Just Learning & Need Some Help

My Dr. said that it would be good for me to have the surgery done and will support me, husband on board he knows i been wanting this for a long time. But here the question, is there any Dr.'s in the Toms River area? Im not sure what my next step should be. I did call the Ins. Liberty Company asking if the following CPT Codes where approved. 43846 Short Limb RNY (yes) 43478 Long Limb RNY (yes) 43659 Lapor. (no) 43600 Duod Switch (no) 43633 Duod Switch (no) Any help you could offer would be wonderful. Thanks,

I would start with your insurance. They should have a list of surgeons that are covered by them. It's at least a starting point.

Helen~ First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on getting your primary care to refer you for surgery, that's a big step done! Good to go now! I live in Brick, I use Dr. DiStasio as my primary care and he refered me to a group in Hackensack NJ.. I know it's far, but they are the group that he has had the best results with, and he wants me with them, that was fine with me. He is a doctor and HE likes them, that says something to me. I am using Dr. Trivedi @ advanced laproscopic (sp?).... I would highly recommend the group! As many people that you ask for a referral on here, you will likely get the same number of answers, most of us (if not all) LOVE our doctors. We do have a support group coming up Thursday July 20 @ Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood, from 7-9pm. I will send more details later, I am away on business, and there's another man waiting for the 'puter. Have a great day. Michelle Brennan

Thanks, for the help, My Dr. gave me a list that accept my Ins. and I do believe advanced lap. is one of the groups. I don't mind going to Hackensack, I know that area well, even though I'm now in Lacey Twps. Can I ask how long did it take you to get an appointment with the Dr.?

Helen~ You can't get a "one to one" appointment with any of the 3 doctors in that group UNTIL you have went to their general information meeting, they hold it a couple of times each month, and it's free. After attending that meeting, I believe it was about 3 weeks to meet with Dr. Trivedi personally. Not bad. After out meeting my surgery was scheduled for 6 weeks later. Hope that helps. Remember, I am just giving you my specifics, it's different for everyone. I was VERY pro active in making my appointments and getting the approvals that I needed before the office could submit the request for surgery. It may vary for different people? I think mine was fairly quick. Good luck with the process and let me know if I can help you any further? Michelle

Hey Helen - welcome to the NJ Boards -- there is no Dr in Ocean County performing WLS -- closest Dr is in Jackson/Freehold, though I don't know much about him, next is Dr Borao at Monmouth Medical Center - he has quite a bit of a wait for surgery due to his popularity. However, Dr. Alexander Onopchenko at the Center for Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness in the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center has an excellent reputation and the Center is also one of NJ's only three "Centers of Excellence" for Bariatric Surgery. Although he is not my Dr, I know several of his patients personally and they are happy with him. Good luck. Additionally, perhaps you would be interested in participating in the Ocean County WLS (OCWLS) Supprt Group. We meet twice per month - the first Friday of each month at Community Medical Center in Toms River, and the third Thursday of each month (next meeting is June 20th) at Kimball Medical's Center for Healthy Living in Lakewood. If you would like more information, drop me a line. Good luck. Nannette

hi helen and welcome aboard you will find a ton of info here!! did you ask the insurance company for a list of surgeons?? check out the Tom's River support group and ask around there did you check out the surgeon page here?? and the insurance page?? are there any pre-requisites from the insurance company?? can your PCP refer you to someone?? tons of questions good luck roberta

Can someone explain these to me? Short Limb RNY Long Limb RNY