a question for Southern Surgical patients

hey !!!

my consult with Dr Mac is tomorrow morning. What should i expect?

I know im suppose to bring a list of questions..but i dont have any..Most of my questions have been answered by the information provided to me and this forum & all of you.

Will they do a final weigh in before submitting to insurance? I know my hubby is going with me but i sure dont want him seeing me weighed. *sigh* (((( know ive gained)))

Im just so nervous. I was told i would be getting my surgery date (pending insurance approval) tomorrow

 

:)

Melissa,   No answers on what to expect since I'm not a SS patient, but wanted to let you know I'm excited for you!  :)  It's no wonder you don't have a list of questions.  This forum is simply amazing, isn't it?  Everyone is so helpful and informative.  :)  Good luck and look forward to seeing your surgery date announcement! 

Congrats on getting this far!  You'll probably see Bobbie first who will weigh you (sorry) and get your vitals.  She'll ask you a few dozen questions that you have probably answered 10 times before and then show you to a room.  He'll come in and chat with you, take another look at your abdomen, and confirm everything that's in your file.  He'll give you a rundown of what to expect at the hospital and then ask if you have any questions.  The only question I had for him was I wanted to get his opinion of the recent MRSA outbreak/hype at PCMH.  He told me it was not a new thing and that local media had kind of blown in out of proportion (I think his words were "they're idiots" but I'm not sure).  We talked for a while longer and then he turned me over to Tina who does the scheduling and we hammered out a date for the surgery.  She will also check you insurance status and will want to collect BEFORE your surgery any copay/deductible/coinsurance that SS will be due (I paid just over $500.00).  She will also give you a package of information to take to the "Patient Testing Center" (a PCMH branch).  There you will have several tests (chest xray, bloodwork, urinalisys, can't remeber the rest) and they will get you registered at the hospital.  You have to go to them at least two weeks prior but not more than 30 days before your surgery date.  He did my and my wife's surgery so we've been thru this twice!  You can probably expect anywhere from a 2-4 week wait for a surgery date if your insurance goes through ok.  If you have BCBS of NC you probably have very little to worry about on that front.  My wife and I both have BCBS and insurance was really a nonissue.  Let me know if you have any more questions! 

Congratulations on getting to this point!  I'm a patient of Dr. MacDonald's too.  My visit went something like this:  I went in and met first with Bobbi, who weighed me (hubby had to stand in the corner ) and took my vitals.  Then I had a brief visit with the doc who answered my questions, which were few.  Then they sent me to their surgery coordinator who gave me a date.  I have BCBS insurance, so she gave me my date immediately.  I asked if there was any chance I wouldn't get approved and she said very doubtful b/c I had made it through all of the testing without objection and I met the standards set out in their policy.  Their procedure with them is to submit the paperwork after this visit and the insurance company sends back an approval number.  So I left this appointment with my date, which could have been as soon as 2 weeks ahead, and a packet of information to take to the preadmission testing center at Pitt Memorial.   I went and had it done that day b/c I live 2 hours away from the hospital. 

Good luck with your appointment tomorrow and on the rest of your journey!

Lorie Anne

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE REPLIES!!

i have a borderline BMI issue. i havent been over 40 for 5 years. just for 1..ive hovered around 34-35 for all the previous years. i dont know the results of my sleep study. i do haev gallstones so i need the gall bladder removed also ( i think)

men have no concept of weight. im embarrased for my hubby to see mine. am i awful or what?

he thinks when i say im 100 lbs overweight that im around 225. haha

im pushing 270 here. like i  said...NO concept of weight

im soooooooo nervous!!!

Hey, Hey now!!  I have a concept of weight cuz I been there!  Just kidding, it's different for us I know.  Good luck tomorrow!

Hey girl! 

I LOVE Dr MacDonald!  He's wonderful and saved my life for sure!  Anyway, I'm sure you'll be talking with Bobbie and they'll take your vitals, weigh you (but they can do all that before your hubby comes back), they'll go over your labs and then talk with Dr. MacDonald.  Oh, bring a book or something because they do have a tendance to run late now-a-days.  If the hubby says anything about your weight just remind him that this is why you're going through this process, to loose the weight and get healthy.   My WLS was almost 6 years ago and I am sooo very thankful, I would crawl back to see Dr Mac if I had to do anything else!

I will keep you in my thoughts, keep us posted on your date!!!  I know you're excited and a bit nervous!

 

Hey Melissa.  I can't offer much more info than what the other folks have said, but I have Dr. Mac as a doctor and can tell you he is awesome.  He comes off a little cold at first, but thats just his nature.  He's very professional and quite serious about his job and your safety.  His personality does warm up after a few visits.  Trust you are in very capable hands.  The office staff are great, especially Bobby and Shannon.  Good luck tomorrow.  And don't sweat the insurance stuff.  Tina will work it all out. 

Congrat's your almost there!!  Don't worry about your weight cause if your like most of us when we start loosing alot and people begin to really notice espically the fluffy ones, you'll be like .."Honey I was 270 when this all started and now I am down 100lbs!"  and they'll look at you like there was no way in Hell you ever could look like 270 or what ever there minds tell them it should look like.  I tell people all the time I started this at 284 was 251 at surgery and what I weigh now and they are amazed.  You will be so proud of yourself and you will  a sign of hope for others that are thinking about it.  Make sure your hubby has a chance to ask questions, I am sure he is scared for you.  I asked my husband right there if he had any questions.  My doctor did remind him that I would probably be moody and not take offense or worry if I started crying when I started loosing.  It is so important we keep those communication lines open between out family so they understand as best they can what you are going to be going through and how they can help.  As far as the Mersa...I tested positive for it, they still did surgery and I had an open wound from hitting a metal ground stake when I put my foot between the house and it and into fire ants.  Needless to say I wasn't  watching when I yanked it back.  Mersa is in all hospitals and prevalent on Money!  I was treated with no problem.  It is a problem if you are elderly, serverly injured with open wounds or have immune issues.  Like he said people go through their whole lives sometimes caring this and never know it.  He also told me in my profession most likely I will be exposed to it and other creepy things again,  I work in a Bank.  Most likely, this is were I picked it up.  He said I couldn't wash my hands enough there.  But we should always wash our hands and keep them away from our mouths, eyes and nose were alot of germs get in. I am really particular now about food bacteria and how my stomach or lack of it LOL would react to them criters.  You will be fine though.

hi melissa,

My name is nikki and i am really new to this site, but so far i have really found alot of interesting bit of information. I just wanted you to know that my surgeon will also be Dr macdonald from souther surgical,however, I still have one last appt on the 28 before i can schedule to meet with him.  I really hope everything goes well for you and keep me posted on how well your meeting with him goes..