Need your guidance!
Ok, so you guys (and the data I've read) have just about convinced me to have the DS rather than RNY! If you've read any of my other posts you will recall that I will be self-pay as my local HMO will only cover RNY. I live in central Florida and am obsessing about finding a doc. I have read remarks that "there are no real DS docs in FL" even though the bariatric surgeons site listed in OH indicates there are those in Florida who do DS. So please explain who is right?
Secondly, if you will please indulge my OCD tendency here, explain to me how I go about gaining access to a doc in another state? (Every dollar counts since it will all be coming out of my pocket so my inclination is to avoid the high-cost areas of the country. I will have to pay hospital, surgeon, anesthesiologist and husband's hotel costs.) Skill and experience count most but the $$ do, too.
Third, how do you do pre and post ops, follow-ups etc. with an out-of-state doctor? Do you have to run back and forth multiple times? What happens for any problems that arise?
Fourth, does anyone have self-pay experience and know how much their total cost for docs, hospital, etc. were?
Fifth, I'm currently in a medically supervised weightloss program in preparation for future surgery. Will the time I've spent already count?
I have an appointment with a surgeon on Friday to discuss RNY. Do I keep or cancel that appointment? (Probably a dumb question, huh?)
Thanks for indulging me. I really, really, really appreciate any and all assistance!
Lisa
Secondly, if you will please indulge my OCD tendency here, explain to me how I go about gaining access to a doc in another state? (Every dollar counts since it will all be coming out of my pocket so my inclination is to avoid the high-cost areas of the country. I will have to pay hospital, surgeon, anesthesiologist and husband's hotel costs.) Skill and experience count most but the $$ do, too.
Third, how do you do pre and post ops, follow-ups etc. with an out-of-state doctor? Do you have to run back and forth multiple times? What happens for any problems that arise?
Fourth, does anyone have self-pay experience and know how much their total cost for docs, hospital, etc. were?
Fifth, I'm currently in a medically supervised weightloss program in preparation for future surgery. Will the time I've spent already count?
I have an appointment with a surgeon on Friday to discuss RNY. Do I keep or cancel that appointment? (Probably a dumb question, huh?)
Thanks for indulging me. I really, really, really appreciate any and all assistance!
Lisa
1) The best place for you to find a REAL DS surgeon is dsfacts.com. Most of the docs that advertise on OH that they do the DS, really don't do the DS. They get you in there and tell you how awful the DS is and what you REALLY want is an RNY. But you already know better.
2) I'm going to a doc in another state. I live in Chicago. For many reasons, I'm having my DS with Dr Stewart in Texas in 19 days (yay!). Do you have any friends or family that could be close to a DS surgeon? That will cut the cost of hotels and such. For me, my ex-husband lives about 40 miles from Denton so he's putting me up. Him and his new wife. lol. Which will be a social experiment in itself.
3) As for follow up. Your surgeon can coordinate with your PCP for follow up care. You may have to educate your PCP, so be prepared. I plan on going back to Dr Stewart for post-op follow up on whatever schedule he recommends. At least yearly. Problems, as in emergencies, go to the ER. Same as if you had your surgery in state.
4) I'm self pay. All in, virgin lap DS $22, 750.00, Dr Peters in PA is a little less. I believe he only does open, though. Open vs lap wasn't an issue for me, so it wasn't a factor in my decision. There are also much less expensive options out of country. Mexico, Spain, Brazil. i don't know exact costs for those docs.
5) What will the medically supervised diet have to count for if you're self pay? Doesn't matter.
HOWEVER, I think if you are recommended for a DS, and your HMO doesn't have a doc in network to perform the procedure, they may be obligated to pay for it out of network. I'm not 100% sure on this though. Someone will chime in with more insurance info, i hope.
Good luck in your journey
Anna
2) I'm going to a doc in another state. I live in Chicago. For many reasons, I'm having my DS with Dr Stewart in Texas in 19 days (yay!). Do you have any friends or family that could be close to a DS surgeon? That will cut the cost of hotels and such. For me, my ex-husband lives about 40 miles from Denton so he's putting me up. Him and his new wife. lol. Which will be a social experiment in itself.
3) As for follow up. Your surgeon can coordinate with your PCP for follow up care. You may have to educate your PCP, so be prepared. I plan on going back to Dr Stewart for post-op follow up on whatever schedule he recommends. At least yearly. Problems, as in emergencies, go to the ER. Same as if you had your surgery in state.
4) I'm self pay. All in, virgin lap DS $22, 750.00, Dr Peters in PA is a little less. I believe he only does open, though. Open vs lap wasn't an issue for me, so it wasn't a factor in my decision. There are also much less expensive options out of country. Mexico, Spain, Brazil. i don't know exact costs for those docs.
