Hey Yall!

Any one out there from Kentucky? I had to change Dr's because I couldn't afford the Dr's Fee so I changed Dr's today to Dr Mark Shina. Does anyone know him? I want to know everything.

~Carmille

I live in Kentucky, in Richmond, to be exact. Sorry, but I don't know of your new doctor. I will be going down to Nashville to see mine. At least, that's the plan right now. I would probably see one in Cincinnati since it is closer to me than Nashville, but Nashville is closer to my parents' house, where I would be staying after the surgery.

Hey Yall!

Any one out there from Kentucky? I had to change Dr's because I couldn't afford the Dr's Fee so I changed Dr's today to Dr Mark Shina. Does anyone know him? I want to know everything.

~Carmille

Carmille, Im not from Kentuky ( I sent you a PM as well ) I saw your post since im a night owl .... I saw this on OH and thought ide pass it on to you .

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Mark+Shina+qh.html

HTH

Mindy

Thanks for responding to my post so quickly! I love this web site because everyone cares about each other! Good Luck To All and keep me posted!~Carmille

I have had a few friends go to Dr. Shina and they have had mixed reviews. I hear that he should stick to doing bypasses and not banding. Also, I was not very impressed with his attitude overall. I have also got a few friends that just LOVE him...they have all had the bypass, though.

STAY AWAY FROM DAVID GELLAR!!! This man is a nightmare!! He brags about his "skills", but has botched 5 women that I know (2 have bands, the other 3 have bypass). His ego stands in his way of treating people with any kind of regard and he gets very angry with his patients when they have complications--even if it is not their own doing. Watch out!!

I had Dr. Vince Lusco...he did an excellent job, but better still--the staff @ St. Mary's was beyond exemplary!!! They are true blessings!! Their program is surely the best one in the city!! I have investigated all of them. AND, he studied with Jeffrey Allen (who I love as well).

If you want to talk about any of this, please feel free to send me a message. Good luck!!!!!

Wow, i hadn't heard that about Dr. Geller. Are you sure about your facts? I have heard that Dr. Shina has botched a bunch of cases. A lot of open conversions, leaks, erosions. The nurses at his own hospital hate him.

But I have only heard good things about Dr. Geller. I have alot of friends that abosolutely love him. He spends so much time with patients, myself included -- that he runs late.

I have heard plenty of good about the St. Mary's docs, but everybody has to pay $4000 cash to have surgery, even if you have insurance, because of them being out-of-network. Dr. Geller doesn't have these big fees.

Hey red, send me a message where you heard these things about Dr. G, because I was set on him, but haven't had my surgery yet.

Holly

I have to agree Dr Lusco was wonderful and the St mary's bariatric staff were beyond wonderful. I have Anthem and all I had to pay was my specialist co-pay of 30.00. They are in network with Anthem. I am 2 weeks post-op and have no complaints. I wish I had done this sooner. Good Luck with the journey.

I had my lapband done by Dr. Geller and loved him. He has never came across unprofessional and I most impressed how he spends as much time as you need during your visits. My surgery went great and I would recommended him to anyone. The program at Nortons has been a wonderful experience for the beginning.

Good luck.

I am supposed to have surgery June 12th with Dr. Shina. I sure hope he's good. One hates to think that they are going to be in the hands of someone who isn't very good. I don't really care so much what kind of bedside manner he has as long as he can perform the surgery without mistakes! Of course being nice makes most people feel reassured. I was wondering what it took to switch doctors once you have been approved...do you have to start all over at square one?

What is Norton Surburban hospital like?

I am supposed to have surgery June 12th with Dr. Shina. I sure hope he's good. One hates to think that they are going to be in the hands of someone who isn't very good. I don't really care so much what kind of bedside manner he has as long as he can perform the surgery without mistakes! Of course being nice makes most people feel reassured. I was wondering what it took to switch doctors once you have been approved...do you have to start all over at square one?

You have nothing to worry about, Dr. Shina is a fine surgeon. The bedside manner I like too, But im weird.

I have had a few friends go to Dr. Shina and they have had mixed reviews. I hear that he should stick to doing bypasses and not banding. Also, I was not very impressed with his attitude overall. I have also got a few friends that just LOVE him...they have all had the bypass, though.

Love is such a strong word, I like him very much, I had a band in October 08 and other than having a birth defect that the heart doctor didnt catch about kill me, I give Shina a A+, I spent 8 or 9 days in his care at St Catherine Hospital In Charlestown IN, far cry from the outpatient procedure that I was ready for but I lived through it, barely. Not Dr. Shina's fault though, the man called me daily after I was discharged because he was so worried about me, he also got a HUGE amount of my extra hospital bill removed. Like I said A+.

I am glad that you were able to over come such a tramatic experience! I guess I would have a special bond with my surgeon if I felt like he was a big part of saving my life!

phnery Dr. Shina did my surgery on 4/10 and so far I'm happy. I see him on 4/21 for my followup and will get to know him better then for after care.

I was pleasently suprised by Suburban's care I'd never been there before hte Bariatric Unit has rooms on the 7th floor and they are private without the cost as I understand you will be put up there provided there is room and you don't have anything that would cause you to be in ICU or CCU. I got to the surgery center at 5:30 am pre-op started about 6:30 the staff there was very nice. All in all a good experience. Good Luck let me know if you have any further questions.

thanks for the info. It is reassuring to know what to expect ahead of time. My insurance approved me as an outpatient...but the surgeons office said when they go to pre-register me at the hospital, they always ask for the patient to stay over night and it is usually approved...so I don't know 100% it I will be an overnight guest...but it may work out that way. I am just going through all the motions with this surgery as it still seems like a dream or something. Kind of scary, kind of exciting.

Be wary of Dr. Shina. He has a terrible bedside manner and has done some crazy things. My friend had, well attempted to have lap-band with him a few months ago, and he started surgery and quit without doing the band. This is the third case I have heard of him not doing the surgery. One a rumor from obesityhelp website, but the other two I know are fact from nurses on the 7th floor at his hospital. The 7th floor is where all the patients go. It is very nice there with private rooms. I don't know much about it, but Baptist hospital is now doing these surgeries and it is by far the nicest hospital in town, but the program is very new.

I am a big fan of Dr. Geller who is also at Suburban hospital, but I also like Dr. Allen and Dr. Tanner at the downtown hospital. Most of my friends who had the band surgery with Shina quit seeing him and switched docs for their fills and they couldn't be happier, some went to Allen and some to Geller.

I know Geller was the first to do the band at that hospital about 5 years and Shina started about 1-1.5 years ago. He seems to prefer doing gastric bypasses. There is some story about why he took so long to do the bands, something like the company didn't want him doing them. I know this sounds crazy, but check with him and see what he says. I have worked with his patients before in the hospital.

Holly