anyone have Dr. Thomas Chua

What was your experience with Dr. Chua and how is his bed side manner. Does he explain things to you. How is his free seminar you have to go to before you can even see the team. I am going to teh seminar on Jan 8, 2009

I went to Dr. Chua's seminar a while back. It was very informative. He is a pioneer of many of the WLS procedures. In fact, BCBS of Wisconsin has consulted with him in order to develop their WLS policies. He is very knowledgeable. The only thing that I didn't like was the fact that you have to go through the nutrition, physical therapy and psych consults before they will even schedule you to meet with Dr. Chua. That seems backwards to me. I would hate to go through all of that only to discover that this is not the surgeon for me.

Pallas

I was told that also have to do a 6 month diet plan before insurance will even pay for it. Yea it does seem backwards to me. I can see going to the 2 hour seminar to learn about the options. I believe united health care t-19 only pays for the gastric bypass surgery. Not the lap band. I have many health issues along with a bmi of 50. If I dont get the weight off my knees I will be having a knee replacement surgery soon. I just had cortisone shot in right knee and on the 30th get another shot in the left knee. I have not seen any improvement at all. I also have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholestrol and diabetic neuropathy and varicose veins.

I had Dr. Chua as my surgeon. He is a very good surgeon. I was lucky to have some friends/family members that were familiar with him and they all said he was a very good Doc. As for the bedside manner, well i was really out of it the first 2 days after surgery so I do not remember how he was. As for the nut and shrink meets before surgery I would recommend them. They provide a lot of insight to how things will happen. It also helps you change your lifestyle a bit to bring you more in line with what will happen post surgery. Even with those resources things were very difficult for me post op. I am glad that they were available for me. when I had my consult with Dhua I came very prepared as to what I wanted done (DS) and the reasons I had chose that path. He listened and interjected things that were extentions of what I had learned through my own research. He performed my surgery wonderully even though I am his first DS patient. I was still did it larp even though I had a high BMI (50+ at time of surg). If you have any questions please feel free to pm me though i do not check them all that often because of work.

Hi Robin,

I had surgery with Dr. Chua 4 1/2 years ago, and I now am a regular speaker volunteer at his seminars every month, so you will see me on January 8th!  I attended 3 other seminars before his when I started, and none of them felt "right". He has been doing this for so long and has such a fantastic team of people working with him that, although at times it feels like you're jumping through hoops, it's all for a reason. He's fantastic at getting insurance companies to approve, and most importantly, by the time you reach the operating table, you are so very prepared and knowledgeable about your future new life, that complications are ssmall.  It is true that you don't see him until you are nearing your date and surgery choice. But he does this so the nutritionist, psychologist, etc. can assure him that you are a good candidate and that you are fully prepared for this life changing surgery.  He's very caring, soft-spoken, but open, honest, and ALWAYS there for his patients.  If you feel comfortable enough, I'd love to meet you in January! But check out my profile if you want, and you'll then get to recognize me from the photo's.  You can always contact me here as well!  Happy holidays and see you in January!
Lois

Hi..
  I had Dr. Chua 14 months ago. He has a great bedside manner and his team is very good. Every insurance compnay requires different things. I had 3 months of nutrition visits prior to surgery. This really helped me. I was taught what to eat, how much, etc... prior to just jumping into it. There is not a 6 month requirement unless your Insuarnce provider requires that.

My information seminar was in June 2007 and I had surgery Oct. 15th 2007.  Today I'm 118 lbs. leaner and very healthy. Eat an occational cookie to many : ) 

Good Luc****ep us posted
Shari Latawiec
Oak Creek, WI
RNY 10/15/07

 Hi Louis, I hear  Dr Chua  performs the DS? would you know that to be true?   
Becky

Hi Becky,

Yes, he does that surgery as well. Not as many as he does RNY and bands, but he does the DS as well as a couple others. 
Lois

hi Lois

does Dr Chua have a good aftercare program?

does he provide lapbnd fills to patients from other surgeons? specifically those who have re-located from another state?

I have the most fabulous surgeon and dont believe other surgeons offer the same kind of superb aftercare but I will need to find a surgeon in th Milwaukee area who can do fills for those times I cannot get back to AZ  to see Dr Simpson...

gthanks

Lori

Hi,
Yes, Dr. Chua has a fantastic aftercare program and also has support groups every month. He does also take on patients from previous doctors.  His team of people are there to help from start to finish, so even if years down the road you want to see a nutritionist, she is available for you.  He's totally committed to his work and his people. He's pretty amazing.