I have FINALLY been approved by my insurance(Cigna). But the surgeon I origionally signed up for is currently scheduling for December (ARGHHH :biggrin: ) but the WLC says one of her partners ( fairly new but has studied under my highly recommended surgeon) is available at the end of October. Had they said he wasn't available til November, I would have just said "No, I'll wait til December" but, I really don't want to be dealing with surgery/recovery during the holidays since I want to go to KS to visit family and friends at that time. Plus, I really want to get started on my weight loss journey and not fall into the over eater mentallity I always do. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired and would really like to spend money on Christmas gifts vs. prescriptions (over $200/mth WITH insurance!)

I feel like he (Dr. William Gibson) must be doing a good job with the surgery, or my doctor (Dr. Virginia McGrath-Weaver) wouldn't have the WLC offering his services. I just wish I could talk to someone who has used him for their surgery. I mean the staff and facilities he uses are the exact same as Dr. Weaver's so the only difference is the person on the end of surgical tools.

Am I crazy for even thinking about using Dr. Gibson? Should I wait for Dr. Weaver (whom EVERYONE I have talked to absolutely LOVES)?????

Thanks for all of your opinions. I appreciate all of your posts and have learned sooooo much on this website. You all have inspired and educated me about this journey and I appreciate that.

How MANY surgeries has the new surgeon done? Will he be using a seasoned team...familiar with bariatric patients? Those are two big questions to ask yourself.

Oh and does your preferred surgeon have a waiting list so that if someone cancels, you can "jump in" and if so would that work for you? People cancel bariatric surgery more often than other kinds; they get cold feet at the last minute, decide to give their favorite old diet another try, etc etc. That might be an option for you, too.

He has done 30 or so surgeries and he uses the same staff as Dr. Weaver. I did ask about the cancellation thing but they didn't seem to be too enthusiastic that that might happen. Dr. Weaver does both the band and the bypass and is very much in demand here in the Memphis area. Both nutrition classes I went to were packed (standing room only) and they were requirements for approval for the surgery.

Thanks for the thoughts.

darn hard choice! I think you need to listen to your gut. I would prefer a surgeon who did way more surgeries....but I see your point about the holidays too. Talk about a rock and a hard place!

While I totally understand your desire for quick turnaround and could see myself considering the same delima. But from an independent perspective I would never compromise my safety for a quick fix. If this other doc is the best doc then I would have to wait for him. Granted the new doc is in fact a doctor and has probably assisted on tons of surgeries with another doc watching over, I would still be a bit cautious as I would prefer the doctor that has seen almost every complication and knows what to do from experience

Obviously I don't know your health situation but if you are anything other that the poster child for a perfect patient I would go with experience. as it just isn't worth the risk when you have a better option.

Sorry I know that isn't what you want to hear.:thumbup:

Here is another perspective. I DID have a new surgeon! I had the choice of going with the new surgeon and getting surgery done now, only an hour from home or waiting 6 months and going 3+ hours out of town for surgery with a more experienced surgeon. I chose to go sooner with the new guy.

Here was my reasoning:

I'm in really good health (other than being fat!), wasn't worried about my liver and had no hernia that we knew of.

I'm with Kaiser and he had to have some experience before they pulled him in AND they proctored him, for several days of surgeries, with one of their experienced teaching surgeons, who does banding, before he was able to have full reign.

The support staff was/is familiar with gastric surgery.

The entire staff, from nutrition class to dietitian, to labs, to nurses, etc, were sooo excited he was there and thrilled with his training, experience so far, and personality.

He is currently going for certification as a specialist in bariatric lap surgery.

During my surgery the proctor, that I spoke of earlier, was going to be there in order to proctor the assistants who are experienced bypass surgeons but learning lap banding.

Again, the fact that I could get the surgery now and only an hour from home vs. waiting 6 months and having to go 3+ hours from home was a really big deal.

In all honesty, I went with my gut as well as my belief in prayer and God and my logical reasonings. I was praying hard about this surgery and felt God was opening doors for me. I'm also very logical and the pros, for me, outweighed the cons. I also didn't ask him how many surgeries he'd done. I was comfortable, Kaiser and its staff was comfortable and God was continuing to open doors. So, I went for it. Now, I'm only 3 1/2 weeks out from surgery. I'm doing well but who knows, down the road, if I may have problems. I was willing to risk it. You may not be. BUT I wanted you to hear my experience and go from there.

AND some part of me also thinks that SOMEONE is going to be one of the first 250 patients!!!

Think carefully, if you're one for lists, write down your reasonings, good and bad, and go from there.

Best wishes on your decision! Let us know what you decide.

CMTurner:

I would also say go with your gut. :thumbup: Your gut feeling always knows best. However, something else to think about is even though the new Dr. hasn't performed as many surgeries, I think usually they are more careful. I am in the medical field and when I was in college the school clinic was WAY more thorough. Sometimes the longer a Dr. is in practice the more they let things slide. So, that's a pro for the new doc. :smile: Also, usually there is always another Dr. assisting w/surgery so that's something to think about as well. I'm not sure if I would want to wait until X-mas either. :smile: The longer you have to wait the harder. Good luck with whatever decision you make! I'm sure you will make the right

one. :smile2:

One more thing...Conratulations on getting your approval through

Cigna! :thumbup: I have Cigna insurance and I will be a self-pay. :smile2:

Thanks to everyone who has responded. As I said previously, Dr. Gibson is a partner to the surgeon I originally picked and as such uses the same staff even in the operating room.

I am going to schedule an appointment with him and see how I feel about him. I am sure even if he were to run into some complication, he would consult Dr. Weaver. Their offices are actually connected to the hospital and she will probably even be in an adjacent operating room.

I think it is just going to come down to meeting him and seeing how I feel about him. If I am at ease with his knowledge and confidence, then I would not really have a problem with him performing the surgery. Especially if I can get it done next month or so instead of mid December.

Although statistically one is better off choosing a surgeon who has performed hundreds to thousands of whatever surgery you are having done, statistics are just numbers. You are smart to meet him and decide and you are right that the more experienced doc will most likely be there to help, in the unlikely event that the need would arise.

:thumbup: