Are there any surgeons in NE that do ds since Dr. Sudan is leaving?

First of all I want to say Mona you are AWESOME!  I have been on and off this forum for over a year and you always take time to respond to my posts.  I really appreciate it.
What I wanted to know was if anyone knows a surgeon that does the ds surgery since Dr. Sudan is leaving?  Thanks everyone for any info.  Hope

I have a friend at work that had DS.  Her surgeon was Dr Anthonne at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.  She has done really well.  I do know that he does his procedure open.  Hope this helps.

Hi Hope, Thanks for the kind words. St. Elizabeth's in Lincoln just got their center of excellence. They can now do medicare patients. I don't know of anyone how does DS. Maybe someone else knows. Good Luck. Mona

Hi Hope;
I am a medicare patient and I  was also waiting to have Dr. Sudan perform my DS. I just spoke with Dr. Gary Anthone's office this afternoon and they just recieved thier Center of Excellence certification today and are able to start accepting medicare patients. I had a chance to meet Dr. Anthone at his seminar last night and he really seems great. I was able to get an appointment for Sept 3rd I wish you the best of luck.

MyPappyBlue

Thanks mypappyblue.  I can't believe you got an appointment so quickly!  Good for you! Do you know if he performs the surgery laproscopically or open.  Also, did you have to go thru a 6 month doctor documented weight loss program?  Thanks! Hope

Hi Hope;
Dr. Anthone only performs the DS as an open procedure. I believe he said he has done over a thousand of these open DS here at Methodist and University of Southern California where he came from. As for the weight loss meetings I was told those were transferable and I would get credit for what I had completed at Creighton. They also said at the seminar last Thurs. that the average wait for surgery was 3-6 months. I hope this helps. Good Luck !!

MyPappyBlue

I'm so bummed I missed that meeting. I was told it was canceled, and they re-scheduled me for the September 11th class.  Oh well.  In the meanwhile I'm meeting with my PCP and getting some of the preop tests done, etc. 

I haven't met Dr. A yet, but I spoken with Lisa in the office several times, and she seems very friendly and knowledgeable. 

I hope I'm as lucky as you and get a quick appointment.  I'm so looking forward to starting the whole process.

:) Felicia

 Dr. Anthone is wonderful.  He was taught by Hess (the man himself) and ran the bariatric program at USC before moving back to Omaha.  Folks travel to Omaha from all over the country to have him perform their surgery.  

As for timeline - It only took 3 weeks for me to get in for a consult after the informational meeting.  Once I got insurance approval Kathy called me with a surgery date that was 5 weeks away.  I'm not sure how the COE will affect this timeline though as I know there have been quite a few Medicare folks waiting for this so Dr. Anthone could do their surgery.  

Hope that helps. 

Hi and thank you so much for the information. Do you mind me asking you a few questions?  I was wondering when you had the surgery and how you are feeling now.  How much weight have you lost?  Also, can you tell me if Dr. Anthone does the ds laproscopically?  You said he trained under Dr. Hess, I know I am a dope, but who is Dr. Hess?  Thanks again for any info. you can give me.  Hope

Dr. Hess is the surgeon who essentially "created" the DS - google him and you will find lots of information.  I have not had the surgery yet - I am scheduled for 9/22/08.  Dr. Anthone does not do the DS lapascopically - it is a very complicated procedure and he wants to make sure he can see everything not just what the camera is pointing at at the time.