want lap band surgery not sure about the doc??

Hi. I have posted before, "researching Dr. Mikami" and did not get many responses, just a couple and thank you for that. My problem is this. I was approved by my ins, (med mutual) for surgery. I have went through OSU's program (12 months of it). I did have some trouble with their ins. lady because she was not very timely with submitting my file and caused me some trouble with scheduling my surgery, not to mention she coded my surgery as RYN with my ins. and now this has to be changed, (maybe if she had returned just one of my 10 voice mails to her this would not have been a problem). I mentioned my  difficulties with Needleman's scheduling person and this offended her, ( In all fairness I did tell her I was disappointed in their program because of this ins. filing person and that I would think twice about recommending their program to anyone else), anyway she did not take kindly to my remarks. SORRY, I was upset because now I will have to wait for surgery until Dec or so cause my husband works over the road.  (He has bee laid off for 6 months though and it was my intention to have my surgery during this period. Had my paperwork  been done in a timely fashion, none of this would be an issue.)  My dilema is this. Since I ticked off Needleman's gal, (truly not intentionally, just really stressed over the whole OSU ins filing gal), she is calling me back Mon. (after she speaks to Needleman) about scheduling me, and I really do not think she will schedule me to see Needleman. Thus, my questions about Mikami. All I truly know is that he is newer than Needleman. The sites I have seen regarding Mikami have not been updated since 2004 and is it really hard to find out how many lap bands a dr has done. So I am not sure what to do. I have spent 12 months and $2000 out of pocket and now I ticked off the scheduler person for Needleman. OSU's program director has yet to return my calls for help with this and I am wondering IS THIS ALL WORTH IT!  I feel like I have done something wrong in mentioning my difficulties with OSU's ins. gal. I feel like mistake after mistake is happening to me and my endeavors in this regard.  I do not know if I just forget about Needleman and go onto Mikami and not waste any more time and money? Do I meet with Mikami on the 24th and disregard all my difficulties with the ins. gal (afterall she will not be operating me)?  My ins. says my approval is good for one year. Do I start this whole process over again some place else? Will I run into trouble, (the same kind of trouble) someplace else? Is this just how it is with lap band surgery and surgeons and programs?   I am just about at my wits end.  BTW, I live in Zanesville, Ohio.  Any help or advice or  personal experience would be greatly appreciated.  BTW, I have heard some wonderful things about Dr. Curry and my only difficulty with this doc is he is 3 hours away from me. I was just hoping there was someone closer. please help!

Hi Stacey, I live at Greenville, but wanted to just say hello. I had verticle sleeve with Dr Trivedi at Kettering Bariatrics, so not sure I can help you with docs.. Wish you the best of luck and if I can help you..please feel free to ask away! Take Care.

Hello Stacey... Have you checked out the links on the upper left side of this forum, where it says "Other Ohio Resources"?  You can click on the link for "Find a Bariatric Doctor", and it will give you a list of doctors who do the lap banding or the gastric bypass.  Click on each doctor's name, and it provides some info about them.  Or you can also Google them, too. You can also check the link for "Find a Hospital", too. Just my 2 cents worth! Susie

Hi Carmen nice to meet you. Hi and thanks susie. I have checked out the doctors and their reviews. I am just so hesitant about starting this process over with another physician, but if I have to, I have to. I for sure want a surgeon who believes in the lap band 100% cause that is what will help make me successful. I just wanted some feedback from others who have had surgery with either surgeon I mentioned, but I get no response. Oh Well, I will do what I need to do. Thanks for responding.

Hi Stacey, I just wanted to let you know that I found OSU to be incredibly rude, unhelpful, and full of red tape in the dealings I had with them.  I have heard lots of good things about Dr. Curry, even though he is far from you.  I saw Dr. Myers at Riverside in Columbus, and he is great, but also not so close to you.   Deb

Stacey IF you are willing to travel.  Dr. Thomas Sonnenstine located just over the Ohio border in Florece, KY is great.  My insurace said No and Christine his insurance girl and he kept at it until they said yes, then I had surgery a week later.  Dr. Tom has also worked on a new lab band for Ethocon Surgeries.  He is great as is Taran his nurse.  859-212-4625.  I met with several Dr. before going with Dr. Tom. Dr. Spire in Springfield, OH, George Kirlackian, Trace Curry all in CIncinnati and i feel I chose the best doctor. SO much so that when I needed a general surgeon I went back to him.

Thanks so much for all the useful info. I am sort of at a standstill waiting on OSU to send me my records. (hope they do'nt lose them!) I did talk to OSUs program director and she actually pointed me in the direction of Mt. Carmel and Dr. Choban. I called and am going to attend some type of forum on 04/15/08 and just go from there. Hopefully all of my hard work at OSU will account for something with them. I am still so upset with how my journey has been thus far pursuing lap band  surgery and feel that all OSU did was take my money and leave me high and dry.  Any info. on Dr. Choban would be helpful if anyone has any persona experience with her or the Mt. Carmel program.     thanks to all.

I know 2 people who had Dr. Choban when she was doing RNY at Bariatric center in Cols. Have heard nothing but good things about her. I am going to Dr. Curry in Cincinnati. Am located in Athens (se ohio)...so it's a 3 hour drive but oh well. Started process 2/28 with first appt. have surgery date set for April 8. Am self pay, my insurance does not cover WLS.. so price was big consideration. He is charging $12.5 K plus 2 years fills. I know nothing about OSU re: their lap band doctors, etc. Good luck.

Dr. curry is great he did mine and I am oh so happy

OK first off, Dr's are mechanics... people mechanics.... nothing more. If you didnt like your plumber's office staff, you would look for another. I found OSU's questionair fairly uppity and rude. I felt like it was an audition for their services. I will take my business elsewhere.   My PCP sent her referal there, well because she is part of OSU But they are not the only place who does this surgery.... and I can get her to write another to where I want to go.