Does anyone in Staten Island NY have any experience with this Dr?

God, you live in one of the 5 boroughs of NYC.  We are all connected first by Ferry for free then by bus or Subway for $2.75.  Why can't you travel to Manhattan (NYU, St. Lukes, NY Presbyterian, Mt. Sinai, Lenox Hill - we got the best in Manhattan!  the list goes on and on!)?  or Brooklyn (Hosptials - Methodist in Park Slope, , Lutheran in Sunset Park, Maimonides - the list goes on in Brooklyn!)? We have Queens, Bronx.  We have everything, all the best medical care we need right in our faces.  We are so lucky.  Stretch your legs out if you can.  If you can't, you are eligible right away for "ACCESS-A-RIDE" for the disabled.  They will drive you door to door to any of our boroughs in NYC - Apply for this through the MTA.

If you can't be awake to call anyone during office hours - you may run into some problems.  If you don't have $200- in general, you may run into some issues post-op with having monies for vitamins, protein, any other fees associated with having WLS.

Offices can be "messy".  You are going to have to be awake during this whole journey to advocate for yourself.  You must do your own research and footwork.

All Best to you.

Maybe because I live on the island and every single program in all the boroughs that I've read require you to see the doctor several times over the course of a few years and most want you to go to their support groups located roughly in the same zip codes and I don't really feel like making a commitment to travel a few hours into the city for a few YEARS when I have a hospital (and WLS program and all relevant destinations) literally 5 minutes drive away?!?!??!

Why the hell should I drive and **** away gas and tolls, or waste HOURS to go to the city to do what I can do here?
Do YOU think it sounds like fun to sit on a crowded train and ferry to come home after surgery?
Did it ever occur to you that I have relatives who are going to want to see me the day or two I'm in the hospital? I've been hospitalized before and my dad visited me numerous times a day, and he wouldn't be able to do that if I go somewhere off-borough. 

As for access-a-ride: certain insurances cover that, others don't Also you cannot just call a phone number and declare "I'M DISABLED!" and expect to get treated like a legally disabled person. You are not entitled to "disability services" unless you are legally declared disabled.

You're the one who was nasty. 

Really how dare you be so insensitive and hostile. It's people like YOU who are the reason I don't make better use of this forum. Nasty, unfriendly, unwelcoming, condescending, insensitive jerks who'd rather belittle someone with words than try to understand and give useful advice appropriate to individual situations. 

I'm an agoraphobic. Thank you so very much for insulting me and my "mental illness." That little emoji you used really drove the point home. I hope you're proud of yourself, you miserable, disgusting human being. 

I really wish you well.  The only way to get better from agoraphobia is exposing yourself to to the things and places that you fear.  Do it in small increments.  you'll have a much bigger and better life if you begin to do this.

Our parents unfortunately are not here forever and the way the government is going,  they will not take care of you forever.  Affordable and  supplemented housing in the city is becoming more and more unavailable. They are emptying and converting public housing into co-ops.  You best get on your feet and try.  You are a big girl not a child. 

When you have your surgery you will not need to have visitors around the clock and you will only be in 1, 2, or 3 days if something is unstable.  And during that time you'll be so drugged you won't need any hand holding.

And first I was simply saying we live in one of the greatest cites.  We have so many options.  You do not have to pay a program fee especially if that is stopping you.

Best!