Anyone us Univ Mich Bariatric Center??

Hi- I've made the decision to have WLS and will need to use the University of Michigan bariatric center (insurance) - has anyone used them? thanks for any info! lara

Yay!  You picked the best place EVER!  I had my RNY done there in March 06 and felt I couldn't have gone anyplace better. They have recently gone through some staff changes, but Patti the NUT is still there and she is awesome.  I still email her once in a while with questions.  The support group, surgeons, and hospital are all top notch. Let me know when you'll be at support group (it's a requirement before surgery) and I'll try to meet you up there.

I have never used them BUT I would highly reccomend their program!! I hear the staff is awesome and the surgeons are awesome!!!! I may be biased though....lol Shannon

Thanks for the great feedback!  Brenda, I'll definitely let you know when I'm in the support group - just starting the process for all this, so I have no idea how long it will take - hopefully not too long! Shannon - do you work at UM by chance? thanks again!

I had my surgery with Dr. Birkmeyer on Oct 29, 2007. He and Dr. Finks are excellent surgeons. They have undergone staff changes, and are working some bugs out of the program from the change, but it's still an excellent program. Patti the NUT is excellent. The support groups are also good. They meet twice a month (first saturday and 3rd wednesday). There isn't really anything bad I can say about the program.

Thanks Scott! I called them today and the first "info session" they have available isn't until Aug 5  :(   I was hoping there'd be one in the next couple of weeks.  Now that I've made the decision (after pondering it forever) I want to move forward as quickly as I can.  I met w/my PCP this morning, and he's supportive and gave me the referral.   I have UM's "premier care" insurance and they won't really tell me whether I can get a waiver on the 6 month physician supervised "diet" - they say that that will be coordinated with my surgeon - argh.  I'm somewhat of a control freak and I HATE not knowing specifics... anyway - thanks again for the feedback on UM's program!    lara

I am very frustrated with U of M.  They have lost my paperwork MULTIPLE times.  They take a really long time to call you back about stuff.  I think they are really understaffed,. I just put a message on the forrum to ask other people what their experience has been. I am told that they do really well after the surgery.  I just haven't seen it yet.

In case anyone ends up doing a search on UM's Bariatric program, I wanted to update this post.  I'm now two weeks before surgery and, I have to say, UM's program has been terrific.  Since around end of September-i**** appears that they're now fully staffed with a group of very dedicated, hard-working, and unbelievably nice/supportive folks.  So, did i have problems initiatially - you bet.  But there's been a total turn around over the past several months!  :)


lara

I'm so glad you updated and are feeling better about the program.

When I had my surgery 2 years ago it was a top notch program, and I'm glad it is again. 

IMHO Patti the NUT is the best there is. 

Thanks for posting again....it's very cool that you did!

Hi Brenda-
I agree, Patti has been wonderful (and I look forward to continuing to work with her in trying to figure out how to live afer this thing!  :)   )

happy holidays!



lara