Lansing Anyone

Hi I was just wondering if there was anyone here from the Lansing area working with Ingham Bariatrics?

Hi Christine! I'm in the Lansing area..but only in the research process. I'll be calling my ins. company today to see if the surgery is covered, before I go any further. I'll be interested to see what you find out about Ingham! Good Luck! I was floating around Sparrow's website yesterday and noticed that they have some robot machine that does the process. Kinda wierded me out. Shawna

Hi Shawna...welcome! This has got to be the most infomative website out their for wls I am scheduled for surgery on 3/12/07 with Dr. Melissa Richardson through Ingham Bariatrics. I do not know much at all about Sparrows program however I am more than sure they are top notch. They have a wonderful support group which I know a few of those that go to that group are on this site and I am sure they will be more than happy to answer any questions you have or come to one of their meetings. Support is very important in this process. It is nice to have others that have or are going through what you are going through. I reasearched wls for about five years before I decided to really go forth. I can only tell you what I know about my program there is not much information on this website about Ingham Bariatrics because they are a newer program their website is http://www.irmc.org/body.cfm?id=1229 not exactly what I was looking for but that link above will get you there...good luck! Christine

Christine, Best wishes for you and your upcoming surgery. May I ask...What helped YOU chose to use Ingham Bariatrics? I spoke to a gal there yesterday and absolutely loved her! We talked for a length of time and she gave me lots of information. My only concern was how new the procedure is at Ingham. However, all of these surgeons had to start somewhere. How long from the time you started until your surgery date? (I know some of it depends on getting approved from the ins. company) I'm sure I'll have more questions as I try to narrow down my options of where to go. I look forward to following your progress. Shawna Who can no longer find the "robot" on the Sparrow site. Now I sit here laughing at myself trying to figure out where it was that I saw it.

shawna, It was my comfort level that did it for me with Ingham. I was reserved at first. I am originally from Indiana and I have an uncle who works for St. Vincent Hosp in Indianapolis, he knows a few of their bariatric suregons personally and he wanted me to come down their to Indy and meet the surgeon, I thought 1.) my family is getting involved 2.) maybe it would be easier getting through insurance and all the other hoops but when it came right down to it it was the comfort level I felt at Ingham. I think I know excatly whom you spoke to she is great! She has been through this herself. She did not try and sell me she was just genuine. I am not a number to her I am a person someone she cares about and that made all the diffrence to me. I have been to Cori Center, Hurley and Barix. They are all top notch programs I just did not get the personal feeling as I do at Ingham and to me this is something very personal. Meeting my surgeon was one of the last stops. Dr. Melissa Richardson is my surgeon however Dr. Mindy Lane will assist. When I met Dr. Richardson she right away put me at ease, she is very passionate about what she does. My exam was very thorough with Dr. Richardson, even though I have heard it all before we sat down and she went over all the paperwork, explained to me before surgery, during and after what was going to be going on. As far as the program being new, the procedure is not new, the doctors are not new, I feel that they have supierior excellence in skills, training. I feel that if Dr. Richardson feels there is anything that needs to be addressed before I have this operation she will post-pone it and we will fix it and I am comforatable with that. This can't be a race, I have been dealing with obesity for so many years and having this surgery is not a quick fix, I did not just wake up one morning at 384 pounds. I do not expect to just wake up and for it to all be gone...I use to feel that way, however I use to live in lala land. It took me a long time to see myself the way others see me. I will stop there with that I am getting off topic... sorry! My timeline if I can remember was something like this... 1) Meeting with Mary and Sherlyn/ Informational about the program and surgery/this is manditory for just about every program October 2006 2.) Started New Directions group 6 week pre-surgical group that meets 1x a week November 2006 3.) Sleep study and Labs November 2006 4.) Letter from PCP...met with my doc got her approval she wrote a letter stating her support and my past attempts at weight loss as well as my struggle with obesity December 2006 5.) Met with Dr. Richardson, talked about things I needed to work on and got her approval. January 2007 6.) Submitted to Insurance company for approval Jan 2007 7.) 2nd Sleep study (if they determine you have sleep apena you get to come back and sleep with cpap) Feb 2007 (this was my own fault it took so long!) 8.) Verbal conformation of insurance approval Feb 2007 9.) Surgery scheduled for March 12, 2007 Overall I would have to say it took a lot less longer than I thought. I was prepared for a battle. I give a lot of credit to Mary at Ingham Bariatrics, she is amazing and incredible! I will get on here and update my profile a bit! But if I can be of any more assistance to you I am here for you! I am still on the pre-op side however there are several on the post-op side that would be more than happy to answer any questions you have. There are so many great programs out there so ask your questions and do your homework!

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I'm going to be setting up some appts. to get this ball rolling by the end of the week. I've got them all sending me some info to look thru and what not. Yes, that was her...Mary. Great lady! I look forward to meeting her and "feeling out" the program. What's the 6 week program like? Are you IN the Lansing area? Do you have any contact with anyone that has been there, done that with Dr Richardson or Lane? Just curious! Thanks for your input! Shawna

Hey! Sorry I am just getting back to you... The 6 week program is fantastic! It is very informative...you will meet on Tuesday evenings with a group of others that are going through the program. You will talk, ask question about everything before and after surgery. The dietician and behavorist run the group. You will get this really nice notebook just full of everything and anything you can think of to do with wls. This will be where you will meet others that have went through the surgery already as well. Dr Richardson, is fantastic...she left no detail undone in my consultation with her. She had my medical records before hand (it is planned this way..) and had more questions for me than I did her! It was nice to go see her and she already knew so much about me! I hear Dr. Lane is one in a million as well... I have not met her yet, however she will be in surgery with Dr. Richardson they operate together always...(I think I told you that...?) I get to start my shake diet on 2/19/07 so I will be at group on 2/13/07 so that I can pick them up. I will be doing the shakes for 3 weeks (Dr. Richardson and Dr. Lane decide how long you are on liquids/ usually based upon your bmi mine is higher so I am on 3 weeks) If you have more questions...ask away!! and maybe I will see you soon!

Good Luck on your shake diet! I didn't get to make it to the meeting yesterday (no sitter)..but I'll be meeting with Mary today. I'm nervous as all get out...but I'm excited and ready too! Shawna