Where are all of the sleevers of MI?

It's so awesome to see so many MI sleevers here! I will be sleeved Jan 23, '12 at St. Mary's. Also GHP Dr Kemetter.

It's so awesome to see so many MI sleevers here! I will be sleeved Jan 23, '12 at St. Mary's. Also GHP Dr Kemetter.

Dr. Kemetter is doing mine on Feb. 6! I am looking forward to Surgical support group this Tuesday to hear about others experiences. Do you go? I just finished their medical weight loss program. They are awesome!

@beckyboo: I am so excited for you! During my pre-op appt this past Friday I met a lady who has also been through the MWL program and she will be getting sleeved 1/17. She told me how great the support groups are. I plan on attending as many as possible. My family (aside from my 8yr old!) has not been very supportive but being around others who are also going through this journey helps tremendously.

Hi I was sleeve 10/7/11 by Dr Marshall in Warren

I'm in Riverview, MI...20 minutes south of Detroit. Had my sleeve done at Henry Ford-Wyandotte Hospital. Dr Kharbutli did mine & I'm very happy with the staff @ his office!

Woot Michigan people! I'm getting the sleeve on Wednesday of this week super excited! I'm in Grand Haven anybody close by?

Hey! Fellow patient of Grand Health Partners <img src='http://cdn.verticalsleevetalk.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/happy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I just got sleeved' date=' recovering excellently (I love my surgeon!). Are the support group meetings still going on? I'd love to drop in![/quote']

Who was your doctor? Mine is Dr. Foote I'm in the new office in Grand Haven

Hey! Fellow patient of Grand Health Partners <img src='http://cdn.verticalsleevetalk.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/happy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I just got sleeved' date=' recovering excellently (I love my surgeon!). Are the support group meetings still going on? I'd love to drop in![/quote']

The meetings I go to are at North Ottawa Hospital the third Thursday of the month. Dr foote is my doctor who is yours?

I am in Michigan! I see Dr. Schram in Holland. I have a date for April 10th.

Hi everyone! I live in Chesterfield (Macomb County) and I will be sleeved at Hurley Medical Center in Flint by Dr. Wagner on April 4...I'm soooo excited!!!

Does anyone know anyone who had Dr Schram?

I was just sleeved 3 days ago. Dr. Gawel. I'm feeling remarkably well - now that I'm over the initial nausea from the anesthesia. I can't say enough good things about the staff and my care that I received from Blodgett Hospital! Let the journey begin!

Congratulations! I get sleeved Tues in Zeeland! Glad to hear you are welll on your way! Keep us posted including what Protein drinks u like!

Best wishes!

I'm in the Ann Arbor area and am still looking into where to go. My choices are most likely the University of Michigan or the Barix clinic in Ypsilanti. Any recomendations or problems with either? I'd appreciate any info that might help me in my decision.

I'm in the Ann Arbor area and am still looking into where to go. My choices are most likely the University of Michigan or the Barix clinic in Ypsilanti. Any recomendations or problems with either? I'd appreciate any info that might help me in my decision.

Hey there, MrKraid! I am a resident of Ypsilanti and I had my VSG at Barix. Have you gone to the informational seminar they hold a couple times a week? I loved the fact that Barix is only a bariatic center and I felt like the nurses and doctors were more familiar with bariatric patients.

I also have BCBS of MI and they didn't give me much trouble at all with approval. I had my consultation on June 6, 2011 and was sleeved July 20, 2011. The only thing my surgeon (Dr. Poplawski) required of me was a psych evaluation. The psychiatrist I used comes to Barix once a week or so to do appointments for BArix patients. The only insurance requirement was that I had previous attempts of weight loss in the past. I literally was on the phone with their insurance department telling them "weight watchers in 2007 and I lost 20 pounds" and they didn't need any further proof. After that, they called BCBS and I was instantly approved.

Dr. Pop is a great doctor and he definitely knows what he is doing, but his interpersonal skills aren't the best. He gets straight to the point and he's pretty funny about it. If you don't mind it, I really recommend him.

Anyways, sorry to write you a book of a response! I really recommend Barix. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions about the whole process! Good luck to you on your journey.

Oh, also, Barix has support group meetings once a month that are open to both pre and post-op patients. You get a lot of extra encouragement from them. They are the 3rd Saturday of the month which is TOMORROW (the 21st) from 10am-12 at Barix.

Thanks for the info LeahG. I will definitely go to Barix and check out their informational meeting. I have the same type of thing set up for U of M on May 1st. I especially like how little BCBS looks into the past weight loss since I didn't really record much of it long term but have tried numerous times in the last two years.