Newbie>hoping to have DS with Dr. Houston

Hello everyone, just wanted to introduce myself to everyone...I've been lurking on this board as well as the main DS board and have learned so much from you guys....Thank you all for all the wonderful information you guys post here-it is truly such a GREAT learning experience.. I am seeking the DS.   Today, I completed my psych eval., the last of the requirements per my insurance that has to be meet in able to be presented for approval to my Insurance (UNITED HEALTH CARE-CHOICE PPO).  The psychologist even finished her eval and report and has already faxed it to Centennial.  So, now just waiting on approval...I'm so excited....I hope my approval comes soon...If any of you are patients of Dr. Houston or Centennial Medical Center...please share your experiences.......Thank you again, I look forward to becoming a part of this community....

Welcome to the TN board and congrats on completing everything so it can be presented to insurance for approval.   I had the DS with Dr. Houston on 02/24 and seriously LOVE my DS.   I was very lucky to have a really easy recovery and have been getting all my liquids and protein in like I am suppose to.   Dr. Houston is amazing and actually the whole staff at Centennial is wonderful.  While I do not want to Jinx you on your insurance approval... let me be the first to say Welcome to the Dr. Houston DS family

I think we are blessed in Middle TN with several fine surgeons and 3 excellent hospitals.  I can only  relate to Centennial.  Dr. Houston did my DS and I could not have been in better hands.  He is skilled and is very easy to talk to.  I've met Dr. Dyer and Dr. Olsen and like them as well.  The staff at Centennial bariatric program are top notch.  I did have one or two nurses in the hospital that were a little cranky, but I'm not a real good patient.  So perhaps things equaled out.

My recovery was not as easy as John's.  Now that I'm almost a year out, I can say that I'm thrilled beyond belief at how I'm doing now.  I've lost 73% of my excess weight.  The few problems I had with my labs are all fixed except for my calcium.  I've lost 2 co-morbids and it looks like I'll be able to put off my knee surgery for quite some time since the pain is way less with the weight off of it.  My CPAP setting has decreased and it will soon be a memory.

Best wishes on your journey to health.  Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Thank you John for the ever so kind welcome!!!  I assume that since your so close to Nashville, that you attend the support group @ Centennial??  I would really like to make it to @ least a couple there, and there is also one in my hometown of Cookeville that i look forward to becoming a part of very soon.   Thanks again for the support, I will keep everyone informed when I DO hear from the Insurance.....

Hello Felicia,

You already know my opinions on Dr. H. He is great and so is the staff at his office and Centenial. I'm not quite 3 weeks out yet and I'm doing really good. My energy is already starting to return and I'm holding down soft foods pretty well now. I've lost 21 lbs since I started my liquid diet on Aug. 8th and then had my surgery on the 10th. I'm already getting in all my vitamins except the iron (it makes my stomach upset). My work is having a thing sorta like a health fair where they check your vitals, measure your waist, check your BMI, blood sugar, blood pressure, and chloresterol. Just since I've had surgery my blood pressure has went from around 145/100 to 118/72! My chloresterol went from 206 to 173, my waiste has already lost 2 1/2 inches too. The only thing I had a problem with was low blood sugar (71). It seems as though I've always had a problem with low sugar though. I get the shakes and then consume something and I'm fine usually.

Have you ever been to the support group meetings they have in Cookeville once a month at the Hospital? They are the 2nd Wed. of each month, I think at 5:30pm. I haven't been the last two months because I had heart surgery in July and my DS in Aug. But I will be at the next one! Hope to see you there!! If you need more info about it let me know.

Hi Lisa, CONGRATS, you are doing so GREAT!!!  I will be seeing you soon @ group, my daughter has just started playing fall leauge softball with 3-4 practices each week along with private pitching lessons once a week, so I'm hoping when games start in the next 1 1/2 weeks, there won't be as many practices to worry about----but I WILL be seeing you very soon...

Felicia - I typically attend the Hermitage Support group and sometimes i will go to a Tuesday Night Support Group at Centennial.   We are in the process of starting a DS support group - we are mulling through all the options as to where and when to hold it, since we have a growing number of DSer's in Cookeville we are looking at someplace between Cookeville and Nashville - but like I said it is all up in the air still.  The people at CMC are top notch - you will be in great hands with them. 

Awesome news about a ds support group. I go next week for my 3 mth labs and visit, and I will get all caught up on everything. I think it will be great.

It's ALL GOOD!! I feel like a new person. It's a little rough at first, but we know that going into this or any WLS. You will do fine and ask us all the questions you need too. I like to help because I was helped along the way.
Susan and John and K-9 are my heros they led the way for me, and still  lead me when I need help. They are WONDERFUL!!!!

Hello!  I would recommend Dr. Houston to anyone.  I had my 1 month follow up appt yesterday and he said I would doing just like I was supposed to and thank goodness because it was my birthday and I was worried all week that I hadn't lost enough weight lol  Anyway, I had the same insurance as you but didn't have to have a psych eval..it's weird how every company insurance is so different.  It's a very long journey but in the end I know you will see the progress and feel blessed for having the chance to do it.  Dr. Houston is excellent in every way.  I know you will not regret choosing him. Good luck!