Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Richmond Virginia Sleevers Around?



Recommended Posts

Already placed a call to Dr. Brengmann's group.

It just stinks to be SOOOO close and then have a roadblock like this be thrown in the way.

Thanks! :) Might also call MCV.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh My Goodness. That really surprises me. Did he move to another practice?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No idea. She didn't say. I do know that 4 years ago he was with Dominion Surgical/Commonwealth Surgeons... whatever they're now called. He was with Dr. Brengmann at that group. I went to a seminar with them. Then when I looked him up at the beginning of this year he was with Henrico Surgical.

Maybe he'll go back with that group? That woudl be nice. Though, honestly, I don't really have any doctor-loyalty. I'd only seen him a couple times. I just want my surgery! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am with the VCU/MCV group of bariatric doctors, and I have heard great things. I am still trying to lose my last damn 10 pounds. Its so freaking frustrating. I swear I have lost this same 26 pounds over and over again. But what can you really do? :( Im just so frustrated and angry!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm sorry. :( So, they make everyone prove they can lose weight before surgery? I don't like that. :) If I could lose 30 pounds, oh man.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think it's more about you showing you made an effort by keeping your appointments, etc. Dr. Brengman never told me I needed to lose a certain amount before surgery. I only lost 20 lbs in that 6 months.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So, I'll be switching to Dr. Bautista at Bon Secours General Surgery. My appointment with him is August 14th. They have to resubmit all of my information to insurance of course. So, who knows when I'll finally be approved. Hoping this doesn't invalidate my nutritionist meeting, which was February 14th. Insurance says it has to be within 6 months. Guess if worst comes to worst I'll just go again.

Fingers crossed this goes smoothly and quickly.

I feel like I was running a race and could see the finish line and then someone moved it a mile down the road. And, I'm fat and running is hard. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am with Dr. Maher at VCU Weightloss Surgery Group. I dont know about any other groups doing it. He wants me to get down to 285. It is to prove that I WILL do this. I am actually okay with it. Its just frustrating :(

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good luck Alicia. Glad you found another doc. You'll get there, stay determined.

Indi, I'm in chesterfield too. Nice to know there are a few in the area on here. Ill be headed to Mexico to Kelly in march I think. So, I have a ways to go. But it'll get here. First time in years Id like to see time fly. Lol

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Geeky, stay strong! You can do it!! I know its frustrating...if losing were easy, we wouldn't look at weight loss surgery. Duh.; ) Have you thought about following something similar to the preop diets? So many here have said they lost a good amount before surgery dates.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey there! I live in Fredericksburg. My surgery was this past Monday and I am home watching the Olympics and figuring out how to get all this liquid and Protein in.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi everyone!!! I have surgery with Dr Brengman tomorrow at St Mary's!!!! I am nervous but Dr Brengman has been great. He is also going to fix a small hiatal hernia when he does surgery. He did not ask me to lose weight before surgery just do the 2 week pre op diet. I have list 10 pounds on the pre op diet and have only been able to exercise 1 day so I think thet is pretty good. I am nervous about going home with a drain for a week and just pray surgery goes well. Please think of me tomorrow. A little scared.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi everyone!!! I have surgery with Dr Brengman tomorrow at St Mary's!!!! I am nervous but Dr Brengman has been great. He is also going to fix a small hiatal hernia when he does surgery. He did not ask me to lose weight before surgery just do the 2 week pre op diet. I have list 10 pounds on the pre op diet and have only been able to exercise 1 day so I think thet is pretty good. I am nervous about going home with a drain for a week and just pray surgery goes well. Please think of me tomorrow. A little scared.

Hope today goes/went well. :) Be sure to update us!

I'm so anxious. Got my denial letter in the mail from Cigna. Turns out Dr. Elliott's group had not submitted everything. They didn't send the second medical clearance information, even though they were asked for it. So, maybe it's a blessing that I'm moving to another group.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Question for Dr. Brengmann or Dr Bautista patients (or any patients with the Bon Secours group at St Mary's.)

What is the pre-op diet like? I'm assuming it's the same or similar to the one at Dr. Elliott's practice: 2 Protein shakes a day and a small dinner.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So, I'll be switching to Dr. Bautista at Bon Secours General Surgery. My appointment with him is August 14th. They have to resubmit all of my information to insurance of course. So, who knows when I'll finally be approved. Hoping this doesn't invalidate my nutritionist meeting, which was February 14th. Insurance says it has to be within 6 months. Guess if worst comes to worst I'll just go again.

Fingers crossed this goes smoothly and quickly.

I feel like I was running a race and could see the finish line and then someone moved it a mile down the road. And, I'm fat and running is hard. :)

I hope everything goes well...Dr Bautista is my surgeon as well..I havent gotten my surgery date yet..I just completed all of my prequalifying factors and hopefully they will hurry and submit everything to my insurance for approval.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×