I need help

I need help finding a doc that takes medicare and will preform surgery on a person with a BMI of 81.5----- My name is Angie, I'm a 32 yr old woman with a BMI of 81.5 and my health problems are as follows: high blood pressure sleep apena diabetis degenaritive arthritis high colestrol nuropathy in my feet depression Today I was turned down for the 2nd time by a surgeon who I thought would preform surgery on me. When I called his office the first thing I asked was if they did patients over 450 lbs because the hospitals around my home do not. The answer was yes they do patients up to 800 lbs. So my hopes were high and I was very excitied to get this done. I got a phone call about an hour ago saying that the doctor will not preform surgery on me do to my BMI and underlying health problems. So once again my hopes are smashed. I have all the preop testing done and am well aware of the risks and complications that could occur with this surgery. That is a chance I am willing to take. It's either surgery or die for me. I weight 534 lbs and am 5'8" tall. I am really starting to lose my hope for having this surgery. I know this is the tool I need to lose my weight and stay reasonably healthy. I have been over weight since I was 2 so I've never known what it's like to be skinny and DO NOT have the desire to be skinny. I just want to be healthy and walk and live my life again. Thanks for any and all advice---and yes I have been searching and searching and searching....

If you're willing to travel, try St. Vincent Carmel Hospital, just outside of Indianapolis. I had a vocational rehabilitation client who was about your weight, and Dr. Evanson there did RNY on her. The website for the Bariatric Center of Exellence is: http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/bariatrics/default.htm My surgeon was in his practice. Her name is Dr. Inman. She was wonderful, too. She also does the duodenal switch, if that's something you're interested in.  Linda Vicory

ty Linda---I finally listened to my good friend Janene and called---looks like I'm headed to Carmel IN :D

Dr Evanson was my Dr and he is wonderful but I don't think he takes Medicaid.  But it can't hurt to ask. things do change.  There are others at St V that do take Medicaid but I don't know how the out of state thing works.  I know Dr Kaderabek (not sure if the spelling is correct bit it's close) does take Medicaid.  St. Vincent is an excellent hospital and you would be in good hands there.  Good Luck.

You may want to check with Medicaid and be sure you can travel out of state to have it. If you can, at your weight, I would check first with Dr. Margaret Inman. Distal Switch has been known to be an excellent surgical choice for +500 lb range. Dr. Inman is one of the few surgeons around here to perform it and most definately, the most experienced with it. Dr. Rosie Jones would be my 2nd choice. She use to accept medicaid, I don't know if she still does or not. With either of these 2 surgeons, the hospital would be St. Vincent Carmel (north of Indianapolis) and I think it is one of the best for bariatric care in the area. If neither of these two will accept you, please ask them for their recommendation. They would be most familiar with surgeon stats for those with your co-morbidities. Sherri

I'm going to see Dr Inman and it's medicare that I have ty

Angie, I'm glad you have an appt with Dr. Inman. I think you will be very impressed with her. Sorry about the Medicare/medicaid mix-up. I can't ever keep those two straight and my dh is on whichever one it is that is in with SS Disability. Sherri

Dr. Inman just performed my duodenal switch on June 20th. She's very good. My scar is perfectly straight and it only took her 2 hours to perform it. You will be in very good hands. She'll keep you laughing so beware :) You have made the right choice in picking her. As a matter of fact, she is the only doctor in the state of Indiana that can perform the duodenal switch. I too have Medicare and getting approved was a breeze and also, St. Vincent's is a center of excellence which is the only thing that Medicare will approve. I went in weighing 426lbs so I wasn't too far away from your weight. Everyone there is sooooo nice and they even have valet parking for you on the day of your surgery :)

 Hey gal! glad you came on to the Indiana Forum!  Y'all this is an online friend of mine that first told me about this website.  Angie...these people are GREAT and will answer any question you have! If you need any info on St. Vincents just IM me and we can get ya going!  HUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGS GAL! YOU WILL get this surgery!  Hang in there!!!!!!

 Hello Sweetie---well looks like I'm going to St Vincents.  Yeah Yeah Yeah I know---I can hear it now "I told ya so" :p  I talked to Angie in Dr Inman's office and she was awesome.  I am scheduled to go out there on the 16th of July.  I'm hoping that I get to meet you too :D  Thank you so much for being my friend you turely have been a blessing to me!!!  Well I'm excitied as **** lol I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that THIS is the one!!!  I'll talk to you later on IM :D