Anyone know of any DS surgeons in Southern Cali?

I am trying to find a surgeon in Southern California that performs both the RNY and Duodenal Switch surgery..  I deparately want/need a second opinion on revision from RYN to the DS.  So if anyone knows of a surgeon, please let me know.


Thank you,
Linda

Linda,

Try going to dsfacts.com  They have a list of DS surgeons in CA.  I have been looking for one myself but it is going to be hard with my insurance.  I need a revision bad and I am kind of stuck.

Good luck to you.

Hi Linda, the only doctor that I know that does both is Dr. Rabkin up North. You may want to go to the DS boeard. They would know more info on that hun. Glad you're looking into a second opinion. It's always good to be informed and explore all your options.

Thanks....been to that website.....only listed two places and one wants $4000.00 on top of whatever the insurance will pay for a two year maintenance fee.....what a bunch of crap if you ask me.  I am waiting for the the other group (out of USC) to call me back.


Thank you,

Linda

Linda,

The one I can think of is Ara Keshishian in Glendale but depending on your insurance is whether you will be able to use him or not.  I have Blue Cross and Dr. Keshishian does not operate out of a COE (Center of Excellence) so my insurance won't cover him.

There is one other in So Cal that does DS and for the life of me I can't remember his name.  Go over to the DS board.  They'll know over there.

Stephanie

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks...that Dr is the one who wants $4000.00 to cover a 2 year maintenance program before he will operate.  I have been on the DS board too....Seems like my options are very limited at this time :(



Thank you,
Linda

There are quite a few DS surgeons up north if you want to travel.  I was looking to get a revision to DS and didn't want to travel and didn't want to go through the appeal process, so I opted to not have a revision and make the RNY work for me. Although I realize it's not the RNY that will make this work, it's me and discipline that will.

I know your situation is very different and because of that you might just want to check out the surgeons up north.  I question though why they are talking about a revision for you to a DS.  Won't that cause you to lose alot more weight?  You are at your goal already I thought so don't want to lose more weight.  Can they just reverse your RNY?  I ask that because now being 5 years out, the RNY does not have the same desired effect that it had in the beginning.  I can eat alot of food and I don't dump.  For me now to lose weight, I have to go one yet another diet.  So why the need to keep you with another type of WLS at this point I guess I just don't understand.

I also question why the surgeon wants $4,000 from you up front.  This is a corrective surgery you are seeking.  It's not elective at this point.  I don't know why you have to come up with that money up front.  What is your maximum out of pocket expense for a year on your insurance and how close are you to that amount?  Have you satisfied your deductable for the year?  I would contact your insurance company and find out why you need to come up with $4,000 for a necessary surgery.  I find that very strange.

Stephanie

Dr chin said that if the revision doens't work.....the last step would be reversal....But he also said I would probably gain my weight back.  I am only little over a year post op.   I have just been reading....( I know....sometimes that's dangerous) LOL.... but a couple of things I read was the DS was a nice option as revision from RNY. 

My Doc said I would probably lose another 10-15 pounds during the whole recovery period, but will then probably come back up to a maintenence weight. 

This whole thing is frustrating......I told the lady at the doctors office that this is a REVISION surgery due to medical complications.  Her attitude was like.....and?  I even asked if the $4000 would apply to me since this will be the second go around for me....I already know what to expect type of thing.....she said yes that I would still have to pay it....in fact she even followed that up with....yeah Most insurance's won't pay for it, but that is what our Dr.'s want!

I have an HMO insurance....no lifetime maximun and not a deductible....I am almost positive they will deny this anyway, but I at least wanted to know ALL of my options first

Thanks for the all the info....I really appreciate it.

Linda

There is Peter Crookes at USC and there is also Dr. Kelvin Higa in Fresno. We send pts needing that to Higa. He specializes in revisions. You need to go in with a good attitude and after your revision you are thier pt. That is per Alice his nurse practicioner.
There you go that is the scoop from the bariatric world

Dr Crookes is the Dr oout of USC he did my VSG also does the DS. Hes a great guy his office staff can be a bit slow to return calls, IMO worth the wait.