Just starting this journey after 66 years of being a yo-yo. I intend to get either the bypas or the sleeve (still educating myself).

I have scheduled orientations at the two Bariatric Centers that I am interested in.

I am wondering if anyone has had their surgery performed at either and if so, opinions.

1. TGH -USF Health Bariatric Center

2. Advent Health Bariatric Care Tampa?

Thanks!

I'm a patient of Dr. Ashley Mooney at TGH Bariatrics. She's amazing!

She removed my Lap Band last year and will be doing my revision to RNY in nine days.

1 hour ago, BypassingMyPhatAss♡ said:

I'm a patient of Dr. Ashley Mooney at TGH Bariatrics. She's amazing!

She removed my Lap Band last year and will be doing my revision to RNY in nine days.

Thanks for the reply! I see her bio on their website and she seems very qualified, thanks.

Do you like the support syatem provided by TGH?

I read somewhere that TGH requires a 6 month weight loss counseling prior to the surgery. Although your situation is different with previous Lap Band, do you have any insight on the wait?

I really do not want to drag this on any further. I have used Nutritionists before, have lost weight several times, and now eat healthy. But although it was hard to maintain that loss, I am discovering that with old age it has become hard to even loose.

I was hoping (maybe unrealistically?) to have surgery by November. Thanks again.

I love TGH as a whole. I've been going there for years and have seen different doctors for different things and have never had a bad experienece.

Yeah since I was already an established patient, I think I probably had less pre op testing to do. Like EGD. I had one before my band was removed, so she said I didn't need another. Also it would depend on what specialists you're seeing. So for example, if you have cardiac issues, you may be required to not only get cardiac clearance from the cardiologist, TGH may require a stress test as part of their clearance.

It took me 5 1/2 months to complete everything from first appointment until surgery date.

A lot of it has to do with what your insurance requires in order to meet in order to get approved for surgery. Some require supervised weight loss. It varies from provider to provider.

I would say start the process tomorrow. Call and sign up for their virtual patient info session. That's the first thing you will do.

Best wishes!

I don’t have experience with either clinic but I can tell you that many of us have to do the six months of supervised weight loss to meet insurance requirements. Although some do not have to, hopefully you are one one of the lucky ones. Although don’t rush it too much. There is quite a bit to figure out along the way and it’s sorta nice to have a few visits to get your questions answered to feel better prepared.

Thanks for the info. I know, slow down, but........

My insurance these days is Medicare as promary and Tricare for Life as secondary. Hard to determine what their time requirements are. I will call them Monday to try and find out. Thanks again.

P.S. Love the name "ByPassingMyPhatAss" !

Edited July 10, 20224 yr by Old Salt

I did Advent tampa with dietrich. Highly recommend. Sooooo state of the art in surgery, hospital stay, medicine. Very holistic approach to weight loss. They want you to get your mind right along with your eating habits and understand there's a mind body connection in morbid obesity.

Dr D very cleverly placed my incisions so one of completely out of sight. He's incredibly thorough, kind, and caring. I felt listened to the whole time by everyone.

I paid out of pocket because my insurance didn't cover it. Costs over 25k for everything (Dr visits, blood work, mental health, endoscopy, ekg, hospital stay, surgery, nutritionist) and came with free appointments up to 90 days post op.

Loved the experience.

2 hours ago, fourmonthspreop said:

I did Advent tampa with dietrich. Highly recommend. Sooooo state of the art in surgery, hospital stay, medicine. Very holistic approach to weight loss. They want you to get your mind right along with your eating habits and understand there's a mind body connection in morbid obesity.

Dr D very cleverly placed my incisions so one of completely out of sight. He's incredibly thorough, kind, and caring. I felt listened to the whole time by everyone.

I paid out of pocket because my insurance didn't cover it. Costs over 25k for everything (Dr visits, blood work, mental health, endoscopy, ekg, hospital stay, surgery, nutritionist) and came with free appointments up to 90 days post op.

Loved the experience.

Thanks! Looks like your doing real good!

How long was your wait from1st visit to surgery?

Without insurance, there isn't really a long wait. They moreso want you to be ready for it so it's kind of in your control without insurance.

I think it's different depending on where you're at and how you present to them during the initial consultation. I was not given a weight loss goal or timeframe but I was also told some people are, it just depends. I came into my consultation incredibly depressed and recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder which is why my preparation was more about the mental health stuff.

I was told to seek counseling because I have an eating disorder (which I was already doing), 3 months of nutrition visits, and pass a psych eval. Once I got that done, they approved me for the EKG, endoscopy, and pre-op bloodwork. They basically said once I complete those (plus establishing care with a primary care doc), I was good to schedule my surgery.

I prolonged it for 3 months extra and did extra nutrition because I was still deep into counseling and wanted to make sure my mind was right before jumping into it.

So my first visit was in July 2021 I believe and I had my surgery on February 14 2022 in short.

2 hours ago, fourmonthspreop said:

Without insurance, there isn't really a long wait. They moreso want you to be ready for it so it's kind of in your control without insurance.

I think it's different depending on where you're at and how you present to them during the initial consultation. I was not given a weight loss goal or timeframe but I was also told some people are, it just depends. I came into my consultation incredibly depressed and recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder which is why my preparation was more about the mental health stuff.

I was told to seek counseling because I have an eating disorder (which I was already doing), 3 months of nutrition visits, and pass a psych eval. Once I got that done, they approved me for the EKG, endoscopy, and pre-op bloodwork. They basically said once I complete those (plus establishing care with a primary care doc), I was good to schedule my surgery.

I prolonged it for 3 months extra and did extra nutrition because I was still deep into counseling and wanted to make sure my mind was right before jumping into it.

So my first visit was in July 2021 I believe and I had my surgery on February 14 2022 in short.

Thanks. That is alot to deal with. Sounds like you have a good handle on it now.

I'll will try and shoot for the 3 months time frame. Hopefully will find out this week!