Rochester, Ny

[LDallas 108]

Hi! Are there any VSG's in ROC? i'm starting to think I am the only one! LOL. Not sleeved yet but in the process.

[SkinnyRicki 34]

I'm in the ROC!! Not sleeved yet either though, just starting the process... Glad I'm not the only one either!!

[LDallas 108]

Oh thank goodness,!!! LOL.

I'm going thru Highland (Dr Forbes). Only have psych, colonoscopy, left...and 1:1 appt with Nutritionist end of May. I hope to sch for mid Oct. Tell me more about you! So glad to find someone else in Roc! I was starting to get worried like everyone knew something I didn't ! Ha ha

[SkinnyRicki 34]

I am at the very beginning of the process, signed up for the seminar with dr o'malley at highland on 5/31 and now I am just waiting not so patiently for that to see what my next steps are. I am going crazy waiting!! I have made my decision and now I just want to get going!!

[LDallas 108]

I wound up w Forbes because she was the only daytime seminar. She seems good...and a lot of experience as do all dr at that ofc. The seminar is 3 hrs long. They'll give u a checklist of things to do next. Like u need to find out from your job and or ins co if they cover the surg, AND the psych eval and the nutrition visits. If you dont already have it, u need to get referral packet from your PCP. highland will send u the packet beforehand, for your PCP to fill out. Then aft the seminar, call dr omalley ofc,make appts for first medical appt, nutrition seminar (another 3 hrs!), and nut follow up which is at their ofc...a one on one visit. At the nut seminar, u are out on a balanced diet plan, which u follow and keep food log, that u will take to that 1:1 nut visit!! This is where i'm at now. Whew!!! So much to do, isn't there?!? When do u want to hv your surgery?

Nice chatting w u, let me know if u hv any questions or just need a VSG pal!!!

[SkinnyRicki 34]

I am hoping that I can have surgery ASAP hopefully by fall at the most but that will all depend on my insurance I guess... I have MVP and I had them send me the policy but it is super confusing... It sounds as though they don't think vsg is medically necessary but I am hoping dr o'malley's staff will be able to decipher it better! Now that I have made my decision I just want to get going!! I am so impatient! We can be vsg buddies!! I just hope they can get my insurance to cover!! Crossing my fingers!!

[LDallas 108]

Hey tomorrow eve at highland...collins auditorium...6:30 pm is Monarch bariatric surg support group. I have nevet been but they encourage all to attend. They only meet once a month. Good luck!! I hope all goes well for u!

[LDallas 108]

Hey Ricki, how are things ? Your sem is coming up soon! Let me know how it goes!

[SkinnyRicki 34]

Things are good, just moving slowly. I am super excited for the Sem so I can finally get things moving... If I have to be self pay I am willing to do that but I am going to try to go though my insurance first an hopefully they will cooperate!! I am so ready to take a seat on the loser's bench!!

[LDallas 108]

It is a slow process! I have my Nutrition 1:1 appt on the 25th. Had lost some wt and now it's all back. Ugh!!! They didnt tell us to lose, but i assume it's better if u do, to show u followed the plan (presented at Nut sem)...and i dont want to be put on a strict liquids before surg if i dont have to. Oh, i passed the psych eval, it was stupid. He had like a four pg questionairre, buzzed thru it and i was out in 40 mins. I spent more time filling out ins papers!!!! Than answering the questions.

Hang in there, let me know how the sem goes. I will be thinking about you.

[I am done mooing! 12]

I was given the choice of Syracuse, Rochester or Albany by my insurance company. All a ridiculously long ways away from where I live. I am looking into all of them though. How have they been to work with so far?

[LDallas 108]

Highland has been fine so far. I haven't had surg yet. HH is rated Level 1, Accredited Bariatric Surg Center. Which is the best rating. Where r u located?

[I am done mooing! 12]

I live in Waverly. It's about 20 minutes from Elmira, right on the border.

[LDallas 108]

Ricki, how did the seminar go????

[SkinnyRicki 34]

It went really well! I called this morning and scheduled all of my initial appointments... I was shocked how many people were there that basically knew nothing! I am getting excited now that I have those appts booked even though it will still be a long process