Dr. Nowzardan Houston, TX---BAIT AND SWITCH (Or not switch as the case may be)

So I went to my second appointment with this crazy dr today. My first appointment was last week, and he was in emergency surgery-which I was only told after waiting TWO HOURS for him. This week, more waiting, but I did actually see the man. And he refused to DS me, based on the fact that I'm not 800 or 900 lbs, that there is a risk of protein deficiency, and risk of liver failure at around 5 years out. OK if there is really that big a risk of liver failure that close in to surgery, then why do insurance companies cover it? Why is it so successful in all the long term trials? Why does medicare/caid cover it? and most of all WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD OF THIS?

I urge anyone in Houston to avoid him, he has bad business practices and won't do the DS anyway.

His name rings a bell with me.  I think he did RNY on a young man who was 700 or 800 pounds on some TLC show like Half Ton Teen, so I bet he has no friggin' clue how to do a DS.

Yes, his website has several documentaries such as that that he has been on. His practice is in a shoddy building with unhelpful staff.

ETA: And yes, all of these surgeries on the super obese were RNY.

I am assuming he is a bait and switch because I don't see him on any of the DS facts. So the reason he refuses to do DS is because he probably can't. Then again I am not a vetted DS'r.  A good thing this board is here because I may have very well believed him.

That right there is a definite bait and don't switch surgeon.  Good call.

I'm sorry you wasted your time, but it was good of you to pay it forward and let folks know to avoid him.
Have you found a vetted DS surgeon yet?

Sadly the only other one in town that takes medicare has declined me due to bipolar disorder, so, no, i have no surgeon, i am getting RNY.

It is not an option to travel?  Or appeal the idiots who think bipolar disorder (I assume yours is controlled) is a contraindication for WLS?

 Is this a good idea?  Why not hold out and see if you can go out of state, or, make sure there is absolutely without a doubt no other options first?   The surgeon who turned you down because of bi-polar disorder, would he accept a note from your psychiatrist?  Maybe have your psychiatrist call him?  Does he say specifically why bi-polar disorder disqualifies you?  There are people on this board who have bi-polar disorder, so I don't get it????  

Please don't settle for a surgery that has such a high failure rate.  You get 2 years of malabsorption, and then you are back to normal.  Then, you gain all the weight back, then you will be really depressed!

Why not travel.  Dr. Anthone takes Medicare and he generally does not require a long post-op stay in the area.  When my husband had his surgery he was able to fly home the day he was discharged from the hospital. 

Red