5) What will the medically supervised diet have to count for if you're self pay? Doesn't matter.
HOWEVER, I think if you are recommended for a DS, and your HMO doesn't have a doc in network to perform the procedure, they may be obligated to pay for it out of network. I'm not 100% sure on this though. Someone will chime in with more insurance info, i hope.
Good luck in your journey
Anna
* Take 1 DS, add a little p90x and stir :)5' 3" HW 293/SW 253/Goal 130/CW 128
Anna--Thanks! Your input really helps! Good luck with your surgery! Lisa
Hi Lisa,
The first thing you need to do is to consult with surgeons that actually perform the DS. There are lists of vetted surgeons at www.dsfacts.com
I was self-pay with Dr. William S.Peters in PA I traveled from Florida. When you are self-pay you are normally not required to be in a supervised diet program prior to surgery. You will be asked most likely what diets you have followed and you might have to provide a written list with the outcomes. My total costs for everything was just under 20K.
Dr.Peters is used to working with out of state patients and can arrange a video conference consult with you. Your pre-op testing can be done locally by your PCP and they can also refer you to any specialists and all of your tests can be faxed to your surgeon.
I encourage you to call Dr. Peters 570-969-2527. You will either talk directly to him or his wife Robbie. She is his office manager.
Renee
I
My DS SW/263 CW/136 GW/150
I didn't have any complications. Dr. Peters requires that you stay a week after discharge if you have traveled from far away. If you are going to have a serious complication it will normally happen in that time frame.
All of my after care as been handled by my PCP and I just recently had an appointment with a hematologist. You have to be your own advocate when it comes to your follow-up care if your local doctor is not familiar with the DS. The biggest thing is to make sure that you have routine blood work done and your surgeon will normally give you a list of tests that they would like to see. I have the tests done and copies sent to my surgeon.I am in close contact with him even though I am out of state and doing well.
All of my after care as been handled by my PCP and I just recently had an appointment with a hematologist. You have to be your own advocate when it comes to your follow-up care if your local doctor is not familiar with the DS. The biggest thing is to make sure that you have routine blood work done and your surgeon will normally give you a list of tests that they would like to see. I have the tests done and copies sent to my surgeon.I am in close contact with him even though I am out of state and doing well.
Renee
I
My DS SW/263 CW/136 GW/150
Hi Lisa
I went to Brazil with Dr. Marchesini.
My daughter went with me and we stayed for 2 weeks after the surgery.
The care I had was absolutely wonderful, better then I've ever gotten here in the States.
Dr. M is very skilled and a caring doctor. They make all the arangement for the hospital, hotel and care at the hotel after you are released from the hospital.
The cost for me was about $17.000, but then i payed for all my daughters things too, including the planeticket. We did quit a bit of sightsseeing while there, so the cost was not bad at all.
Good Luck
Inge
I went to Brazil with Dr. Marchesini.
My daughter went with me and we stayed for 2 weeks after the surgery.
The care I had was absolutely wonderful, better then I've ever gotten here in the States.
Dr. M is very skilled and a caring doctor. They make all the arangement for the hospital, hotel and care at the hotel after you are released from the hospital.
The cost for me was about $17.000, but then i payed for all my daughters things too, including the planeticket. We did quit a bit of sightsseeing while there, so the cost was not bad at all.
Good Luck
Inge
I had the lapband done here in the states and I had nothing but problems.
When I checked into a revision I found out my insurance will pay for only one WLS per lifetime.
Well, having it done in the states was not an option anymore, it was to expensive.
So, checking here on the DS board I found nothing but good was being said about Dr. M. every one just loves him.
And I have to say he was really wonderful, he greeted us at the Hotel, and took care of so many things for us. Even took the time to tell us about places we may be interested in visiting.
It was not easy to go to Brazil, but taking my daughter made it okay.
The only "problem" I experienced was the language barrier while sightseeing, some young people spoke english but most not very well.
The Dr. and the nurses at the hospital spoke mostly english.
But I also had a liaison that I could talk to that knew english and could translate for me.
No problem really.
When I checked into a revision I found out my insurance will pay for only one WLS per lifetime.
Well, having it done in the states was not an option anymore, it was to expensive.
So, checking here on the DS board I found nothing but good was being said about Dr. M. every one just loves him.
And I have to say he was really wonderful, he greeted us at the Hotel, and took care of so many things for us. Even took the time to tell us about places we may be interested in visiting.
It was not easy to go to Brazil, but taking my daughter made it okay.
The only "problem" I experienced was the language barrier while sightseeing, some young people spoke english but most not very well.
The Dr. and the nurses at the hospital spoke mostly english.
But I also had a liaison that I could talk to that knew english and could translate for me.
No problem really.
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