Mary E. Estakhri Bariatric Surgeon M.D.
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I am waiting for an appointment to see the Dr. If I don't hear withing a couple of days I will call and schedule directly. 4/9/01 I received the date of May 23, 2001 for my first evaluation with Dr. Estakhri and am really lookin forward to it. The office Bariatric Coordinator, Debbie Frickel, sent me all the paperwork to get started--so here we go!5/23/01 Had my first encounter with Dr. Estakhri today and was very impressed. She is very kind and so willing to answer any questions I had. She is very thorough in explaining what is expected from the patients and what the patient can expect from her and her staff. I have had the evaluation with the psychologist and am scheduled to see the nutritionist on 6/11/01. I understand that once a month all the team members get together and discuss all of the cases that have been reviewed during the previous month and decide what specialty testing, etc. should be done. I am hoping to hear from them soon after the appointment with the nutritionist. I will also be attending a support group that evening. Will update then.
Very professional.
Got better.
Excellent.
N/A
Complete Trust
So So
So So
Very straight forward on risks
Rated 10+
Both
Dr. Estakhri is a compassionate doctor. After seeing all the screening appointments I had been put through, she immediately presented my case to her team for review. In less than three weeks my surgery was approved (I should mention that my IPA may have been influenced by the fact that I'd already hired a lawyer). My pre-op appointments are all scheduled on the same day (2/28/01) and my surgery is set for 3/15/01. I'll keep you posted. I guess I'm supposed to say something negative now. OK, if you're in an unreasonable hurry, Dr. Estakhri's team only meets once a month (around the 15th). Personally, I coudn't be happier.
THE FOLLOWING IS A PRIVATE AND PERSONAL FEELING ABOUT THIS DOCTOR, YOU MAY HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT IMPRESSION ABOUT HER. THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT TO BE USED IN A COURT OF LAW. ROBIN M.
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She, is not on your list, Dr Mary Estakhri, in San Ramon, CA (925)277-0266.
She is great looking, skinny, funny and listens to you! We have seen her twice. She works well with my internist, Dr. Calista Hunter.
Great Staff! Extremely efficient and ON TIME!
The worst thing would be that it takes soooo long to get an appointment. They are a little slow about getting the approval from insurance (not aggressive).
The after care "sounds" outstanding but I will not know until I am in it. It will be up to me to complete it. I will have physical therapy (light work outs) at the hosptial (can't remember how long).
Can go to weekly meetings with other patients (mandatory to go once a month).
Will have mandatory appointments with dietitians and be put on high protein, no sugar diet... Diet and exercise will be the hardest...a new life.
Mandatory to be in psychiatric care, I go to a private Psy and will join the "over eaters" group that the doctor recommended. As you know DEPRESSION is the worst problem.
My mother and I had five hours total speaking to the doctors staff - the RN about the different types of surgeries, dietitians about the food changes, LCSocial Worker-to see if I could mentally handle everything. Then, had a regular doctor appointment - after talking and looking over the test results she told me what type of surgery I will receive. She really emphasized the problems and I went home thinking long and hard about this. It is very frightening to me. I worry about the vitamin B shot and the lack of minerals and vitamins that I will miss. I already have extremely bad diarrhea from nervousness, to think that this will get worse is my biggest concern.
12/02/1999 End.
DR ESTAKHRI IS VERY PATIENT AND THOROUGH WITH HER PATIENTS...I HAD A LIST OF QUESTIONS AND SHE WAS VERY HAPPY TO ANSWER ALL OF THEM AND DIDNT SEEM TO BEEN IN A RUSH LIKE MOST DR'S...
10/23-Had my pre-op appt. today, lots of tests: ultrasound (gallbladder, liver, pancreas - all the "variety meats"), chest xray, blood test, urinalysis, EKG. Then a chat with the doctor. She was very up front about risks, went into detail. Had apparently recently experienced a fatality and was still quite emotional about it. Found out some interesting information. It appears that the lap surgery is done with the surgical table at a slant so I will be semi-upright. They let gravity work in their favor, using it to keep all the various internal organs out of the way. Pretty neat, I think,
9/21-Wooohooo! Last night I got the letter with my new pre-op appointment information... it is 10/23. But better than that, I had a message from Cigna - I AM APPROVED!
9/15-Bad news, due to a scheduling conflict, my surgery has been pushed out to 10/31. Yes that is correct, I am due to be carved... on HALLOWEEN!!! The GOOD news is that Arlene faxed the predetermination request in to Cigna because the originally-mailed copy has never made it into the system.
8/24-Got a letter from Debbie Frickel, RN. She is the Bariatric Coordinator for the program. I have a pre-op appointment on 10/2. It is actually several appointments. There is a gallbladder ultrasound, EKG, bloodwork, plus appointments with Ms. Frickel and Dr. Estakhri. I am glad that they are doing the ultrasound as my surgery is going to be lap, so if my g.b. is not in great shape it won't be as apparent.
8/16-I now have a date, October 12. The insurance paperwork is due to be sent out this week.
7/21-I just met Dr. Estakhri for the first time yesterday. As a matter of fact, I met an entire team: therapist, dietician, program director and surgeon. My experience was very positive. The team meets once/month to discuss potential candidates and make their decisions. The next meeting is 8/11 so I will know if I qualify then. After that comes the insurance authorization. I was impressed by the thoroughness of the evaluation. I hope that that translates into fewer problems with insurance. The hospital is small but looks new and is very nice. I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with the dietician, Pam Wilson. She was very nice - not judgmental (obese people get judged a LOT - as if we made some moral decision to get fat) and very informative. Assuming I am able to go forward with the surgery, Ms. Wilson will make at least one visit in-hospital, to give lessons on how to eat with the new stomach: slow, slow, slow and chew, chew, chew. Surgical candidates have to attend at least one support group meeting pre-op, in order to learn firsthand what the surgery and its side effects are like. There is a psychiatric evaluation test (MMPI) to take as part of the screening process. I was told that other considerations, such as undiagnosed depression, could impact the course of the treatment. In such a case it is possible that some counseling would be required prior to surgery. The practice appears to have a very good aftercare program.
I would suggest that anyone who is contemplating WLS, no matter who the surgeon is, should do as much homework as possible, and be very open about yourself when interviewed. List any and all obesity-related problems - physical, psychological, social. Everything. This is your chance to make a real difference in yourself. Don't blow it by being meek or stoic.
During the period of time when I was researching WLS, I checked the list of surgeons belonging to the ASBS against my insurer's list of in-network surgeons. Drs. Gracia and Estakhri were two of the few who met the criteria. And even though their practice in San Ramon in quite far from where I live in San Jose, they are the closest. So I gave them a call. It didn't take long to set up an appointment, but the appointment date was something like 6 weeks away.
My surgeon is Dr. Mary Estakhri. She's very nice and very professional. Dr. Estakhri had done a non-obesity related surgery on me about a year ago, and I found her to be very professional. She spent over an hour with me explaining the various procedures. I felt fully informed after I left her office.
My Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery will be performed by Dr. Mary Estakhri, New Start Program, at the San Ramon Regional Medical Center. Dr. Estakhri was very thorough in her examination and answered any questions that I had. Prior to my appointment with the doctor, the Bariatric Coordinator explained each surgical option that was available (complete with visual aids). I also met with a dietician who explained what my post-op diet would be like if I chose to have surgery. They left no stone unturned. I have been impressed from the beginning by Dr. Estakhri's staff, especially Donna, and support personnel, Debbie Frickel, R.N., Bariatric Coordinator. They all receive an A+ in professionalism.