Considering DS in Indy with Dr. Inman - Questions....

My point in posting that was not a matter of placing blame on the office, but insted for the purpose of explaining what their "standard" protocol was.  I absolutely had the option to be more proactive in getting a doc who would order my labs as I requested them, but not every doc is willing to do that.  I simply wanted to make the OP aware that if having frequent labs is important to her, it is something she will have to do on her own outside of Inman's office.

Jeremy-

I get labs every six months.  I'm in Carmel every six months, and the order comes from Dr. Inman.  I copy my other doctors.
Sometimes rechecks three months after that (like now), because of bad numbers.

I had to do six months of pre-op support group per Dr. Stote (psych eval) probably because I  had a lifelong obesity problem. Some only do one or two.  They didn't have a DS-specific group then.  I was told the psych eval determines how long you do pre-op support groups.

Dr. Inman did my DS in 2009.  My highest weight was 405 pounds, my surgery day, 2/25/09, I weighed in at 397 pounds.

 I am now stable at 165 pounds. My approval procedure was very quick, pre-op testing great, surgery itself without complications, however, because of some other conditions (lupus and fibromyalgia), Dr. Inman kept me at the hospital for a week, as opposed to the usual 72 hours.  My BMI was too high for the lap DS, so mine was open.  I had some dehydration issues and eating issues during the first three months, and Dr, Inman took my concerns seriously and had me come back down for an upper endoscopy, to make sure all was well.  After the upper endoscopy, I was eating like a champ, and have been ever since.
IMHO, Dr. Inman is the best thing to happen to bariatric medicine in this state.  She affiliates with both St. Vincent's Bariatric Center of Excellence, where my surgery was done, and Clarian Health Partners.  

St. V's aftercare program, has proven to be adequate for my needs, in terms of meeting with the dietitians and having them listen to me (it helps that I'm studying to be one!), but the support group for my neck of the woods leaves a lot to be desired.  There are only two St V's DSers in the Northern Indiana where I live,  myself and another lady, so the support group is pretty much all RNY all the time.  Not many LapBanders, either. I used to go to the support group every month, and after a long absence, I gave it one last go last month.  Nothing's changed, and I have better things to do with two hours than listen to information that has absolutely nothing to do with my surgery or aftercare.  Who cares about head hunger when you have a surgery that takes care of the occasional splurge?  I'm not talking about a gallon of ice cream every night here, or eating potato chips until you look like an Idaho Baker,  I'm talking about opting for dessert if you want it when you're having dinner out, or the occasional DQ or Mickey D's run.  My protein  shakes and fruit smoothies actually take care of my sweet tooth, so I really don't pay much attention to  simple carbs/simple sugars or fast food anyway.  Once you eat more good, wholesome food than fast food, there's just no thrill in it, at least not for me. And there's the every-present discussion of "our pouches".  I don't have a pouch, I have a stomach.  Can you dig it?  I knew that you could.

There is a  separate DS support group in Carmel/Indy, and when I go down for surgeon check ups, I try to plan my visits around DS Group Meetings or dinners there, or an annual get-together in the summer. I only have a couple years of surgeon checks left, though.  St. Vincent's requires a 5 year follow up for surgeries done at their hosptial.  I'm, not sure if Clarian requires the same for their program.  I go twice a year, and that's due to my other health issues.

I love Dr. Inman and the PA's and office staff.  They are very competent, compassionate, cheerful and  respectful when I have encountered them.  They are even helping me fight for plastics, to remove the loose skin on my lower body!

Everyone has their own opinions, and different experiences, but my encounters with Dr. Inman and staff have been nothing but fantastic!
 

Hey Jazzy,

Thanks so much for the response!  Glad to hear some good feedback about the doc and her group - I could totally dig it!  Would it be possible for you to share contact info for the DS support group you mentioned?  I'd really like to hook up with them sometime.  My hubby works in Indy 2 days a week and I could alway****ch a ride with him and attend one of their meetings.

Thanks Again!

