:pHey fellow Kentuckians, Who is your doctor and what insurance do you have etc.?

I have been to a seminar at St Mary's with Doctor Schuster. He seemed real nice. The nurses where very nice too. I have already sent in my paper work as well as all my medical records. What do I expect next? When will I be able to have a doctor appointment?

I have Humana Preferred and am unsure of how easy it is for them to approve.

I hope someone else om here has that insurance.

:confused:

I'm in Northern KY, and went to Dr. Dwayne Smith. He's very good! I have Anthem/PPO

Live in Virginia, but going to Dr. Weiss in the Hazard office. My husband had him for his surgery just over 2 weeks ago and mine is coming up fast.. THIS FRIDAY! :confused:

I’m scheduled to be banded on 4/10 by Dr. Shina at Norton Suburban in Louisville. Thinking of these last weeks is stressing me out I have to change some of my meds 21 days before surgery and not sure what Dr. needs to do that. I’m also getting concerned about fat on my liver I was Ok with it till someone who works in my building said they know a person who didn’t get banded because of liver size.

JayTee, stay on your scheduled diet and stop worrying. I don't know what meds you are on but I do know some meds cause thinning of the blood or other issues. The doctor is ensuring your health. As for your fatty liver, that is why the doctor places you on a diet prior to surgery, does not take much for the liver to shrink, stay on course and look forward. Surgery was a breeze, just remember to get out of that bed and walk, walk, walk. Even before the nurse comes in and reminds you to. Good luck!!

JayTee, stay on your scheduled diet and stop worrying.......... Good luck!!

Thanks Busy.

I have my PreOp this Thursday 3/12 and I'm sure they will let me know what diet and for how long they want me to do. I see Cardo and Pulimnary Dr's on Monday 3/16 if my meds aren't changed by any of those 3 appointments then I'll get a hold of my PCP. Only one month from tomorrow till my surgery:ohmy:

I live across the bridge & had it done at Clark Memorial by Dr. McMillian. Staff & hosp. were great. They have a program with a bariatric coordinator who you see weekly to help you for the first 12 weeks. They also have monthly support groups. Good luck & look around.

I’m scheduled to be banded on 4/10 by Dr. Shina at Norton Suburban in Louisville. Thinking of these last weeks is stressing me out I have to change some of my meds 21 days before surgery and not sure what Dr. needs to do that. I’m also getting concerned about fat on my liver I was Ok with it till someone who works in my building said they know a person who didn’t get banded because of liver size.

Dr. Shina did my band in 10-08 at St Catherine Hospital in Charlestown IN, He is an excellent surgeon, however he does have a brash bedside manner,I have absolutely no regrets from using him even though a complilcation with surgery because I had to be opened up due to previous scar tissue(not related to the band) almost killed me, I live in Madisonville,KY and have to travel to Charlestown(200miles) to get my fills is the only (if any) drawback. Feel free to contact me with any questions / concerns you may have at cproctor501@newwavecomm.net , Oh BTW i have lost about 65 lbs since 10-14-08 but am currentally stuck with 2 fills equaling 7cc's. I cant eat hardley anything unless I chew chew chew chew it up good, I also have a problem not drinking with my meals, I am still working on that. Holler at me if ya want!

:thumbup:

Thanks cproctor. I had my presurgery labs and class today asked them about the liver thing and the nutritionist and nurse said if we weren't told to do one we don't have to worry but we may want to start cutting carbs. I'm thinking of starting to replace a meal with a carb frendily shake to try and help that. Yes I ws prewarned about Dr Shina's deminor he is very frank but I really liked him.

Dr Shina did my surgery at Suburban in October. I have lost 28 lbs so far. I don't agree with his fill policy. He will only do a fill every 8 weeks and he means for you to follow his rules, which are no carbs and 2 ounce meals, three times a day. He is very assertive and says absolutely no carbs. His bedside manner is not great, but he seems to be a good surgeon. He could be a little more compassionate, since he tells you in the seminars how overweight he is. I would like to get fills every month until I hit my sweet spot. I have had two fills in 4 months. Does the dr. in Elizabethtown take outside patients for fills? How often will he do a fill? Any one know of a dr. near Louisville who does fills once a month and will take a patient for fills?

