Finally ---an appointment with the new surgeon.

After such a long drawn out mess of losing the first surgeon because he decided to play house with a surgical tech, then he was sent all my records and he don't come off of 90 day suspension until middle of August so they are locked up in an unmanned office. ... then tracking down every test result from the places they were performed to be sent to the new surgeon. It is finally coming together.. The new place called today and they finally have everything they need ..all my records are complete, so they made me an appointment to meet the new Surgeon for a consultation next Monday..  As soon as that is over they will send everything out to the insurance for approval.. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel... Maybe it is within reach this time.. oh boy oh boy oh boy....... I've been in the best mood all day... just had to share the news...

Teresa S.

   

I am so glad everything has come together for you. YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Suzy

Hello Teresa.....I live in the Carterville area...I didn't know there was anyone on this site so close to me!!!!!!  It's nice to see a neighbor on here......I started my process about a year ago in Paducah and was excited when the program moved to Herrin.  I went through all of the testing and waiting and crossing of the fingers from my insurance.....and even had about a month of scare over a heart test that turned out to be a false reading...and just when I received my approval from the insurance....all of the controversy happened.    It's really unfortunate....I started with Dr. A. and I have chosen to stay with him. I couldn't ask for a better doctor....I trust him and I have complete confidence in him.  I have an appointment on Aug. 12....to hopefully get a date for surgery.  You know I worked with physicians for many years and I think that sometimes people tend to forget that they are people just like we are...and that they make mistakes just like we do....you know it's like where do we draw the line....professional vs personal.......I contacted the group in St. Louis to find out about their program and didn't think that I would be a good fit for them.    I do know of other people that have had much success with their program.....and I wish you all the best......I know you will be successful.......I don't know if you have attended a support group meeting at the Herrin Hospital...but the next one is this Thursday night at 7:00....they have them every 3rd Thursday at 7:00.....I have been to them since they started and they are full of great information and support.....If you would like to talk or get to know each other.....drop me a line.......or check out a meeting...    I wish you all the best!!!!!!!!!! 

Jaimee

Jaimee,

I do not blame you for staying with Dr. A.. He is an excellent surgeon.. I really liked him...I had actually seen him in 2004 for my first attempt at surgery. He was in Mayfield at that time. Then I followed him to Paducah. Then I started again, with him in Paducah in November last year When I found an insurance to cover the surgery. I moved to Herrin with him in January.. I was not too pleased about Herrin hospital compared to Lourdes.. Lourdes had been doing these for so many years.  Well I just had to trust him that he had worked with the nurses and such in training and that it would be ok.. Then when all this came up I was torn as to what to do.. But I had a hard time as a Christian trusting him and believing in him like I had. I have met his wife and kids.. They are such a great family.. I did not know what happened when he and her separated.. But he stated on TV that he was single when he dated the operating room tech. but indeed he was just separated.. that alone crushed my putting him on a pedestal like I had.
Knowing that he is such a great surgeon was why I was so confused what to do.. I ma just afraid that this is such a bible belt that he will not have the followers as he had and he might just move again. He has been in Paducah for 5 years but before that he was in Mayfield as I mentioned. In St. Louis area before that and in another part of Kentucky and was also practiced in Florida.. My gut just kept telling me that he might have to move to really have a good practice again.. That  is why I just couldn't trust him. He says he is opening his business back up here because he dont want to abandon his patients, but what about all those he left with the other moves.. Even my PCP told me that he would never be able to have the practice here like he did have.. Lourdes is completely separating themselves from him. He quit them and I was told they won't take him back. Maybe Mayfield will. Herrin Hosp. may let him do surgeries there but I am not sure.. They were really mad that they put all the money into the hospital based on him and he knew all the time that this was coming up and didn't tell anyone.. So he may not get the privileges there like he thinks either.. There were a few things that he did that I was unsure about.. I was afraid of the extra surgery to put in a filter.. Every surgery carries risk even that one.. Like  my new surgeon said and my PCP why could he not insert it at the same surgery as the RNY.. no extra risk.. and one other thing that bothered me is that he was recommending the same old vitamins he did 5 years ago.. Flintstones vitamins that many people have come up with malnutrition taking them.. yes 5 years ago there was not a choice but there are other good choices now.. and the calcium he recommends is the wrong type of calcium. We need calcium citrate in order to absorb it and he was recommending calcium carbonate.. I always felt like I was so uninformed through this.. He would come in to see me once in a great while,, and never remember where we were in our process and would have to ask me what meds he had changed me to and the diet he just kinda said non gallantly ok..  when I reminded him I had lost 50 lbs.. I saw the physicians assistant, Julie,  most visits .. I really really liked Julie.. but the staff in Herrin all seemed so lost.. I really felt so sorry for them.. Well anyway I did contact St. Louis and I really felt like it was meant for me to go there. I love the Surgeons opinions ans answers to how he does things.  He has a lot more experience in Laproscopic surgery, Dr. A had just started doing laporascopic in the last couple of years.. He was always so uncomfortable with it before and only did open.. But as times changed he had to change and now does them but he does not have the equipment to do them on very high BMI.s that is why I had to loose so much weight. so we could do it lap style. well anyway. I am happy with my decision.. believe me I really so like Dr. A and have a lot of respect for him as a surgeon..He does a lot of surgeries other than bariatric and he has saved many lives in that process.. So don't feel like you are wrong or I am wrong in out decisions.. We have to all do what feels right for us.. I know better than anyone that no one is perfect and don't expect them to be but I know how people in our area thing and I am afraid for him and his new practice.. I commend you for sticking with him ...I am sure your surgery will go great with him..
I would love to be friends.. I am going to send you an invitation.. I am going to try to go to the meeting Thursday night as well,,, maybe we can meet there face to face..
I like talking to people from this area too and would love to know how Dr A is doing and what all is happening. I have actually prayed for him and his family over and over.. I pray also for his new practice to go well.. I also will pray now for you that all goes smoothly after this.
I well keep you informed how things are going with me in St Louis and you keep me informed how things are going here for you.. There is someone else from the area too that is on OH.. Her name is Teresa B.  she lives in Marion. She has made the same choice I did but she also really loves Dr. A..  these were such hard decisions to make.. we all did what we thought best....
I too wish you all the best ...   and hope we can stay in touch..