Just wondering if anyone has used Dr. Steeley in Clarksville, TN? I've heard good and not so good--more good than bad, though.

Dana

Zeama, I have been seeing Dr. Steeley but I have not received surgery yet. I just recently was approved and my appointment is 2/27 with Steeley. We will see what happens.

PA

Did you have your appt? I go to the orientation meeting at Gateway on March 17.

Did you have your appt? I go to the orientation meeting at Gateway on March 17.

Yes and I am scheduled for surgery on 3/20. I go to a pre-op appointment on 3/17 @ Gateway. Dr. Steely has been really nice so far, hope it stays that way!! Course, have not heard anything bad about him!! Have you been approved yet??

PA

Yes and I am scheduled for surgery on 3/20. I go to a pre-op appointment on 3/17 @ Gateway. Dr. Steely has been really nice so far, hope it stays that way!! Course, have not heard anything bad about him!! Have you been approved yet??

PA

I am doing my sleep study tonight. I have my endoscope, psych, gallbladder u/s all scheduled and then I am done!!! Oh, I also need to do the nutrition class. My endoscope is not until April 28, so I am hoping that I will have surgery at the beginning of May.

How did you surgery go?

Surgery went great. I had lost 12 lbs before my appointment so he told me I would not have to lose any weight prior to surgery but would have to have 24 hrs of clear liquids before surgery... and drink a 3 oz bottle of Fleet at 6:00 a.m. and 3 oz at 12 noon. Suggestion, buy those baby wipes for your bottom because it WILL get raw. I had to complete some pre-op things, learning how to use the breathing device after surgery, blood work, and chest x-ray. The day of surgery I had to be at Gateway at 6:00 a.m., got an IV, spoke with nurses, doctors, and was in surgery by 7:30 a.m. Then next I knew I was in recovery. I was a little sore but was taken down for another x-ray then back to my room to rest. Walked many times that afternoon and following morning. (Morphine pump, use it when you need it and walk, walk, walk) I came home and laid around for 6 days before I went back to work. Will have a follow-up visit on Friday. FYI, if you don't attend the nutrition class and at least one support group, they won't schedule. Be sure you sign in to get credit. Let me know how your sleep test went. P.S., as of today, I have lost 15 lbs.

PA

Edited April 3, 200818 yr by Busy
Add P.S.

That is awesome!!! I did my sleep study last night at Gateway. I think it went well. She said it could take 2 wks to get the results. I've already gotten my blood work, EKG, 2 classes at Gateway, sleep study and exam yesterday. My u/s is tomorrow for my gall bladder, and I need to go to the nutrition class and my endoscope is on April 28th! :biggrin: I hope to have a surgery date in May!!!

BTW...were you at last weeks meeting? We may have seen each other and not even known it!

BTW...were you at last weeks meeting? We may have seen each other and not even known it!

No, I only attended one meeting the week of 03/10/08 (I think) I know I should attend more but after working all day long, home is where I want to be. And Gateway is a 45 minute drive frome Hopkinsville.

Zeama, what is your status?? How are things going with you??

Zeama, what is your status?? How are things going with you??

I have finally finished all my pre-op requirements and am waiting for a surgery date. :thumbup:

I will keep my fingers crossed that you get a quick approval. Good luck and let me hear!!

How long did it take to get an appointment with Dr. Steely? And how long did it take you to get your surgery date? I will be talking with my PCM this week to get the referral. I am hoping this moves quickly. I have already had a sleep study and I am on CPAP. And with my insurance I won't need the PSY eval or diet program.

JWRN, Steeley only sees patient in his office 3 days per week and I scheduled about a month in advance but I wanted a specific week. It took me a while to get approved for sugery. My insurance company kept moving the hoops for me to jump through (letters, 6 month diet, and so on) so I ended up getting Kelly Lindstrum at Obesity Law. She dealt with my insurance company and finally got me approved. I ended up having 2 psy. evals. so next time my husband tells me I'm crazy I am going to pull out the letter and prove him wrong!! Good luck with the sugery. I really like Dr. Steeley. The morning of surgery he was wonderful and informative. When I went for my 1st follow-up after surgery he acted like I had lost 1000 lbs when I had only lost 18. Boosted my ego.

Thanks, I called today and got the appointment for July 11th. After your insurance approval, how long did it take to schedule surgery? (ie. what is the weight time between referral and surgery time...is he booked months in advanced?) I hopefully don't have many hoops to jump through!

As far as the obesity law person, Dr Steely mentioned that there was a couple that specialized in it after they, themselves, had the surgery done. I heard that their success rate is about 99%

Thanks, I called today and got the appointment for July 11th. After your insurance approval, how long did it take to schedule surgery? (ie. what is the weight time between referral and surgery time...is he booked months in advanced?) I hopefully don't have many hoops to jump through!

As far as the obesity law person, Dr Steely mentioned that there was a couple that specialized in it after they, themselves, had the surgery done. I heard that their success rate is about 99%

There was maybe a month after approval before I was scheduled for surgery. There is a couple of classes you have to attend b4 they will schedule surgery. They called me 2 days b4 my appointment and told me the doctor would not schedule surgery until I attended those classes. Then there are 3 or 4 test done at Gateway (blood, teaching you to use a breathing machine, x-rays). Seems like you have cleared the majority of hoops. Yes, the law firm rocked!! I think if I had not used them I would still be waiting to hear from Humana. If you get turned down the 1st time remember you have limited time to file an appeal, hopefully that won't happen. Insurance companies are learning that LB surgery is helping more become healthy.

Well, my pcm (Nashville) is not "in network" for my secondary Insurance (tricare). I am going to have to switch PCMs to one in Clarksville that is in Network with Tricare. Anyone in Clarksville have a good PCM that is all for weightloss surgery and will write the referral without jumping through hoops first?

I don't know anything about the doctor's in Clarksville. I live in Hopkinsville and my doctor, Dr. Covington, wrote the letter of referral although I had already scheduled an appointment with Steeley b4. Guess I did it backwards!