Discouraged!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay all my beatiful SMOers I could really use your help and encourgement!!! Here is my deal I went to my first consult in Sept. Went back to see him again on Oct 10th. At that time he stated he wants me 1)to get down to 425lbs. 2) See a weight mangement Dr. 3) Do my physic elvuation. He was going to file my insurance papers for approval and set up my appointment with the weight mangement Dr. Okay no problem right?? WRONG!! I got my physic evluation the next day. The Dr wanted me to pay him the $300.00 and not get a receipt. Stated that they sent out the receipts at the first of the month and thats when he would send it to me. Well that wanst going to happen. I made him sign the paperwork he gave me that he received the cash money. By the way it has been long past the first and I still havent recieved the receipt that he stated he would mail me. I still havent heard anything from the weight mangement Dr. I have called and get no information at all. Just for me to keep losing weight. But this is the reason I am suppose to be going to this Dr. So if I am doing it on my own why do I need to see this other Dr?? Just another way to get more $$ out my insurance or what?? By the way when I went to see the Dr. for my first consult on 9-26-05 I was 483lbs. I am now 445lbs with the help of diet and my own PCP that gave me something to help me lose weight. Since I cant get any word back from the weight mangement Dr or the surgeon. Plus (yes it gets better) He still hasnt file for my insurance approval. This is been going on for way past 8 months now and it doesnt look like it is going to get any better!!! What do I do??? There is another Dr here in MO that accept my insurance that I have seen. All I wold have to do is my suppose meeting (which is required) plus my day of seminar that would cost me 300.00. But I could use the physic that I already got. I just dont know what to do. I dont want to give up. I am pi**ed off that I keep getting the run around. Please help!!!!! Melissa Russell MeMe214 Joplin, MO

Hey girl... i would be pounding my head against the wall already... I would GET A NEW SURGEON!!! My surgeon works on patients up to 600 llbs and all laproscopically.... He is an expert but he is a little far for you... These hoops are too much i think... It took me 3 months to get everything done and get a surgery date... from start to finish... i started at 368 and am now 322... PUH LEASE think about it!!! good luck HUGS Steph

Melissa((((BIG encouraging hug))))))) First off......CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS!!! You should be real proud of yourself!!! That being said.......couldnt you just kill the docs who ask you to lose X amount of weight before surgery? Its just adds insult to injury. I would definitly think about getting a new doc. Thats just in MHO. take care and good luck! willby

Melissa Congarts on the weight loss on your own.. I also live in Missouri, and I called a place called newStart..I have my surgery the 29th of this month.. I love newstart, they were so helpful and took care of my insurance company..Here is the number and the web address. They will help you out, and they also do the laprscopic procedure on folks I believe up to 600lbs, because my great uncle had it done and I think he weighed about that much. But don't get discouraged. Susan http://www.stalexiushospital.com/Default.aspx?tabid=63 1-800-245-1431

hi melissa, congrats in order first. then let me tell you this..................... take your time hun, theres no rush into anything you have to get the weight down so the risk can be less greater. and while waiting you can also get your life in order because as soon as you get a date your gonna feel theres not enough time. thas what usually happens.Im not a pro at this i just want you to slow down because oct wasnt that long ago and so far you been doing great on your own. dont let them get you pee- ed off and dont let them get you down.do your meetings and things educate yourself more and get ready for a big change in your life its all well deserved. I also sounded like you before my surgery but a week before my surgery i was thinking of rescheduling because things was moving too fastfortunately i took off on tha scheduled date and proceeded from there. i was 498 before and im now down to 355 im not rushing anythig i just take it slow keep my meetings and do what the dr tells me to do. so dont get too upset b-cause youand your surgeon has a relation ship to build, he is gonna be in your life from now on so take it easy girl.

Melissa, I can not blame you for being discouraged... how terrible. Never give up... you have done so well thus far! I am so proud of you. No doctor can take our dream of a healthy life however, you just need to find a doctor to share and honor your dream. Trust your intuition... you had a feeling about needing to get the payment made to him in writing.... that should have been a good clue for you, seem your inner feeling was to not trust the situation of money.... yet you were willing to trust them with your life. I should think that the doctors boards would be interested in hearing about this situation.. how unprofessional of them. You focus on your dream..... we are here to support you in what ever you choose to do.... hugs, Aunt Pam

Before I would switch doctors I would look at their success rate and complication's rate. Also the number of surgeries performed. It does seem like a long time to get a surgery date but is worth the wait in the long run. I think the Doctor should have sent your insurance info in for you. John