Questions, Questions, Questions??????

I have my first consultation on April 3rd with Dr. Shina. I am full of questions. Like how long after the consultation does it take before the surgery is scheduled? What kind of test will have to be done before the surgery? I have questions about hair loss and everything. I have medicaid right now, so I thought I would get the job done. My biggest concerns seems to be about the tests, the timing and the hair loss. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

All I had to do was get a letter from my primary doctor. He drew some blood and did a chest xray. I was seen for eval with Dr. Lusco. saw the psych and had eval, and saw a Nutr. and that was it for me. I go in fri for pre op tests and they said blood work and upper GI. I really think its being to easy for me I am afraid to talk about it because I don't want to jinx it. ... hope this helps some.... Char

Thank you for the answers. I read your profile and there is no way you are 51. You would never be able to tell it. You look so young. Good luck with your surgery. I wish mine was that soon. Is Dr. Lusco affiliated with Dr. Shina? What kind of insurance do you have, if you dont mind me asking. Thanks again.....Cindy

Congratulations on your date. I had a question about your insurnace and Dr. Lusco. I went to their seminar and then found out I would have to pay $4000 out of pocket and i wont get that back. I didn't understand this at first, but some one told me the doctors are out-of-network and can charge you more because they are not limited by a contract with insurance. But the hospital is in network so the hospital doesnt charge any extra fees. Do you have to pay this fee? Did they drop this fee because no-one else in town (Dr. Geller and Dr. Allen at Nortons) charges this fee. With them, you only have to pay your copays and whatever deductable you have because they are in-network or sometimes called 'par' with the insurnace. Also, you should now that if insurnace approves it, you can go to any doctor in-network you want and transfer the approval. I have learned so much about this because I want to get surgery so bad, but my insurance does not cover it -- an exclsion. So I am trying to get a new insurnace that does cover it. Let me know Theresa

Theresa, Keep up the fight. Any luck with your employer? I do participate in-network in most insurance plans. What that means is a patient is responsible for their copays at each office visit and their deductable. Many patients only pay copays and have no additional costs because their deductable has already been met. With any surgery and any size deductable (even big deductables), you can be pretty sure you will meet the deductable for that year. If you go with an out-of-network physician, most times there is an additional out-of-network deductable and an in-network deductable with your insurance in addition to whatever fees the out-of-network physician chooses to charge. Let me give an example; If the charge for something is $10,000, and the insurance pays the in-network doctor $500 and says that is the allowable, then that is all the in-network doctor gets. The out-of-network doctor may get the same $500 from the insurance, but the patient may be responsible for the entire difference or $9,500 in this example. The reason for this potentially large extra cost to the patient is that the out-of-network doctor has no contract with the insurance company to limit the reimbursement. Where the in-network doctor does have a contract with the insurance company and has already 'agreed' to accept what the insurance company pays. I know this is a very confusing topic and even after running my own practice, I still have a lot to learn. I feel patients need to inform themselves of these issues ahead of time, so there are no financial surprises down the road. I hope this answers the questions. David Geller, MD Bariatric Surgeons of Kentuckiana Medical Director Norton Suburban Bariatric Surgery Program 4001 Dutchmans Lane, Suite 1E Louisville, KY 40207 (502) 893-7151

Hi Cynthia, just let me say first of all u have picked the bestest Dr! He's my hero lol! My consult was 10/5/04 surgery was 3/24/05 but my insurance co made us jump thru some hoops before they approved me. Most people may not wait that long. I did have some hair loss but its nothing major. Its not like all your hair falls out. Mine didn't. Its grown back thinner but totally worth it to have lost over 170 pounds in a years time. I've maintained my weight loss for a year now. I was 2 yrs post op 3/24. Dr Shina has always been there for me. At each post op visit he takes all the time in the world to sit and talk with me for as long as I need him. If I have questions or concerns and have to call him after hours he always gets right back to me and is never rude or short with me. He's a sweetheart. Holly, his wife, is his nurse and office manager. She's a sweetheart also. With your insurance u might not have much of a wait at all. I wish u the best and if u have any further questions or just want to chat about surgery I'll give u my email and messenger plus u can check out my profile for more about my surgery, before pics and now pics. Dr Shina and staff will always have a piece of my heart. They're just so wonderful and I hope u come to love them as much as I do. Hugs Angela email [email protected] messenger [email protected]

Thank you Angela. I am so excited, I have done research for about 5 or more years. I have finally reached the point in my life where I am so ready. I would have it next week if I could. Thanks for the encouragement. My hair is kinda thin so I was a little scared about the hair loss. I have a friend who had the gastric bypass and she is a beautician and she told me to use some nioxin months before the surgery. So I am going to get some right away. I definitely will be talking to you. Thanks

I look forward to talking with ya...