Relocating to Florida....

Hi all.... I will be relocating to Florida in a few weeks from Mass. I need to find a primary doctor that is familiar with gastric bypass surgery in the Palm Bay/Melbourne area. I had LAP RNY in January 2004. Also, anyone know of a good support group in the area as well? Thanks for any input. Tanya

There are no bariatric surgeons in this area anymore. Dr. Tenewitz in Melbourne no longer does bariatric surgery and only handles his old patients from what I have heard. Orlando does have Dr. Kim at Celebration health and have heard good things about him. There are several support meetings in the Orlando area also. I am just north of Melbourne in Port St. John. Hope you have a safe move. Kirsten

Tanya, I am Jacksonville but when I was at the Orlando OH event, I heard great things about Dr Kim in Celebration, Have a safe move and welcome to Florida. Terri

Hi Tanya--I grew up in Mass and now I live on the other coast. You'll love it down here--at least in the fall, winter and spring. My buddy Charlie lives in Daytona beach shores (I think that may be near where you are moving) and I will make sure she sees your post. Are you looking for a PCP who is familar with RNY?

Hi Tanya.. I'm from MA too and also relocating to Florida at the end of August! I'm going to the Orlando area. I don't know how close Melbourne is to Orlando, but I heard of a Dr. Overcash in that area. I heard he's a really wonderful doctor as well. I hope he takes new patients. Who knows.. maybe one day we'll bump into each other in FL!! Good luck on your move and continued success with your WLS journey. Becky

HI! my name is Tamishia I'm from the leesburg area 45min away from you when you move I think overcash is in the clermont area which is a while away from melbourne but for you it will be ok because all you would have to do is get on the turnpike and get off on the clermont exit which takes 30min from orlando girl thaaaats the shopping place onceyou find all the stores maybey we can meet when you get here.

Thanks for the "geography" lesson Would like to meet you at some point!! Let's keep in touch! Becky

Hi Tanya, My name is Lori and I live in Rockledge which is 20 minutes from Melbourne and 40 from Palm Bay. I visit my folks who live in South Palm Bay off Bab**** St & I visit them every weekend. I will be staying with them for appr 2 weeks after my surgery on Aug 3rd. I don't know the doctors in the area of Melboune too well, but my PCP is Dr Aziz and he is great. He is in Rockledge though. He has been very supportive of my decision for the surgery and is willing to do whatever is needed for his patients. He likes you to do your research, but will order any tests needed (blood work, xrays, whatever) as long as you let him know it is time for them. He was very standoffish at first, but when he told me I had type 2 diabetes (asked me, "hasn't anyone ever told you that you were diabetic before?" I told him no, that's your job) things changed. I knew that I have to be in control of my own health and let him know what is going on. I have an appt with him today for sore elbow and we will discuss other issues as well. He even calls me by my nickname instead of Lorna my real name now. I love his staff and they are pretty quick to call back with results from tests. His number is 321-631-1007 if you are interested. I have a friend who works at Holmes Regional as the Risk Manager and I'll check with him to see if he knows anyone in the area as a PCP that is weight loss surgery knowledgable. I'll get back to you soon. If you would like to get together when you get here, email from off my profile page. Just click on my name at the top of this post. Lori

I live in Melbourne and had surgery with Dr. Tenewitz. While he can no longer do the surgery in any Melbourne hospitals(he is self-insured and the hospital's insurance companies freaked) he does still hold support group meetings. You might want to call his office to find out if it is okay if you attend. As for PCP's mine is Dr. Gobivinkata Balaji. He was very good in preparing me for the surgery and is knowledgable in treating it's patients. Email me if you have any further questions. Jason