Tulsa area surgeons

 Hi fellow-okies. I am in the middle of the 6 month pre-op diet. At first I thought my insurance would require me to travel to Norman(100 miles from me) but now I have found I can use the St. Francis surgeons in Tulsa which would be a lot easier. However, I don't know much about them and they are not registered at OH so I haven't heard much about them good or bad. Would appreciate anyone's comments who knows about them or used them. Thank you.

Hi Molly,

I used Dr. Cole. He is with Dr. Katis, Dr. Fisher and Dr. Varnell, at Tulsa Surgical Associates.  They do surgery at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.  A friend of mine use Dr. Varnell and speaks very highly of him. She had some problems, and ended back up in Tulsa a couple of time since her surger in Sept.  Nothing really related to GBS.  Gall bladder problems and had to have surgery for that too.
 Dr. Cole did a great job with me and I have no complaints at all. 

If you go to http://www.surgassoc.com/  you can check them out.
I hope this helps.

 Thanks Sudsie. I was leaning toward Fisher or Katis but I am just concerned because neither is Board Certified in Bariatrics and neither have made Bariatric their primary speciality.  Seem like nice and skilled surgeons, though. Just weird that most of the OH forum stick with the OKC side of Oklahoma.  Doesn't seem to be any active support groups here either.

I had surgery in Edmond. I needed a support group here in Tulsa because traveling to Edmond was just to far away and I didn't have the time to go.  I called Dr. Katis, Cole etc at their office and they wouldn't even let me attend a support meeting.  I explained to them that I just needed to talk with other people that had RNY surgery and they would not let me.  I think that shows how much they actually care about people.  Just my opinion..Not like I was having problems or anything. Just needed to talk..

 Thanks for your input, okbuffy. That's interesting. I am curious as to how they "didn't let you" ? Aren't most groups fully self-supporting and usually in members homes or public places?  Or was it something just for their own patients educational meetings?  Maybe we should start one here in T-town. I think Bailey Medical center with Dr. JoeBob Kirk is trying to get one going in January.  

I wanted to joint their group.  It was my understanding that they had support groups at the doctors office after hours..The nurse stated that they only had support meetings wtih only patients who had surgery with them.  Maybe a legal issue, not to sure.  But thats ok. I went to Dr. Gorospes meeetings and they helped me when I needed it the most (the first 6 months or so after my WLS).  I think a support group in Tulsa would be great and anyone that needs it, could attend. IF anyone here knows of a new support group forming in Tulsa, please let me know....I would love to meet people and share experiences.

I think part of the issue is that you are loking for Tulsa doctors that do their surgeries at St. Francis.  I had my surgery in Owasso but Dr. Gorospe doesn't do surgery there.  I think there are so many people that were cash pay surgeries that went through Weight Wise because they are much cheaper than going through the hospital.  My surgery if I had to pay was 26,000 (including room/testing/anesthesia) but WW is about half of that.
There is an active support group that meets in Owasso the second Monday of each month, and anyone's patient is welcome.

 Hi Kath. I didn't realize how popular the cash pay was around here. I have been trying to have this surgery for 6 years and looked into Mexico but chickened out & the cost was still too high for me. Luckily, my job now has insurance that will cover Bariatric surgery but I have to go to a Center of Excellence hospital. I thought Norman was the only one in Oklahoma but St. France is also approved by CIGNA.  

I am sure I am biased towards Dr Gorospe and Dr Kirk, since they did my surgery.  When I originally started with them, they were here in Tulsa out of Southcrest.  But they moved 3 weeks before my surgery to Owasso.  Not really that far to go, takes me about 25 mins from Broken Arrow.
There meetings always have lots of people.  People just starting the process, people just after surgery and lots and lots of old timers.  And yes, everyone is welcome, not just the folks they have personally operated on.
My insurance covered my surgery, so price was not a factor for me selecting my team.  I felt very comfortable and safe in their hands.

 Yes, I love Dr. Kirk. You probably know he doesn't do surgery anymore, though. And Dr. Gorospe has moved again, now to Muskogee.  Dr. Kirk is doing all my pre-op tests and diet to get me all set up for the surgeon and he can follow-up on me afterwards which was a godsend when I thought I would have to have the surgery in Norman, OK. My insurance requires a center of excellence and Dr. Kirk says Bailey doesn't qualify yet but now St. Francis does. Since Gorospe left Owasso, Dr. Kirk got the 3 surgeons from St. Francis to start performing Bariatrics at Bailey and he is taking over the support group at Bailey starting in January. I am going to try to attend.  It's just weird that after so long it may actually happen for me but I need to decide if I want to use St. Francis or travel to Norman for the actual surgery.