Anyone banded by Dr. R Armour Forse in Omaha?

Hello, I am new to forum.  I live in Ravenna (30 miles North of Kearney) and I finally got a surgery date for the band for October 23rd.  Yea!!  Anyway, in May I went to Omaha and went to a seminar at Creighton Medical Center with Dr. Ranjan Sudan.  So I have been completeing tests and such and trying to get BCBS to approve my surgery.  I finally do and now Creighton tells me that Dr. Sudan has moved and my appointment is with Dr. Forse and he wants to know if I want the Lap-Band or the Realize Band.

I am a little scared and put off because they didn't actually tell me I just noticed on the last prescribed test it had Dr. Forse's name instead of Dr. Sudan's.  I asked and they just said "oh yeah, Sudan is gone". WHAT?????  I am making this lifetime changing surgery and oh yeah the Dr. I met and learned about isn't going to be there and by the way you may want to decide which band you want, because the new Dr. likes the Realize band, and this is the first time I heard there were two to choose from.   Urrrggghhh.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent.  I am glad to see there are some support meetings in Kearney.  I may try to attend one later on.

Cami
 

Cami- I understand completely.  I started off with seeing Dr Sudan, then they pushed me over to Dr Wright.  By the time I completed my 6 months diet mgmt with my PCP and Dietician, both of them had left to practice on the East Coast.  They told me Dr Force would take over.  Then their dietician quit and I couldn't get ahold of the office, apparently they left also.  At that point I freaked out and went looking for a new surgeon.  I'm going to St Elizabeth's Hospital in Lincoln and using Dr Tadducci.  I'm hoping to have my surgery before the end of the year.  I hope they get their(Creighton) program straightened out soon.  I would hate to think I had a problem and couldn't get ahold of someone.  I live in Hastings, good luck-Cheri 

Hi Cami;
I was also at Creighton and had been there six months when Dr Sudan left. They sent me a letter saying my surgery would have to be postponed until the end of this year because Dr. Forse was not medicare certified. I decided to move over to Methodist and Dr. Gary Anthone. The day after I went to Creighton and picked up my medical records I get a second letter from them apologizing for the first letter and saying that they had made a mistake and Dr.Forse could do medicare surgery. Just way too much confusion for me.

I met Dr Anthone on Sept 3rd and he was great. He told me that before he did my DS he wanted to do a Panniculectomy and that I had an umbilical hernia that need to be repaired. Funny that none of my previous doctors had found this hernia. Dr. Anthone said this surgery would greatly improve my quality of life and help me to walk again.

But the best news came today when his office called with a surgery date of Dec 1st at 1PM. Yea!!!!! I never thought that after 3 months of seeing him I will be starting the process that I have trying 5 years to have. Praise the Lord. Good luck with your surgery Cami. I'm sure you will come through with flying colors.

God Bless and Good Luck
Mypappyblue

Congragulations on your surgery date!  How exciting.  Don't you just love Dr. A?!

I have several friends who were banded by sudan and now see Dr.  Forse. Everyone seems to like him

Hi Cami

My name is Michelle I live in Madison and I also new here

I'm in the same boat as you I also started with sudan and now am also wondering about Dr. Force but I'm wanting the RNY

they (his new nutritionist and staff ) says force has been working with sudan and has a lot of experience so has anyone had their surgery by force? Any info appreciated thanks

and dose anyone know if Dr. Anthone is a center of excellence yet?

Hi Michelle.  I just read your post and wanted to let you know that Dr. Anthone/ Methodist does have their center of excellence status now.

Dr. A is great and his office is really good in dealing with insurance.  I highly recommend him!  You should at least attend his seminar and see what you think. ;o)

see i started with Dr. A almost 2 years ago a long story short when my insuance changed in jan.08 Dr. A's office sent me to Creaton and now Sudan is gone and it is true when ever i call i leave a mess. and they call me back within an hour or two.

Dose Dr. A do the RNY open still or dose he do Laperscoptic now.

I went to a support group meeting this last July and at that time he was still only doing open.  I could be totally wrong on this....but...I was thinking that he only does the DS and not the RNY.  You would know more than me on that one since you've talked to their office though.  I didn't go in wanting the RNY so I didn't ask anything about that at my pre surgery visits.  I only talked to him about the DS.

I know that he said Dr. Winterstine (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) is now doing the band but not sure if it's open or lap. 

Their office has been really good at getting back to me when I have had questions too.  I've even emailed Dr. A with a question once and he emailed me back himself.

Good luck!

What insurance do you all have?  I have Aetna PPO and want RNY through Dr. Forse since Dr. Sudan has left.  I can never reach the office and they frustrate me.  I am going in for my initial visit after my seminar this Monday, November 3rd.  I am anxious but also wondering if I should look elsewhere.