Need Illinois Medicaid updates please.I havn`t been on OH for a long while

Hi.I havn`t been on OH since last year.I got half way thru all the clearance tests when I found out Dr.Shayani was no longer accepting Illinois Medicaid.This was June of last year I think.So a little worried but still hopeful,I continued with the clearance tests while searching for another Surgeon/Facility.By Septemeber I had searched everywhere in Illinois,and surrounding states.Every reference anyone gave me I checked out only to hear the same thing.No Illinois Medicaid accepted.I`ve been on the generic form of Adepex since last year.My weight when I started all of this was 328.I`m 307/310 now.I should have lost a whole lot more by now.I have a bad back from a work related injury back in 1991 as well as degenerative disk disease,Neuritis,pinched nerve.I`ve had knee problems for years but it has gotten worse within the last year.Now I have degenerative changes and a bone spur in my knee.Needles to say I havn`t been able to get out and walk anymore like I was because the pain is so bad.My back cramps up,my outer thigh area and hips go numb and tingley,I am so sick of this weight.I just want it off.I sit and look at all these before and after photos and think oh what I would give to be included.I want to feel young,healthy and energetic again.My PCP says if I get this weight off my diabetes and possibly the other medical problems would go away.HBP,Colesterol,& others.Is there a Surgeon anywhere in Illinois or close to it that will accept Illinois Medicaid?I know Medicaid will pay for it,they just don`t want to pay the Surgeons & facilities enough.Thanks for taking the time and listening to me vent. KimberlyB Be kind to others and treat them in the way you want to be treated. Don`t judge a boo****ill you`ve read the pages inside. You may miss out on the best friendship you could have ever had

I tried for 4 years to have surgery with Medicaid and it is near impossible. You can go to u of c and wait about 1 and 1/2 years or you can crunch numbers and see if you can pay for it your self. I went to Dr frantzides he doesn't accept Medicaid but the hospital does so I just payed his fee and then the rest was covered. I used care credit and now I pay about 175 a month. I know it is a lot  but at least I am healthy. He is the best surgeon in the state. He was even chosen as one of the top surgeons in the county. I no longer have sleep apnea or high cholesterol or diabetes. I know it is hard to come up with the money but your life is sooo important!

Thanks for responding.It`s very hard for my husband and I to even make ends meet.I am on SSI and they count every little bit of income you have coming in every month.So depending on what my husband makes monthly depends on what SSI I get.We are barely able to keep the bills paid and my son in things he needs.There is absolutely nothing left.I pinch and scrape and stretch everything I have.But I know how God works and you never know when some help will come your way,so I`m always "at least" hopeful.I checked with this Dr.last year but didn`t check into the other payment options.I`ll do that today.Thanks

I totally understand what you are going through. I stay at home and have the 2 kids. My son has autism and is on ssi as well. I pray you find a solution. Did you tri siu clinic in springfield? they take a long time and you have to go to group 1 a month for at least a year. did you call U of C they are about the only one left in il. Good luck to you. dee

Yes I checked with both of those places and I am too far away to be able to go there.But thanks for your help.I have been re-researching Dr.Frantzides(I hope I spelled that right)lol.I wanted to go with him before I found Dr.Shayani.I`m going to contact his office and find out about their financing and any other info they can give me.All the patient reviews on him sound absolutely wonderful.He is the kind of Dr.I want.I would have answered sooner but our internet went out for a bit.Thanks again and good luck to you and all the others that are trying to get weight loss surgery.                                                                                                     Kim                            

CALL DR LAURENCE GIBSON IN GURNEE ILLINOIS ITS OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO .. HE DID MY LAP RNY IN JUNE NUMBER IS 847-856-2525 HIS NUTRIONIST (SP) IS JUNE ZARAGOZA AT 847-360-3000 JUST ASK FOR HER EXTENSION SHES SUPER NICE AND TELL HER I SAID HI... HE TAKES MEDICAID AND IT ONLY TOOK TEN DAYS FOR APPROVAL......ITS A BIT OF A TRIP THERE BUT WELL WORTH IT... ALTHOUGH YOU WILL NEED MONEY FOR LODGING AND SUCH FOR WHOEVER GOES WITH YOU AND FOR YOURSELF AFTER YOU ARE RELEASED  AT LEAST FOR A DAY OR TWO... I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL 8 DAYS.. SHOULD OF BEEN 4 BUT I HAD SOME ISSUES.. NON-SURGICAL .. SO MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE HOTEL SO WE ENDED UP PAYING FOR 10 DAYS TOTAL... ANYWAY MESSAGE ME FOR ANY OTHER INFO GOOD LUCK.....

Thanks Gena for your help,I will put this info on my list to check out.I`m going to be buisy this week.Whew.lol.I`m beginning to feel that I will have better luck this time around.Lets hope. Hope you have a great day. Kim

I have medicaid and I am with Dr. Ayloo at University of Chicago, and I am having my pycsh eval done on aug 2. I started this process actually about a month agao, and I am looking at a possible august date because I ws told that medicaid doenst take long to come back at all. if u have any other q?'s, just pm me

Hi Shana.Thanks so much for replying.I will put that on my rapidly growing list of Surgeons and facilities to check out.I`m trying not to get my hopes up because I started this in Dec of 2005,and lost all hope when I found out in June of last year that Dr.Shayani stopped taking Medicaid and I couldn`t find another surgeon that took Medicaid at that time.It`s very hard not to get my hopes up.But I have a feeling I will have better luck this time.You only started this about a month ago and you`re looking at a possible August date?WOW!!!That`s fast!Well thanks again and good luck.I wish you all the best. Kim

No Problem. I would contact them at the University of Illinois at Chicago and see waht happens. I had to attend 1 seminar, a visit to the nutrition ans wellness clinic, then to the psych doc(mine on the 2nd!!) So, just try that. I chose dr. ayloo, because she does the lap-rny, but they have other surgeons there. medicaid does NOT pay for the lap-band though, so it will be rny from the start!!!!