St. V's  DS Support Group (pre and post op) Carmel/Indy

4th Tuesday of the Month

6:30 - 7:30 PM

Bariatric Center Office Entrance 4, Suite 168

I'm actually going to start scheduling my surgeon visits to coincide with the group meetings.  St. V's has support groups all over the state for their patients, but this is the only one that is specifically DS. 
I stopped going to my local group, because the information is useless to me.  It's predominantly RNY. 

I am one of only three DSers in town from St. V's.  There may be others from elsewhere, but I don't know them.

You mean there's 2 other ds'ers in the Mishawaka area?

Yes, myself and another lady..and soon there will be a third.  I think she's related to the other DSer.

If Dr, Stote says you have to do X number of support groups before surgery, that's what you have to do. It's a hoop, really, the local group deals very little with the DS issues, which is why I stopped going..  The room is full of RNY's talking about regain, head hunger, stretched pouches and stomas, revisions for those issues, and *NONE of that applies to the DS.  

They give you an authorization form to fax back to the office, which the moderator signs after the meeting, verifying your attendance.  Make sure you keep copies of all your documentation. 

Dr, Inman also tests for nicotine just before you get wheeled in to the surgical suite,  If it's present, your surgery is cancelled on the spot.  She refuses to operate on smokers.  So if you smoke or use any other type of tobacco or  nicotine delivery device, (the patch, e-cigs) it's still getting into your bloodstream, now is a good time to quit. 

HI, The quick answer to your original question is: No, they don't require the 6 months of supervised diet unless your insurance wants it.

 I am having a DS with Dr Inman on July 11th of this year. Let me tell you about my journey, so far. Feb 23rd i went to the seminar, March 5th i had my psych eval ( i am not a big fan of Dr Stoat, but he did my eval and i was approved, so he can't be all bad....And there are other options, i just went with the dr that was basically in-house for the center), and was approved for surgery on March 7th. Right here, i want to insert a big big PRAISE for Shalonda who does all of the insurance info for the bariatric center. She always returns calls, usually the same day, and if she doesn't have an answer, she will find it for you!
 Everyone is told to start attending support group, so i have been going every month, and there are a lot of them available. If you go to the St. V's website, there is a list available so you can see where/when in your area.
We were warned in February that Dr Inman was already scheduling out into June.
 On March Th, i went for preop testing. I didn't have a surgery date, but everyone at the SEC (surgery evaluation center) reassured me that this is how Dr Inman works. If you have a date and your tests turn up something, you might feel rushed, or upset if your surgery has to be delayed while you get treated, and the problem sorted. This way, you know no one is cutting corners or rushing you just to get you "fixed up enough" for surgery.
Let me just say the SEC team is wonderful, they are quick, efficient, and just all around good at what they do! If you have to go be scoped, poked, prodded, about bled to death (9 vials of blood!)and generally turned inside out for a look-see, these are the people you want doing it. :p
I got the results of my prep testing on April 10th.
 When i got home from that there was a letter waiting on me saying i needed to make an appointment with Linda R. No one could/would tell me why. I spent the next 21 days playing phone tag with this woman, trying to set an appointment.
 On May 1st i met with Linda. On May 15th i was given my surgery date, and on June 5th, i am to attend an all day nutrition class (8:30 - 4:30)

My biggest frustrations have been related to phone calls. You rarely get to talk to a person, you usually end up in a voice mail box, and the outgoing message is something like... Hi, This is xxxxx please leave a detailed message with your name, date of birth, and reason for calling, i will get back to you, please leave only one message. *Beep*
Then they don't LOL I know it is because they are busy, but it is frustrating.

 Hope this helps!  Please, if nothing else, call, and go to one of Dr Inman's seminars.

This is much different from my experience with Dr. Inman, but typical for St. Vincent's. (She alsodoes surgery at Clarian Health)

They are the bariatric surgery mecca for Indiana and many surrounding states, especially for the DS, because Dr. Inman is now the only surgeon in the state  of Indiana  (and one of about 50 in the world) who perform the procedure. People from Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois come to Dr. Inman for the DS.  She performs all the bariatric surgeries, so she can pretty much do whatever you need.