New to ATL-Looking for Primary Care Dr.

Hi! I moved Atlanta 5 months ago, and had surgery almost 2 years ago. I want to find a good primary care doctor in the Atlanta area that understands gastric bypass. I have been having some discomfort in my pouch/stomach recently, and just want to make sure everything is ok. I am a cash pay patient. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Also, is there any local support group meetings here in Atlanta, I would love to meet others that share my miracle. Thanks, Nancy 5/30/2003 Down 110 pounds

We have TONS of support groups in the ATL Most surgeons, including mine open their support groups to anyone. We have one tomorrow night at Northlake Med. Center in Tucker/Decatur-off of 285 at 7:30. That is for anyone 12 months+. We also have 2 other regular support groups open to anyone at 7:30, same location, on the 3rd Wed and the last Mon. Where in ATL do you live? It's a big place If you live in Gwinnett I have a WONDERFUL PCP. He sees about 15 post-ops. After I fired my old PCP I found this guy...you can even show up to his office as a walk-in. I never sat in the waiting room for more than 10 minutes. Sherry

Hi Nancy! Where in Atlanta are you? I have a great PCP who was VERY supportive of my surgery... He is in the Buford area... Let me know. Tami

Welcome...where are you in Atlanta? I'm on the Southside of town, and I have a wonderful PCP. He is in McDonough. I haven't had surgery yet, but he is very supportive. My husband had surgery on 3/23, and he was very supportive of him.

Sherry, Tami & Stephanie - Thank you all for replying. I actually live right downtown, across the street from the Underground, so I think I am pretty centrally located. Sherry - The 12+ support group sounds good, is it always on Mondays, or just one Monday a month? If you all wouldn't mind giving me names and phone numbers for your doctors, I will call them to talk to their offices, then decide which one will work best. I don't mind driving to find a good doctor. I really appreciate the info. Thanks! Nancy

Hi Nancy, My doc is Dr. Richard Liotta. His ph# is 770-932-0547. Like I said he is in Buford... He is not much of a talker, but he is the most thorough doctor I have EVER had, and he was VERY supportive. Coming from downtown, you would take 85 north to 985 north and get off at the first exit from 985. Turn left over the bridge and it's about 2-3 miles from the freeway. My surgeon group is Obesity Solutions..they are in Gainesville, which is about 20 miles further up 985. I could not have been more thrilled with my surgeon. I used Dr. Richard. They use Lanier Park - a satellite hospital from Northeast Regional. Obesity Solutions has their own wing devoted ONLY to WLS patients...equipped with oversized beds, etc., and a nursing staff that ONLY deals with WLS patients, so they are specialized in the problems and special needs of a WLS patient. I was SOOOO blessed. It was an amazingly positive experience. Ok...off my soapbox now... Best wishes to you!! Tami

Ok..DUH!!! No sooner than I finish with my ever so eloquent advertisement for my surgeons group, than I realize, YOU'VE ALREADY HAD your surgery!! ER!!! Oh well..sorry...so...there..there's my info about my PCP! LOL!

Tami - Thanks for the info. Don't worry, I think most of us get excited about our surgeon. After all, they are the one to change our life forever. My surgery was actually done in Mexico. Aetna kept giving me the runaround, and in my research I found a doctor in Ensenada, MX that does surgery on 3 Americans per week. He personally called me and said he had an opening in 2 weeks...could I be there? His price at the time was $6900 compared to $30k-$40k in the US, and I couldn't bear the thought of doing yet another 6 month supervised diet for Aetna....so off I went....South of the Border. I was living in CA, so it was only a four hour drive. Because of my surgery being done in Mexico, many doctors, at least in California, don't want to treat me. All I can do is be honest, and I'm sure someone somewhere will see me. At this point, I mostly just want a check up and blood work done. Thanks so much for the info!

NANCY WE HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT GROUP IN ATLANTA THE SECONG THURSDAY OF THE MONTH IT IS WITH PEACTREE SURGICAL ITS AT THE ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER WELLNESS CENTER. CALL IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON IT 678-558-0799

My surgeon Dr. Ken Champion is near the Marietta area of Atlanta. You would want to get in a group near where you live. Dr. Champion has a good follow up program with support groups, exercise groups, etc. Give them a call if they are in your area. I know they have WLS doctors at Emory Hospital and many other areas of Atlanta too. If you don't get the information you need here there is a group on the internet "Wings Around Atlanta" where you might be able to post and get a lot of responses. All of that group had WLS and a lot live in the Atlanta area. Hope you find the right situation for you.