Weight Loss Surgery Directory

Recent Posts

Topic: RE: Just looking for new friends

How goes the battle? How many calories a day are you currently eating? Still stuck on 70lbs?

Topic: RE: Tampa/Pasco WLS Friendly PCP and Surgeons accepting Medicaid/Share of Cost

I do no know for sure about share of cost, but I know that Dr. Murr at Tampa General takes medicaid managed care.  I was there today!!!

 

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim or Dr. Marema?

Hi

My journey with Dr Kim began May 8th, 2013. At that seminar the room was packed. Apparently Dr Kim has a big following. Everyone has gotten back to me except the nutritionist.

I picked Dr Kim when I read he holds the record for robotic assisted bariatric surgery with 1,000+. He claims to have performed over 2,000 bariatric surgery all together.  I then looked for any problems connected to him….as a surgeon. Let me know if you find any botched surgeries.

I am on Medicare and I also have BCBS of Illinois. I think between program fee, psycho and nut I will pay $1,100. I will probably have to sell some property. I think Dr Kim has a self pay plan.

Good luck whichever way you go.

Topic: Dr. Kim or Dr. Marema?

I have been looking into both options for sleeve gastrectomy surgery and am located in Orlando.  While Dr. Kim is closer (right down the street), I've read that the office doesn't get back to people and the program fee is high.  I do read that he's a good surgeon and has satisfied customers.

And then I read about Dr. Marema, who seems to have a longer track record with bariatric surgery.  I haven't contacted the office but understand surgery is in St. Augustine, which would be a trip.  Not that I wouldn't travel (anywhere) for the right surgeon, but all things considered, it'd be nice to be close to home.

If anyone can weigh in here I'd appreciate it.  Experiences with one or another, program fees, requirements, surgery experiences, anything.  Also, I have Medicare right now and am hoping both surgeons accept that insurance.  Thanks!

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration
I don't know. I'm assuming Shawna will contact me once my clearances are in. Then it depends on my weight loss. At some point I meet with the doctor. I know that my pulmonary clearance is in. I will call the cardiologist's office on Monday to see if they got my ct angiogram.
Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

Hi Katie

What is your next step?

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration
I don't know the frequency. You should ask in the rny forum. There is little chance of it with Dr. Kim. You have to lose a certain amount of weight before they'll schedule you, and he puts you on a two-week liquid diet before surgery to shrink the fat in the liver.
Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

I read that the liver has been known to crack when they are trying to pull it out of the way. I know the pre op diet helps make the liver more floppy.

Does anyone know how often liver cracking occurs?

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

I am doing great. Just had my one month appt. I had no complications and no issues. Losing at a steady pace, and starting to feel like my old self.

  RNY - 4/17/13     HW - 463  SW - 428  CW - 384

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

Glad that turned out good. I'll go there if I have to . 

Today I got my psycho appointment for next week.

I also got my appointment with the nurse for next month.

I also saw my pcp and he will give me a letter of necessity. It should be ready next week.

The nut has not returned my call yet.

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

Reb,

How did your surgery go? How do you feel now?

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration
Got my pulmonary clearance today from Dr. Alabi. He and his staff were very nice.
Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

I filled out forms the night of the seminar, and then filled out all the medical questionaire online the next day. I made multiple calls to the office and no message was ever returned. I even emailed the program coordinator at Dr. Kim's office and heard nothing back.

The day I called Dr. Marema's office I spoke to a live person. I was sent all of the same forms, filled them out, and the next day I had an appt for the following week with Dr. Marema. At that appt I scheduled my surgery, since I was self pay. It was over 2 weeks before anyone at Dr. Kim's office returned my call. This is just my experience.

I am so thankful that I found Dr. Marema. His staff, and the folks at Flager are top notch. Almost makes me wish I lived in St. Augustine.

  RNY - 4/17/13     HW - 463  SW - 428  CW - 384

Topic: RE: MEDICAID AND MEDICARE SURGEONS LIST!

What you can do is goggle Bariatric Doctors that takes Medicaid, and Medicare. I know Dr. Muhammad Jawad in Ocala, and Orlando takes Medicare. I don't have the phone number by me. He did my surgery and he is a great doctor.

Donna SW- 363   CW- 326  GW- 230              VS 04/25/2013 Dr. M. Jawad

    

        

    

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

Dr. Kim is still at Celebration he's apart of a different group the last I heard. He is still doing surgery out of Celebration. His office is still at the hospital as well

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration
It may take a few days (maybe a week) to get calls for your appointments. Don't get discouraged. You saw how many people were at the information session and that was just one night. They have them every Wednesday.
Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

Katie

did you see your pulmon dr yet?

 

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

Thank you.

I see my pcp tomorrow to get the letter of necessity. I wonder if he will give it to me.

I left messages for the psyc and nut appointments but no call back .....yet.  

Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration
They use both. The online one gets you into their system. The attached one you bring to your appointment with the nurse practitioner.
Topic: RE: Dr. Kim in Celebration

Hi Katie

I got a call from Shawna today and an email from her. I do have a question:

The day after the Wed night seminar I received an email and it wanted me to fill out some sort of registration medical questionaire.

Today in Shawna's email to me was attached a 15 page questionaire.

Question: which one do they use? Which one does Dr Kim use?

I'm a little confused.