Gundersen-Lutheran, La Crosse, WI

Anyone have any experience with Dr. Baker or Dr. Kothari at Gundersen-Lutheran in La Crosse?  I just went the required seminar tonight.  The physicians assistant did the presentation.  He was friendly and informative.  I have a appt. with Dr. Kothari on Jan. 14th.  I have Badgercare, I learned tonight that medical assist. wants 6 months of nut. visits before you can even think of getting approved for surgery.  I have arthritis in my knee, all the different treatment have not worked.  I need to lose weight.  I don't want to add another 6 months of nut. visits onto the already long process of getting approval.  The Dr. I am seeing for my knee is the one that suggested weight loss.  I wonder if a letter from her would help me get out of the nut. visits.  I am only 44yr. old and I am too young for a knee replacement.  Weight loss is my only other option right now. Beth

I recently received a surgery date and am having Dr. Kothari do it.  Yes, it is a process that takes time but you will not bypass the "nut" visits.  I found comfort in having the process because it shows that they do not just accept anybody for the surgery.  They are rated one of the best.  The was I look at it is that an extra 6 months isn't a whole lot in the grand scheme of things.  I went to my first info meeting almost 4 years ago and decided it wasn't for me.  But in January it will be a year of actively moving forward.  Hope this helps. JJT

Thanks JJT, I do realize that 6 months isn't long if you look at my total lifetime and how it will help my health.  I guess now that I have decided to do something once and for all about my weight, I want to go full steam ahead now.  What does the nut do with you at the meetings?  I know how I should eat and exercise, I just can't do it on my own and keep at it. Beth

Beth, I hear you.  When you finally make the decision to move ahead, it is hard to be patient.  Especially when you have probably thought about it for many years.  The "nut" visits are painless.  I prefer them to the dietician visit (I don't like numbers)  Dr. Bannen is wonderful...very easy to talk to.  If you haven't, you'll have to take MMPI test (I think that is what it is...anyways it has tons of questions).  It will be evaluated and Dr. Bannen will go over the results.  She'll talk about how we got to where we are and most likely we are emotional eaters.  She talks about the changes emotionally after the surgery.  I am expecting to be somewhat grieving food because it is what I have always turned to for all my emotions.  As for dietician appts, they are short and sweet.  Very informative and helpful.  Yes, alot of it is common sense but we are where we are.  It was wierd for me to change my focus from losing to maintaining.  Weird concept.  Although it hasn't been a smooth ride (I was denied once) but like I said we are given these challenges to see how seriously we want to ride the road to better health.  I hope this helps...keep in touch.

I had surgery with Dr Baker back in August of this year.  He is a wonderful caring man and wouldn't have chaged a thing!!!!!  He answered all my questions very professionally.  The whole bariatric team at GLMC is great!! I was very upset when I first went in for my initial appointment with the team.  I felt they were trying to talk me out of having the surgery and wanted to discourage me from it rather than accepting my decision to go through with this.  I now know that that wasn't true.  I was also very upset to find out that I had to go through 6 months of dietician appointments.  I felt I had tried every diet under the sun and that a dietician wasn't going to be able to teach me anything I didn't already know.  I was SOOOOOOOO wrong.  I learned to enjoy and learn so much from each and every visit with Emily.  She really is a ray of light to me and has taught me so much.  My 6 months went extremily quick and in no time I was done.   Then Lauri sent in all my information to my insurance company and I was approved in just 3 days.   I had surgery August 8th, 2007 and thus far have lost 63 pounds.  My heaviest weight was 237 and am now 174.  I feel amazingly wonderful.  My husband has been an amazing supporter and I really believe I couldn't have done this without him right by my side.  He tells me daily how proud he is of me and how truly beautiful I am.  Of course, he is so right!!!:)LOL   I am a little over 4 months out and losing tons of hair.  I have finally been able to eat meat.  At first I had alot of difficulty eating any meats.  Now I can eat chicken and beef in small doses, but I can eat it!  I had alot of "dumping" for the first few months after surgery.  Most of it was caused from eating to fast.  I have changed that, and things are much better now.    Keep your head up and if in fact this surgery is something you truly want, don't give up on account of a few meesly months of doc. appointments.  Forge foward and work on getting yourself healthy.  Isn't 6 months out of your life a meer second out of a lifetime of health?   Take care and feel free to msg me anytime with any questions you may have.  I would be happy to chat anytime. Surgery Date: August 8, 2007 Surgery Weight: 237 Todays Weight: 174