The Good News: I went to the orientation for GB surgery. My doctor and nutritionist feel I am the perfect candidate. I called the insurance company and they said they would cover it if deemed medically necessary (43 BMI; diabetic; high cholesterol).
The Bad News: I'm on a waiting list (about two months) to see the doctor to start my pre-tests. They said once that's done it would be about 11 months before the surgery is done. The Good News: I can have the surgery....right around my 40th birthday!

The Bad New: I don't want to wait!!!!!!
The Good News: I will have a year to get myself ready for the surgery and lifestyle change.

Hi Robin!
Where in WI are you??? It's not that long of a wait if you want to come to Theda Clark...in Neenah... :) and our surgeons are awesome. I know this as I work with them and trust me, I'd tell you the truth!!
Debby in WI

Hi Robin,
I totally agree with Debby. Then again I am biased as we have the same surgeon Dr. Raymond Georgen. He is the top trauma surgeon in at least the Fox Valley and probably further out than that. Theda Clark is a top 100 hospital nationwide and one of a few Trauma II certified hospitals in WI. Dr. Georgen is also a general and bariatric surgeon and does 5-10 RNY surgeries a week. He has been doing WLS for 15 years and has an excellent track record with WLS. One eath, 1 month after surgery, only because the person refused to get moving and blew a clot to her lung. Really not a fault of surgery but lack of compliance of aftercare. I drew tons of comfort from having 2 bariatric surgeons, having trauma surgeon's who have seen it all and general surgeon's who have operated on any of the parts involved in this surgery many many times. The chance of something being thrown at them they could not deal with is nil, in my opinion. I felt very safe going into surgery that everything would be fine and I went in with a number of co-morbs including severe sleep apnea and asthma.
The other great part is that every surgery has two bariatric surgeon's working on you. Dr.'s Gerogen and Wasco are the two surgeon's. Typically you are assigned a primary surgeon who does your follow-up in the hospital and see's you initially pre-op. But both are there during surgery - one does the bypass section and one does the pouch section typically. They can deal with people of any size as they have done a few people over 700 lbs and a number in the
500 and 600's. I was 442 and had zero complications. If your insurance will cover them it would be worth your time to get on with your new life sooner than later. I speak from experience - it is an awesome new life. I've been shooping for a dress/outfit for formal nights on a cruise and I was a 36W before surgery and even then a dress would not likely have fit me well because I am smaller on top and at that time by 2-3 sizes. I finally found something last
night that is just a tiny bit snug in the gut but I think support pantyhose and or body shaper will solve it. It is a 26W. It is a little big on top but I can take it in under the arms and it should be great. This big of a change all in less than 5 months! I thought I looked pretty darn awesome in this dress. I have never had anything formal like this other than a bridesmade dress, so it was a real boost. No one will ever know by looking at me that I weighed a
whole lot more just a few months ago.
They are having their informed consent orientation Monday night June 23rd and I think they are only running them monthly now. They decided to run them in larger groups at night, but not weekly. They used to run them Friday's from 12-2. If you call the office and beg if there is any way you can get in you might luck out. If they say no then go to the bariatric nurse coordinator that works for the hospital. Her name is Betsy. If you want to pursue this at all e-mail me privately and I will give you phone numbers. They require everyone attend this free orientation first. They do give lots of info and explain the surgery in detail and answer questions.
Assuming you wish to proceed then you turn in a detailed medical history you fill out and the process starts. They determine what tests they require before submitting for insurance approval, you get those taken care of, then they submit for approval. Once you have approval you will be assigned a surgery date which is probably 6-12 weeks out depending on how many people are going ahead with surgery at the time. My wait was less than 5 weeks, but I had it done in
early Feb, and not too many people were thinking about surgery over the holidays. Lately it has been longer but I know of a few people who moved up about a month and only waited about 2 months, so it's still pretty quick compared to many many surgeons.
I know I have babbled on long enough. I just hate to see people have to wait like a year for this new healthy life when it truly does not have to take that long. If a surgeon who is the Director of the Trauma department, top trauma surgeon, does 5-10 bariatric surgeries a week plus many general surgeries can get a person in within a few months then what excuse do bariatric only surgeons have for a 1 yr wait.
Take Care and I hope this is a possibility for you! Their clinic is called Surgical Associates and they are located at Theda Clark inNeenah.
Chris D.
5'9" – Age 42 – BMI 65.3
442/330/Anywhere under 250 lbs
-112 lbs as of June 7th – BMI 48.7
21 before surgery, 91 after
Open RNY-150 cm, 1/2 oz pouch