Confidential to Michael B.-Im so jealous

Hey Michael I was reading your reply to the post PLz Help earlier. The one who was asking ab out medicare. And I just have to say that I ma so jealous that you were able to call someone from your surgeons office and  get all that info for them in just an hour! Hello It takes me at least a week to even talk to someone in my surgeons office. All i get when i call is an answering machine. Where did you have your surgery at? Are they that way with everyone or do your dashing good looks just make it easy for you? LOL Too bad my insurance will only pay if I have it at this surgery center. I would go somewhere else already if they would apy anywhere else. Okay everyone else maybe this is not so confidential. i want to hear from everyone else: is it normal for me to have to wait so long to talk to someone in my surgeons office?

It absolutely shouldn't be normal to have to wait long.  I had a HUGE headache happen just this past Feb when my original surgery center closed (I had surgery at Barix clinic in Belvidere, IL and they went bankrupt after a lawsuit for malpractice - long story) and my surgeon packed up and moved the PA.  Before though if I made a call, day or night, someone talked to me within a few hours.  If I needed an appointment I had one the NEXT day.  I had a few scares that landed me in the local ER and Dr. Boe or the other surgeon from Barix was on the phone with the doc at the ER within an hour.  I could call and talk to their nutritionist or a nurse 24 hours a day and there was always a surgeon on call in case of an emergency.  These are things to ask about when you are deciding where you want to have surgery - I lucked out. NOW though I'm having complications (another long story that I don't want to scare anyone around here with but if you really want to know see my profile) and it is like I have a disease that means I can only talk to message taking devices when I call medical professionals.  The center that was supposed to take care of me when Barix closed basically told me they couldn't help me when I called with concerns about episodes of reoccuring pain (when I called the first appointment they could get me was on August 23rd - almost a full month after I called).  It makes me CRAZY.  I finally gave up on the first center and found somewhere else that is moving slightly faster, but at least we're getting somewhere.   It is maddening when you can't get through to someone or when they don't call back.  It shouldn't be normal and I really hope it isn't.  If you are having problems just keep calling - be a squeaky wheel if you have to.  People die waiting to get called back.

OMG that sucks. that kind of senario is what scares me. I mena right now i havn't had the surgery. So all this waiting is just delaying me from getting questions answered or setting appointments. I do worry, however, that after the surgery I will not be able to get ahold of someone if something is wrong. On my next appointment i am goingnto bring up these concerns with my surgeon, and see if there is a diffrent contact number after the surgery. Right now my contact person is the offices insurance specialist, and I think she is entirely overwhelmed.

I had my surgery at Duke Weight Loss Surgery http://www.dukewls.org which is a part of the Duke University Health System in Durham, NC...Just like the University, their medical programs are world class. Things move slow there, but that is because their services are in high demand. I have found though that calling them on the phone is the best way to go. The insurance coordinator, Beth, is extremely knowledgeable and all I have to do is call the clinic and press "0" to get to her. Also, the dietician and nurses are available all day, and after hours you can call the hospital and they will put you through to a bariatric physician on call. One time a couple weeks after my surgery I needed to talk to one because an urgent care doctor was giving me some advice that didn't sound right (not uncommon when you encounter a doc that doesn't know anything about bariatric post-ops) and I called the hospital. I couldn't believe it when after a minute of holding I was connected to my surgeon's cell phone and he helped me out and even called in a prescription - and oh did  mention it was sunday afternoon and he was out shopping with his family! So overall, I've been real happy with my experience at Duke and I can only hope I can find a practice in Phoenix that will coordinate my post-op care just as well. BTW - good idea to talk to them next time about what the contingincies for communication in an emergency.

Oh yeah - and "dashing good looks" - thanks for the compliment! Now all I got to do is convince myself that when people say those kind of things that they are not crazy!

Thankss Mike wish I had that kind of service here

well Mike, Im definately crazy  but I wouldn't hold that against yourself-you have it going on

Hey, Robin, I'm up here in northern colorado and I can't say enough good things about my Surgeon's office...they are AMAZING and helpful and available. They're affiliated with Banner Health/Northern Colorado Medical Center. I know it would be a drive for you, but it might be worth it! They have a few satellite locations too... Check it out: www.bariatricoperation.com

Thanks Lagans I appreciate the info, but im stuck with my surgeons office because my insurance will not pay if i have it anywhere else. Otherwise I would be totally willing to drive. I even ahve family down in Greeley. I grew up there.

Well, that stinks. What insurance do you have?