Hi All!

It's so exciting to read about the progress you've all made . Congratulations.

I have a problem and can use your help. I was referred to Dr. Blackstone in Scottsdale. I went through all the tests, pre-op appointments and was scheduled for surgery but then when I finally got the chance to meet with Dr. Blackstone (I tried to meet with her on many occasions because I'm on steroids for health issues and I wasn't sure if I would be a candidate) she said that she wouldn't feel comfortable doing my surgery. Now I'm left having to try and find someone else that will agree to work with me and I have no idea where to begin. All my doctors recommended Dr. Blackstone, people I've spoken with referred Dr. Blackstone. I heard she was the best and of course I wanted the best.

So now I need to find another "best". Please help me by responding with your experiences with different doctors - pros and cons. I live in N. Scottsdale but I can travel so it doesn't matter if the surgery is here or another state. I just want someone with a good medical background and years of experience with laproscopic RNY.

As a side note: has anyone that is on steroids for adrenal insufficiency had success with RNY? 

I would welcome and thoughts and suggestions.

Thank you for your help.

You've contacted us since the 2013 Conference so here is the 4-1-1:  We are excited to announce the details for the ObesityHelp Conference 2014. 

The conference for this year will be held in Los Angeles, California on August 15-16, 2014.

To sign up for the latest updates and other details, check our OH Blog.

Please join us for the fun, education, information and vendor samples.

Hi,

I have worked for UHC for over 5 years now and am trying to find out more about appealing the WLS. In my plan it is not covered. They said I could appeal it. My doctor wrote a letter of appeal last week and I'm praying to get some good news. Has anyone here every appealed the WLS and actually gotten it covered? If so please tell me about it.

No.  There are no surgeons in AZ that are safe to do RNY to DS.  You would have to travel for that and I include Blackstone.  Blackstone isn't even a vetted DS surgeon let alone RNY to DS.  That is a procedure only about 6-7 surgeons throughout the COUNTRY can do.

Personally, I wouldn't go to Blackstone for a hang nail let alone something serious such as surgery.  I took care of too many of her mistakes when I lived in AZ.  She had a habit of bypassing too much intestine and when the patient became ill and malnourished she blamed them and fired them as a patient.  It was just her way of pawning them off on some other doctor.

No, there are no DS surgeons in AZ and surely no RNY to DS surgeons.  The closest are California for ins pay and MX for self pay.

can i e-mail you as well too, i just relocated here from MI, and im hoping to have a DS soon with your doctor, im meeting him at the end of the month,   but my BMI is 40 and im a revision from an RnY ...... any tis on your doctor will really help actually ... thanks