Question for those who went through Norton's bariatric center in Louisville

Hi, Kellie, I am going thru Nortons, and Dr Shina is my dr.  The $300 is due at the Nortons downtown when the office schedules your nutrition and psyche classes.  You pay all of it there then.  I went to my consult with Dr. Shina on Sept 11th, and had to wait 15 days to get my nut and psyche classes scheduled.  Once I have those done on the 9th of Oct. then they will get the papers sent over as soon as they can.  It shouldn't take but maybe a couple of weeks to get my actual date. I also have to go to the cardio and pulmo tests also, so keep me updated on that! I am probably going to have the filter put in, which is fine with me, because it is better to be safe than sorry! Let me know what happens with your tests!

Hey LaChelle, It's good to know there is someone else who will probably be going through this about the same time I am...hopefully that is~ Dr. Shina only goes to Suburban right? So you see the doctor first before you even do the nut and psyche classes? I figured they'd want it all done before you seen the doctor.  I go to the Pulmonary Doc today and hopefully I can pick up his letter and the test results tomorrow but either way I am turning all my paperwork in tomorrow and will take the rest down there when I have it. Thanks to Joy I am lucky enough to be well ahead of the game for those just turning in their paperwork since I have almost all of the required stuff already so I hope it pays off with all of this going through very quickly.  I also want the filter put in, Dr. Rod told us at the seminar when I ask that it was more of a hassle but if it keeps you from getting a blood clot that kills you its way worth the hassle to me. I don't know if you've talked with your PCP about the cardio appt. but I was told that your doctor had to give you a referral to see the cardio doc because they don't accept patients making their own appts....or maybe it was just the doctor I called...lol I didn't have to have a referral for the pulm doc though.  I hope you too will keep me updated on how things are going...etc... I'm so excited I can't wait!! hehe God bless, Kellie 

As soon as I have my nut and psyche classes done, the drs office is supposed to be scheduling my pulmo and cardio tests. It won't take but a few days after that tho, so I am ok with that. I want the filter put in also, because my family has a high risk of clots, so I want to be safe. Keep me updated as well, Maybe we will be in at the same time!

Hey LaChelle, How many nut and psyche classes do we have to do? I thought the psyche doc was a one time thing. I am anxious to get going on that too. I'm sorry to hear your family has a history of blood clots, that is the one thing that scares me and I do believe it is better to be safe than sorry ya know? I can certainly understand why you would want it. I had the pulmo done today but he wouldn't let me take the clearance with me when I left. He said I had to have the center call and give his office their fax number......thought that was odd. They had me blow really hard into this white tube for like 7 secs, I thought I was going to pop a vein outta my head!LOL I can just imagine what my face must have looked like too....hehe Anyway it was relatively easy and he did everything right there in the office. I had to have another chest xray and fortunately this doctor had the machine in his office so that was cool too. If you've had a recent chest xray be sure to take it with you that way you won't have to do it over again. Well, gotta run! Take care! Kellie

I know that I am only going to have to go to 2hours worth of classes on the 9th. That is the nut. and psyche eval all together.  I only have to do that once also. It just depends on your insurance, and what they require. Make sure you check with your dr. on how many they reqire, I will have to have a new x-ray taken, since I haven't needed one in years. (thank goodness!) Thanks for reminding me about that tho, because that will prepare me! LOL

Hello, I only had to pay 100.00 when I went to see the nut, and Erin about my diet. I had to wait 7 months before surgery. But I wanted Dr.Allen and no one else. To have him you will have to wait. He's a very busy man. My family Dr wanted me to see him and him only. I think you would be very happy with him.  I had the lap band June 18th. I have yet to get my frist fill, as I am losing so good with out one. I am so happy with this band. I wish you good luck and hope things move fast for you. 

Hi Cynthia, Wow what a long wait you had! I am not a patient person at all that would have drove me crazy...hehe I turned in all my paperwork on Friday and the lady said it took 3 to 4 wks. for them to go through a packet of info and I felt so disappointed. I do realize though that there is a protocol to these things so I guess I will just have to learn some patience.  How much weight have you lost? I am planning on having the RNY because I'm on medicare and I worry that if I did the lap band and it failed that medicare wouldn't let me get a RNY later. Thanks for the well wishing. Good luck on your weight loss!! Kellie

Hi Kellie (and everyone else)-I feel like an idiot :) I've been hesitant about posting anywhere because I did not know what to say! However, after reading your question and recognizing a couple of the people responding, I wanted to respond to! I am in the Norton's program.  My husband and I saw Dr. Shina the same day Joy did originally (in January I think?).  I had to go through 6 months of PCP weight management (this is a joke, but if the insurance wants to waste money, it's their pocketbook!).  I'm happy to say as SOON as my 6th appointment was up, Dr. Shina's office sent all my paperwork to insurance and I was approved on August 17th.  Just had my Cardio and vascular visits last week-I'm a little concerned because Dr. Kral (Cardio) wants me to do a stress test (which is done at his office on Dutchman's Pkwy).  It's a treadmill with the dye-but get this, I had THREE messages on my phone Friday; the first one was confirming my upcoming stress test on Oct. 2nd, the second message was to advise me there were "a few other tests" they wanted to do now also, and the third message was to advise me the appointment had been cancelled!  What the heck is all that??  Vascular Dr. George said I didn't need the filter, that I was a good candidate for the surgery.  The only consult left is with pulmo on Oct 3rd.  My surgery (lap band) is scheduled October 12th and I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!! I was surprised to hear the fee has gone up to $300.00!  I paid $100 the day of the nutri and psyche evals.  The only other expenses have been my co-pays, insurance has been doing a great job! Anyway, I just wanted to share my thoughts also, and appreciate being able to!  Good luck to you Kellie!! Lisa

Hi Lisa, I'm so glad you posted and decided to be a lurker no more. You are not an idiot sometimes it is hard to know what to say. I know a bunch of people shared myspace names so we could all talk on there but now that we've done it I haven't said a word to anyone cuz I don't know what to say so you are not alone!  I'm glad to hear they got things rolling for you so quickly after the diet. The diet thing is a joke your right, the truth is if we could diet and loose on our own we would not be seeking wls. I can't believe the phone calls you got...lol I'm sure the cardio test will be ok sometimes they just like to be over-thorough I think. Why did you have to see a vascular doctor for? As far as the vena cava I would just feel more comfy myself if they point one in, ya know you just can't be too safe.  Please keep my posted on how things are going....your days coming up quick!! Oh, btw before I forget....sorry it took me so long to get back to you, we usually leave on Friday's and don't come back home until Sunday night. We have a small place in Bardstown we are trying to get ready to live in whenever we sell our house here in Louisville. Well, desperate housewives is coming on so I'm going to watch it. Talk to ya soon! Kellie

Nice to see u posting Lisa!  Meet Missy, she was there the day we were at the seminar and she has already had her surgery with Dr Shina.