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

Kentucky, "who's your Doctor"



Recommended Posts

Hello, my name is Jules, I'm 30 years old and I'm working toward jumping on the "band" wagon. I'm getting my surgery done at Central Baptist in Lexington with Bluegrass Bariatrics. June 4th is my all day appointment for labs and I think I'm good to go with my insurance which is BC/BS FEP. Would love to hear from others who've had their surgery there or any advice :thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am having my surgery done in Hazard with Dr. Oldham from Bluegrass Bariatrics. I have my last all day appt. on June 30 and my surgery is scheduled for July 10th. I am very happy with the staff, they have been awesome.

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama through my husbands work (Lowe's). I got approval after I had to do a bunch of stuff to show I needed the surgery. I have been working on getting approval since last August so it's been almost a year.

It's okay--I'm approved now! :thumbup: Oh yeah, I'm new to the board too!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We may have the same doctor! I find out everything in just a couple of days. Let me know how things go! I'm so ready for this surgery to happen and I can't wait for a surgery date!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Help! We've just moved to Louisville from Nashville, TN. My hubby's new job has BCBS, and from the info we got, they will cover the surgery but you have to be on doctor supervised weight loss for 6 months. Since I'm new in town, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of a physician to work with on this?? Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Not sure what you mean as far as working with you on it. My hubbie and I have Humana. He had his surgery with Dr. Weiss at Bluegrass Bariatrics. I had mine with Dr. Schuster at St. Mary's and Elizabeth. B/c the insurance required the 6 month we both had to do it even though we had different surgeons.

As far as when, where , and outcomes.

Just had my 2 week post- op.. all is well and having a fill in 2 weeks. Dr. Schuster is very mild mannered but I think he is great. No matter what he is saying even if it is "I recommend staying away from breads unless toasted" he is smiling and making me feel reassured.

My hubbie has had a bit of a rougher time. He has not seen the surgeon since his surgery. Dr. Weiss has nurses that do the fills. His surgery was 2 years ago and he has regained all of his weight. The last time he went for a fill (2 yrs. ago) the nurse told him (he had 5 ccs. in 14cc. band) that if didn't lose some weight on his own they would not fill him anymore. Well w/o restriction for most of us that is impossible and he fell headfirst off the band wagon. Since I had my surgery he has gotten back in touch with Bluegrass BAriatrics and went last week for a fill in there E- town office. The nurse practitioner was very kind filling him to 7 cc in 14cc and requesting him to come back if it is not enough. He (Stephen?) was very understanding.

Hopefully now we will become healthy together.:drool:

Good luck to all. We are in south central KY (near Glasgow ) if anyone around here wants to talk.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just trying to find a recommendation on a physician for the supervised weight loss part.

Congrats on your 10 lbs!

Then in my personal opinion go with Louisville Surgical Assoc. This includes Dr. Schuster, Dr. Lusco, and Dr. Olsafka (sp?). They go thru St. Mary and Elizaeth's hospital. This is a part of the Jewish hospital and therefore, they also do ofice visits at the Shepherdsville office. Check out their website LAP-BAND

Good luck and keep us posted on your progres. :drool:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello all. I have a seminar with Dr. O(SMEH), Louisville. I called the insurance company (BCBSMA.com)... They said they would cover 90%.. I would be responsible for at least 1200.00.

I so pray they do.. I am so ready to shed this weight. My legs ( i have a sit down job) have vericose veins and they hurt. I weigh 270 lbs.... I do not have any comorbiditties.. So i am hoping the approval will be easy. We will see. I have read all 15 pages of the postings.. Thanks for all the inspirations and information. I look forward to the journey.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm having my surgery at St. Elizabeth florence (in Florence, KY) January 13, 2010. My surgery was approved through Anthem without having to jump through any hoops. Dr. Moon's office handled everything and I was approved on the first try.

I'm not too sure about the office staff as I've had several little issues already. Nothing huge mind you.. but often the small things are what really ticks me off. I'm hoping to report they have turned things around as I get closer to my date.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm having my surgery on Dec. 22 with Dr. Schuster at St's Mary and Elizabeth. I'm excited - Merry Christmas to me. I hope to lose a Ho Ho Ho lot of pounds.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I need help choosing Dr.V. Lusco or Dr.J. Allen. Both Drs are in my insurance plan and will go for the lapband. Any words of wisdom are really appreciated.

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

    ×