My Introduction (Mission Hospital, Asheville?)

Beka,  Please let me know if you go to the surgical info session!  I would love to hear what you learn.  :) I decided to register for the non-surgical info session first because I was told by 2 people (including my dr.) that I would have to go through that program before being considered for a surgical option.  With my BMI, I am assuming I would go the OptiFast route.  I don't know if that would ultimately end with surgery or not.  I am really anxious to find out. I've not seen the Mission bariatric surgeons names listed anywhere.  Do you mind sharing with me where you found that info?  Thank you, and good luck!  I'll be looking forward to hearing what you decide.  :)

Hi again!  I had time to go over my policy in depth and I won't qualify.  My BMI of 35 is not high enough and I am not on any prescription meds, so they probably won't recoginize my co-morbidities.  Plus, they want you to have a BMI of 35 with co-morbidities or a BMI of 40 for 4 of the past five years to qualify and I just hit 35.  I might however see if they will help any with Optifast, which they probably won't.  The surgeons are all with Regional Surgical Associates:  Alan Bradshaw, Peeter Soosaar and Christopher Edwards.  I know Bradshaw has some great testimonials here, can't remember if Soosaar is on here.  Edwards is  new and I don't see his listed.  If you search, you can find their office's website with info on their training and specialties.   I somehow got to it from Mission's website.  I think it might be regional-surgical-associates.com.  I remember it is hypenated.  Mission's website has the surgeon's pics, along with Dr. Humphries, who does the medical part of the program.  Also pictured is Shirley Nesbitt, FNP who is awesome.  She was Dr. Bradshaw's assistant for years before she started working with the bariatrics program.  I am at least learning what to do if I can't get this weight off to qualify.  Diana Fisher, the program coordinator, has had the surgery and her sotry is listed on the Mission website too. I do think  the 4 out of 5 years being obese is ridiculous.   I have been significantly overweight for years, but not overweight enough it seems.  I am afraid if I could get it paid for out of pocket that my insurance wouldn't pay for complications if they arose.  If you find out about the Optifast program cost, let me know. Beka