Hi guys! Hope you all had a great weekend! Ok so I will refer back to my last post because I'm kind of continuing that by asking this question.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/MI/4157621/FRUSTRATED/#34009463

I am attending the Public WLS Seminar this afternoon. My initial visit with my surgeon, or "New Patient Education Day" isn't until the end of AUGUST! I told them I am very flexible if they have cancellations. I've heard that I can do my 3 nutritionist visits and my other testing in the meantime so I have it done before my ed day in Aug so I won't have to do all of that later, like another 6 months worth of waiting. How exactly do I do the NUT visits and testing sooner? I called the surgeon's office and left a message at the appt desk...the main # that you call and get info. The same lady that schedules the appts called me back and said no, because you need a referral for these tests and visits you can't get them done early. Basically because I haven't had an appt yet I guess. Is this true or how do I get around this lady and talk to someone who can get me referrals for all of this?

Boy Lisa, I hope you're getting your exercise, from all of that hoop jumin' you're doing....lol

I'm not sure how to get around "message lady" but we have a dr for my father in Law that has a receptionist that is difficult to get around, soo  when I call I ask for the dr's Medical Assistant or Nurse, and then usually they will help me get my question answered, or even get the dr to call me back.

the Program here in Kalamazoo sounds to be a bit different, from yours, but hopefully you will get some info from the seminar today, that will be helpful in finding out who to call.

Good luck and keep up that hoop jumpin'....

Marcia

Thanks Marcia! :D I'm afraid the hoop jumping is just starting. lol Good idea about asking for the nurse. The original msg says, "if you are an established patient press (#), if you want to set up an appt or have questions about bariatric surgery, leave a msg after the tone. Sooo...I guess I am kind of an established patient now right!? LOL

Ok frustrated again. I called and asked to talk to Dr. English's nurse and a different girl answered and said she could leave her a msg. I said maybe I need to leave a msg for the dietitian but can I schedule my nutritionist visits now because I don't have my new patient ed day until Aug. She said their policy is that they can't schedule those until 2 weeks AFTER the New Patient Ed day. Sigh. I hope there's a cancellation soon that I can take then.

Sounds like they are more busy then they were 2yrs ago when I went through the journey. I do know that I didn't like the receptionist either, she was rude. There were 3 nuts back then but the only one I liked was Monica. Can't remember the names of the other two.

I agree I went through Monica and I liked her she was very nice but she is the only one I delt with as for the receptionist I had no prob. there they are typical as for the rest I dont know how to do all your appointmants before edu dayI had to wait 4 months patience is key with this long process Im all done and still waiting

Maybe they have a new receptionist now. I can't remember her name. They used to have a nurse that weighed you named Karen Parent but she left soon after my surgery. She had the surgery so she was a big help. Michelle Lexmond is so nice. She is the PA. I met the new Doctor once only by telecom before I moved. I now have no Doctor as I have no job and no insurance. My husband quit his job at DSISD and had multiple affairs so I threw him out and moved back home with my kids. He moved to Petoskey with his current fling.

First of all sorry to here about your bad luck  as for the new DR. was it male or female because he has a new Dr. doing the surgeries now (male) and he has a Dr. doing all the before and after check-up appointments (female) dr griffen is her name I can't remember his name but so far its been a pretty good experiance my only complaint is they didn't guide me anough on what I was doing and what I needed to do next in the process but I winged it and got through it just fine

It was Griffen. I was at Dr's Park and she was in Marquette. That was weird to do an appt over telecom. The male was not there yet. At least I have had the surgery and not having any problems

I didn't have my surgury at the same doctor you did but I had all my other testing done before I ever saw the surgeon. I had my primary care physican do the referrals for my endo, cardiac and psych testing. Then I saw the surgeon and he scheduled my nut appointment with his ntritionist.