3 or 4 weeks?  Why do you think it is now taking that long?  The company I work for lays off folks about every 6 months.  We reorganize more often than that.  Our staff has decreased by 50% and we have the same volume of work.  If we get behind, we work overtime to get caught up...in order to keep out customer's happy.  Is this not an option for Duke WLS?  Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to get the ball rolling again?

I'm not sure what to tell you.  My experience w/the office has been very positive so far.  I went to the seminar back in December, and it's been moving along pretty well.  I was very lucky in getting an appointment quickly, since they added another NP.  I got my sx date in April.  I probably could have had my surgery sooner, but I need my mom to come stay w/my 15 mo old twins, and June was better for her.  I can tell you Dr. Pryor is out in June for vacation, and then they all have the annual bariatric conference for a week in June, so if they're backed up to July or later, that's why.  I know some people have had many problems w/their office, but having been an office manager for a specialty dr., I know that having someone like Beth (that's been there a long time) leave can cause MAJOR problems in how the office can run/function.  My only advice is to hang in there--it will be worth it. I know someone that just had her surgery last week, and she's doing absolutely great, and said even w/her minor complications, was the best decision for her! BTW, I live in Cary, and haven't had my surgery yet, but when I do, would be happy to share my experiences. Good luck!! Jennifer

Jennifer, thank you so much for your information!   I needed a "warm fuzzy" regarding the Duke WLS program.   Please let me know when you have a date for your surgery.

I'm scheduled for June 25th.  I'm so excited, and wi**** were sooner, but that's ok......it's going to be worth it!

I really miss the Duke WLS forum also. It was really a good way for all of us to keep in touch. I attended the seminar last Sept 2007 and just recently got sent to surgical review--I hope! I was told that it would take 10 days or so since there are still learning. I was so afraid that they had lost my folder for good--but someone found it and put me in the computer for review.   I figured that they might be backed up even more now due to the surgeons and staff on Summer vacations and upcoming conferences. I hope that I can at least have surgery before the end of the Summer. I will go ahead and schedule my own vacation for June since there is a very slim chance that I will be approved before then.

OK, so I'm a Duke surgery band alumni but I don't have to go very often (4yrs. out) so catch me up. When and why did Beth leave and where did she go? She's been there so long and she was the only one that really knew what was going on around there. Having said that she was THE ONE who knew it all, she also seemed very overworked because all the other employees relied on her so much.  Inquiring minds want to know . . . so what happened?

I believe she left to help open a WLS practice in Arkansas.  She left last month (can't remember when).....maybe someone that's had more contact w/the office knows more.

I think the last poster was correct she left to open a WLS in AK.  She was way over worked and the only one to know what was going on.  Things there are just horrible.  I am not happy at all in the way that I am being treated and the way things are being done there.  No one has a clue about anything the answer I always get is "I don't know" if you don't know something find out, that is how you learn.  I am moving to another WLS place.  I am fed up with it all.  To top it all off they took the message board off for us not to talk to one another.  I guess there was to much complaining.