Where to begin???

Know what kind of surgery I want, but where do I begin this entire process? Have an appt with my doctor on 9/28 will ask her. Do I contact the surgeons office first or wait? HELP.

i knew what kind of surgery I wanted too. So I made a Dr's appointment and let my primary Dr help me work everything else out. So I'd recommend waiting to talk to your Dr first. Good luck! Jacquie

I have done everything through the surgeon. I haven't seen my primary doc once.....but will next week for my pre-op physical, and I'll tell her then! The surgeon's office are the best ones to submit paperwork,(in my opinion) because they do it all the time...should be less problems, omitted information, etc.... When you find a surgeon you like (and there are several in Omaha, we are SOOOO lucky!) they will guide you.

Took your advice. Have a consultation on Dec. 9 with Dr. Sudan in Omaha. Am so excited can hardly wait.

best place to start is going to a support group..our web site is www.npwlssg,org. i know there several across the state.most Dr.s want you to go to some before surgery and its most important to go regular to meetings after surgery. our group is like one big family...you may contack me personall [email protected]. I am going to the national convention for Obesity Help the end of Oct to be trained for Chapter Leader for NE. Good luck, Beth

Hi again sorry just wanted to let you know that if you go to Omaha or Lincoln it can take 6 to 8 months after you're approved by your insurance to have your surgery becuz the surgeons in Omaha and Lincoln are so booked up. Atleast thats what I was told. Dr. Goering's office number is (308) 394-7200. Ask to speak to Deb Oswald she is the Bariatric Consultant in Dr. Goerings office. If its long distance you can call 1-800-652-3754. Deb will send you out a packet. It has info on the surgery and some paperwork you have to fill out. Medical history and you have to keep a two week diary of everything you eat. Once you have that all back into his office they call you and set up an appt. for a consultation. I also had to sign some papers at my primary Physican's office authorizing them to release my medical history to Dr Goering. Hope this helps.

Sue, how long after your initial consult did it take for your surgery. I have an appt. in Omaha for the first consult in December and if I could get in faster in Grand Island will try for there. Will see my reg. doc tomorrow and talk to her also.

Rhonda my consultation with Dr Goering was the end of June and I had my surgery on July 21st. I was going to go to Lincoln becuz of my heart condition but Deb from Dr. Goerings office told me that if I went to Lincoln or Omaha it would take 6 to 8 months, so I decided to keep going with Dr Goering so it was about one month from the consultation until I had the surgery. Deb set up a tentative date of July 20 before I had my approval from my insurance and it was later changed to the 21 becuz the Dr who assists Dr Goering during WLS had a funeral to go to and couldn't be there. You have to go thru an orientation at the hosp before your surgery they talk to you about what will happen afer surgery and about exercise and etc. They also took x-rays and did blood tests and so forth. Also if you have a deductible and copay on your insurance they (the hosp) wants you to pay that up front. Oh by the way I mistyped Dr Goerings Phone number its (308) 384-7200 or the 800-652-3754. Hope this helps I have done well after surgery and feel much better am off most of my blood pressure pills and I walk daily. I've lost 37 pounds which is slower than most but it keeps coming off and thats the main thing and don't think it has anything to do with the Dr. Hope this helps. Sue

Sue, saw my regular doctor today for a referral to Dr. Goering, she went ballistic. Said if I couldn't lose weight on my own that the surgery wouldn't work anyway. Told her of my family history of heart disease and diabetes, said it didn't matter. Am so sad, could cry. Will talk to Deb at Dr. Goerings today any how. I still want the surgery, am ready for any other modifications I need to make. Just am afraid at what she will put in her refferal now. Anyone else had this problem let me know.

Rhonda .. Call Dr Goerings office anyway and talk to Deb. I'm sure she will be able to tell you if you need your Dr.s referral or not. I didn't even ask my Dr. for a referral. I did see him about weight loss and he told me I had to move more and eat less big help huh ! Anyway I just called Dr Goering's office and they had me talk to Deb and she sent me a packet with info and pages to fill out about family history and my medical history and I had to keep a 2 wk diary of things I ate. Don't be discouraged if you are more than 100 lbs overweight and have a BMI of 40 or more and have some history of problems caused by obesity (I hate that word !!) then more than likely Dr. Goering or another Dr of your choice can help u and She doesn't know much about WLS if your Dr doesn't think it will work!! It does I am 56 yrs old and have tired many many diets and they only worked for a short period of time WLS has been proven to help with long term weight loss or I wouldn't have gone thru this !! Sue