Thanks cproctor. I had my presurgery labs and class today asked them about the liver thing and the nutritionist and nurse said if we weren't told to do one we don't have to worry but we may want to start cutting carbs. I'm thinking of starting to replace a meal with a carb frendily shake to try and help that. Yes I ws prewarned about Dr Shina's deminor he is very frank but I really liked him.

If you want to have some fun with him mention my name as being a friend (Chris Proctor), then say I hope you dont make that mistake twice, LOL watch him turn blue..........He tells me I had the most difficult surgery to date for him, and I am the ONLY patient that had any complications from surgery, I really liked Jo, Tammy and Dr. Shina, they are all class acts.:thumbup:

Dr Shina did my surgery at Suburban in October. I have lost 28 lbs so far. I don't agree with his fill policy. He will only do a fill every 8 weeks and he means for you to follow his rules, which are no carbs and 2 ounce meals, three times a day. He is very assertive and says absolutely no carbs. His bedside manner is not great, but he seems to be a good surgeon. He could be a little more compassionate, since he tells you in the seminars how overweight he is. I would like to get fills every month until I hit my sweet spot. I have had two fills in 4 months. Does the dr. in Elizabethtown take outside patients for fills? How often will he do a fill? Any one know of a dr. near Louisville who does fills once a month and will take a patient for fills?

Yeah, you gotta admire him though, he got the hospital to work well with me on the "added" expense I incurred cause I had to stay 8 days, 6 of those in intensive care cause of my complications, however I went back after 10 weeks and he put in 3cc's, then I went back 7 weeks later and I got him to put in 4cc's more putting me at 7cc's and restricted well.......more so in the mornings but I do ok, im down 65lbs since 10-14-08 but I lost allot while I was recovering at home, I actually left the hospital 5 lbs heavier than when I came in, they said because of all the I V fluids,,,,,anyway good to hear from some fellow shina peeps. holler if you need anything:eek::thumbup::eek::thumbup:

OMG...65 pounds is great. I have only lost 28 and you had surgery one week ahead of me. I only have 6 ccs and only 2 of those since Tuesday. So, I am just now getting used to some restriction. He definitely wants you to do what he says. He is the boss! What are you doing to result in so much weightloss? I need some tips...help, please :thumbup:

OMG...65 pounds is great. I have only lost 28 and you had surgery one week ahead of me. I only have 6 ccs and only 2 of those since Tuesday. So, I am just now getting used to some restriction. He definitely wants you to do what he says. He is the boss! What are you doing to result in so much weightloss? I need some tips...help, please :scared2:

Well my surgery was a bear, I spent 10 weeks recovering at home and thats when I lost the lions share of my weight, I had to be opened completely up instead of laproscopic surgery due to scar tissue from a previous surgery, I have been trying to do a little Atkins dieting, just eating small amounts of meat and eggs and such, pork rinds make a good snack just remember to chew chew chew. Good luck on your continued success.

I'm glad to hear from some Dr. Shina patients He was definitely up front about what he expects you to eat...."meat and fish, meat and fish sometimes eggs, sometimes peanut butter".... I liked that rule easy to follow. But as I got to thinking of breakfast sometimes eggs means once or maybe twice a week, may not be an issue since some people say they can't eat till midday anyway. I was wondering what ti a typical menu for my fellow Dr. Shina patients?

Well, yesterday I had 3 strips of bacon and coffee for breakfast. The precooked kind you can put in the microwave at work, and they aren't very thick. For lunch I had a lean cuisine, but I couldn't and didn't have the corn/peas mixture in it. At 4:00 I had a no sugar added instant breakfast (Kroger brand) with 2% milk for a protein snack. For dinner, I had one piece of fish and one hushpuppie (forbidden, but good). I drink only water at work, except for protein snack, which helps to get the water in. At home I have decaf iced tea. It has only been this way since my second fill last Tuesday. Before that I was hungry and ate more food. Be ready for that...the hunger. It happens and if you know about it in advance you won't think something is wrong with you. Just try to keep your protein in and the water. Hope this helps.

Hello! My name is Tonya. I will be banded by Dr. Swain sometime next month. I would appreciate any advice you could give. Thanks and good luck on your journey.