Question:
DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A WLS FRIENDLY DR. IN ST LOUIS MO? OR IN THE BELLEVILLE IL AREA?

   — CYNDI B. (posted on July 23, 2002)

July 23, 2002
Hi sweetie! Just look under "Find a Doc" and click on it. That will take you to a page which gives you the option to "Browse all doctors." Click on that and it will bring up a map of the USA. Just click on your state and it will list all doctors in Missouri. I know a couple are listed in the St. Louis area. Linda Lap RNY 05/17/02 234/191/124
   — Linda M.

July 23, 2002
Read on the message board you've already picked the surgeon you want to perform WLS. Why not call his office and ask them the names of some of the PCP's that have referred patients to them? It seems they would be eager to help you find a good PCP who is weight loss friendly. Hope this helps! Jo-dee
   — tinyjo

July 23, 2002
My PCP was not for WLS, but now when I see her she has told me she has several patients she has referred based upon my success. Her name is Laurie Senol she is in the Des Peres area and her number is 314 919-2600. She has been my PCP for at least 6 years. I really like her she is very easy to talk to. Good luck
   — susan V.

July 24, 2002
Mary Koly 314-432-1111 very supportive and easy to talk to. I was her first baratric patient ever and she's so happy with my success!!
   — lilmskitty

July 24, 2002
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY! I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO TOUCH ON BEFORE YOU FIND A WLS FRIENDLY PCP. IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE ANY INSURANCE APPROVAL PROBLEMS THE BEST PLACE TO GO FOR THE SURGERY AND FOR A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN WOULD BE RUSH-ST.LUKES PRESBYTARIAN AT 1725 W. HARRISON. DR. DANKO IS A GREAT PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR WHO REFERS PATIENTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR SURGERY AND SO IS DR. STEPHANIE LUTHER OF LIFETIME MEDICAL ASSOCIATES WHICH IS AFFILIATED WITH RUSH-ST. LUKES AND HER NUMBER IS (312)942-8000. DR. HENRY DANKO PHONE NUMBER IS (312)455-9600. THESE DOCTORS RECOMMEND WLS PATIENTS TO SURGEONS AND THEY ARE WLS FRIENDLY. AS FOR THE SURGEONS IN ILLINOIS, THE BEST QUALIFIED SURGEON IN ILLINOIS IS DR. FRANTZIDES AT RUSH-ST. LUKES PRESBYTARIAN. YOU CAN READ HIS FACT SHEET ON Bariatricexperts.com OR LOOK ON THIS SITE FOR SURGEONS IN ILLINOIS AND CLICK ON HIS NAME FOR PATIENT COMMENTS! HE IS DIRECTOR OF THE MINIMALLY INVASIVE DEPT AT ST. LUKES AND HE IS DIRECTOR OF THE BARIATRIC PROGRAM AT RUSH ALSO. HE SPECIALIZES IN THE LAP/RNY AND HIS TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 312-942-6511. HIS OFFICE ALSO HAS ANOTHER SURGEON BY THE NAME OF DR. MADURA WHO SPECIALIZES IN THE OPEN/RNY PROCEDURE FOR BARIATRIC PATIENTS. IF YOUR INSURANCE DENY YOU BENEFITS FOR THE SURGERY DR. FRANTZIDES OFFICE ALSO HAS A PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE SURGERY AND HE EXCEPTS MEDICAID OR ANY INSURANCE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, IF YOUR INSURANCE DEFAULTS OR DENY YOU HIS OFFICE SET YOU UP WITH THE PROGRAM WHERE YOU CAN RECEIVE THIS SURGERY ABSOLUTELY FREE! WHY DON'T YOU GET THE BALL ROLLING AND GIVE DR. FRANTZIDES' OFFICE A CALL. HIS TRACK RECORD IS OUTSTANDING! WHY DON'T YOU LOG ONTO HIS SITE (FIND A SURGEON, AND LOOK UNDER ILLINOIS) AND LOOK WHAT HIS PATIENTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HIM! HIS OFFICE WILL SCHEDULE YOUR SURGERY DATE FOR 6 TO 8 WEEKS AFTER YOUR VERY FIRST CONSULTATION. HE DOES NOT TAKE YOU THROUGH A LOT OF RED TAPE AND HIS STAFF DOES ALL OF THE FOOT WORK FOR YOU, SO YOU CAN BE AT EASE UNTIL YOUR SURGERY DATE ROLLS AROUND! TAKE IT FROM ME, THIS SURGEON WAS A GODSEND AND I THANK GOD EVERY DAY FOR BEING ABLE TO LIVE MY LIFE AS A SLIMMER PERSON AND NOW THAT I AM DOWN 70 POUNDS I REALLY LOOK AND FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER (MY SURGERY WAS 03/04/02). BEFORE I MET THIS INCREDIBLE SURGEON I WAS AT THE END OF MY ROPE AND I WAS MISERABLE (READ MY PROFILE UNDER SHIRLEY M.). I SUFFERED FROM SEVERAL WEIGHT RELATED ILLNESSES!!!! NOW I FEEL THAT IF I CAN HELP PEOPLE JUST LIKE MYSELF IT IS A NATURAL HIGH FOR ME AND IT MAKES MY LIFE COMPLETE. SO BY ALL MEANS CALL THE DOCTORS I LISTED ABOVE AND TRY TO MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY AND BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL FEEL AND START LOOKING GREAT. I AM LIVING PROOF THAT THIS SURGERY CAN GIVE YOU A NEW BEGINNING AND A BETTER LIFE. YOU CAN START DOING THINGS THAT THE WEIGHT HAS KEPT YOU FROM DOING FOR YEARS AND START LIVING AGAIN!!!HOPE THIS HELPS, GOOD LUCK, SHIRLEY
   — Shirley M.