Help in Illinois
Hi! Just joined the club, and was wondering if
someone could put me in touch with a Doctor that performs
this surgery. I went to see one in Chicago, but he
said I wasn’t heavy enough. I am almost 5′6" tall, and
close to 220 lbs. I am still relatively healthy, but I
can certainly feel the effects of my weight. I have
tried all sorts of diets, lost weight, then gained it
all back plus more….same song we all sing, I
suppose. I don’t know why I have to have my health in
jeopardy before a doctor will take me seriously! Believe
me, at 220 lbs, it is only a matter of time before my
body starts to suffer. I already have trouble
sleeping, high cholestrol, swollen ankles. Could someone
please let me know of somewhere in Illinois where I can
go for this surgery? I live in the Chicago land
area, but would travel if necessary! Thanks so much!!!
<br><br>Tina
September 18th, 2003 at 8:51 am
Tina,<br> There are several doctors in the St.
Louis Area that do this surgery. Mine is Dr. William
Yates, there’s Dr. Christopher Eagon, and others. I
belong to an area support group where there is a list of
doctors, phone numbers, addresses and comments on them. If
you email me privately with your email address, I can
send you an invitation to the site to check out the
physicians list. Or you can try going to MSN Communities and
look under weight issues and then support. It’s much
easier to get to with a link invitation. <br>Karen
Miller
September 18th, 2003 at 1:17 pm
Hi Tina,<br>I am sorry but I totally agree with
that SMART doctor! This surgery is reserved for those
of us that "morbidly obese" meaning a weight of more
than ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of IDEAL BODY weight!
Simplified… at least double your weight! And although I think
that you are on the obese side, you are definately NOT
morbidly obese and you should do anything and everything
you can do to lose the weight while you can! Below I
clipped a piece of a website, maybe this will explain it
better. But all in all this is a wonderful surgery that
can help many people, but it is in no means a "quick
fix" and it is a lief changing surgery! But
beforeanyone heads down this road, they should be able to look
themselves in the mirror and know that they tried all they
could and have already made permenant changes in their
lives… becasue after the surgery it is a FOREVER kind of
change and it is not to be entered into lightly! I was
so glad to hear that your doctor turned you down…
not that it made you feel better, but it gave me more
confidence into the medical profesion that there are doctors
out there doing what is best for their patients at
all costs… now only if your doctor at home did the
same and worked to help you find the weight that is
the best for you!<br><br>Good Luck,<br>Cindy aka
gonna_doit_thistime<br>OPEN RNY 8/2/99<br>preop 298 (5′8" with MANY health
complications including heart, have had open heart surgery at
32 yrs old and emergency back surgery)<br>current
211<br><br>The Department of Surgery at the UCLA School of
Medicine has an active program for gastric restriction and
gastric bypass operations on extremely obese patients who
are at severe medical risk and have failed in the
usual programs. The criterion for referral is a body
mass index (BMI) of 40.0 or greater and/or a body
weight of at<br>least 100% above desirable body weight.
Close to one hundred operations are performed each
year. The co-directors of the UCLA University Obesity
Center are prepared to discuss this possibility with any
eligible patient.
September 19th, 2003 at 12:54 am
Cindy, call the Alvadrado Center for Surgical
Weight loss in San Diego. They were wonderful with my
husband. Drs Clark and Whitgrove have done over 1500 of
these surgeries and also did the singer Carnie Wilson
on the internet. Their number is<br>800-342-3944.
You will have to attend a orientation and there they
give you all the papaerwork. After 2-4 days a nurse
will call you to get a more accurate idea of your
situation. They truly are wonderful here and have everything
you need.
September 19th, 2003 at 6:15 am
Cindy, I just re-read your message and see that
you are probably underweight for this proceedure. Im
sorry I didnt read your message closely enough. You can
ask them at Alvarado, but they might tell you your
not considered morbid. Im sorry I posted so
quickly…Im just eager to help where I can. Alot of us on
this board only WISH we weighed 220. <br>Even if you
found a doctor to do the surgery, Im fairly confident
that you would NOT be able to obtain insurance
coverage. They gave hastles to so many friends of mine,
some of which weigh 400 pounds and have a qualifying
condition like diabetes. Since you are underweight with no
qualifying condition, I am certain they wont be so willing
to shell out the 40K. I weighed 335, have diabetes,
asthma and sleep apnea. They turned me down until I
appealed and won. <br>Im sorry to deliver bad news.
September 19th, 2003 at 11:35 am
Tina, <br>I wish you the best of luck on your search!<br>Keep usposted. Sorry
Ican’t be more of help.<br>:)<br>–Lisa B.