Re: Attn:Those who have been switched by Dr. Gagner...SHARE

September 14, 2000

Kookie,

I was switched by Drs. Pomp and Gagner 4 weeks ago today and I think

they are both wonderful. You should check to see if one of the other

docs in the pratice participates in your insurance and if so, if he

can be the " second " surgeon (they always operate in pairs) so they

can bill through the participating one. Dr. Pomp was participating

for me but Dr. Gagner was not.

Also, going back to work at 2 weeks post-op does really not sound

reasonable to me at all unless doing the surgery in two parts is

drastically easier on the body. Even though your surgey time will be

only 1 hr., compared to mine, which was 3 hours, you will be under

general anesthesia and that does take several weeks to get out of

your system. I had a fairly easy recovery compared to some others on

this list and I was definitely not ready to go back to work until

just this week. Yesterday was my first day back full-time and I was

exhausted. I am 35 years old, had no co-morbs and was very active pre-

op. I was totally wiped out from this surgery for at least 3 weeks

and was taking afternoon naps until a couple of days ago. Good luck!

Lori (-21 lbs)

Lap BPD/DS 8/17/00

Drs. Pomp and Gagner

United Healthcare Select Plus POS

September 14, 2000

Lori,

Was this your first WLS?

And what l'm trying to get a grip of is 1% good odds.

That sounds crazy l mean l know it means that 1 out of 100 dies. l,m

confused to as to wheter or not that's good.

On the other hand l have a 25% chance of dieing without surgery.

l guess lve answered my own question, but l just a litle overwhelemed.

YUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> Kookie,

> I was switched by Drs. Pomp and Gagner 4 weeks ago today and I

think

> they are both wonderful. You should check to see if one of the

other

> docs in the pratice participates in your insurance and if so, if he

> can be the " second " surgeon (they always operate in pairs) so they

> can bill through the participating one. Dr. Pomp was participating

> for me but Dr. Gagner was not.

>

> Also, going back to work at 2 weeks post-op does really not sound

> reasonable to me at all unless doing the surgery in two parts is

> drastically easier on the body. Even though your surgey time will

be

> only 1 hr., compared to mine, which was 3 hours, you will be under

> general anesthesia and that does take several weeks to get out of

> your system. I had a fairly easy recovery compared to some others

on

> this list and I was definitely not ready to go back to work until

> just this week. Yesterday was my first day back full-time and I was

> exhausted. I am 35 years old, had no co-morbs and was very active

pre-

> op. I was totally wiped out from this surgery for at least 3 weeks

> and was taking afternoon naps until a couple of days ago. Good luck!

>

> Lori (-21 lbs)

> Lap BPD/DS 8/17/00

> Drs. Pomp and Gagner

> United Healthcare Select Plus POS

September 14, 2000

Lori,

Was this your first WLS?

And what l'm trying to get a grip of is 1% good odds.

That sounds crazy l mean l know it means that 1 out of 100 dies. l,m

confused to as to wheter or not that's good.

On the other hand l have a 25% chance of dieing without surgery.

l guess lve answered my own question, but l just a litle overwhelemed.

YUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> Kookie,

> I was switched by Drs. Pomp and Gagner 4 weeks ago today and I

think

> they are both wonderful. You should check to see if one of the

other

> docs in the pratice participates in your insurance and if so, if he

> can be the " second " surgeon (they always operate in pairs) so they

> can bill through the participating one. Dr. Pomp was participating

> for me but Dr. Gagner was not.

>

> Also, going back to work at 2 weeks post-op does really not sound

> reasonable to me at all unless doing the surgery in two parts is

> drastically easier on the body. Even though your surgey time will

be

> only 1 hr., compared to mine, which was 3 hours, you will be under

> general anesthesia and that does take several weeks to get out of

> your system. I had a fairly easy recovery compared to some others

on

> this list and I was definitely not ready to go back to work until

> just this week. Yesterday was my first day back full-time and I was

> exhausted. I am 35 years old, had no co-morbs and was very active

pre-

> op. I was totally wiped out from this surgery for at least 3 weeks

> and was taking afternoon naps until a couple of days ago. Good luck!

>

> Lori (-21 lbs)

> Lap BPD/DS 8/17/00

> Drs. Pomp and Gagner

> United Healthcare Select Plus POS

September 14, 2000

Lori,

Was this your first WLS?

And what l'm trying to get a grip of is 1% good odds.

That sounds crazy l mean l know it means that 1 out of 100 dies. l,m

confused to as to wheter or not that's good.

On the other hand l have a 25% chance of dieing without surgery.

l guess lve answered my own question, but l just a litle overwhelemed.

YUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> Kookie,

> I was switched by Drs. Pomp and Gagner 4 weeks ago today and I

think

> they are both wonderful. You should check to see if one of the

other

> docs in the pratice participates in your insurance and if so, if he

> can be the " second " surgeon (they always operate in pairs) so they

> can bill through the participating one. Dr. Pomp was participating

> for me but Dr. Gagner was not.

>

> Also, going back to work at 2 weeks post-op does really not sound

> reasonable to me at all unless doing the surgery in two parts is

> drastically easier on the body. Even though your surgey time will

be

> only 1 hr., compared to mine, which was 3 hours, you will be under

> general anesthesia and that does take several weeks to get out of

> your system. I had a fairly easy recovery compared to some others

on

> this list and I was definitely not ready to go back to work until

> just this week. Yesterday was my first day back full-time and I was

> exhausted. I am 35 years old, had no co-morbs and was very active

pre-

> op. I was totally wiped out from this surgery for at least 3 weeks

> and was taking afternoon naps until a couple of days ago. Good luck!

>

> Lori (-21 lbs)

> Lap BPD/DS 8/17/00

> Drs. Pomp and Gagner

> United Healthcare Select Plus POS

September 14, 2000

Kookie, I also like to know DETAILS when it comes to others'

experiences! Thanks for sharing yours.

Robin

294

10/18 consult with Dr. Crookes

BlueShieldSelect

September 14, 2000

Hi kookie,

I'm sorry to hear about your insurance troubles with Dr. Gagner. At first,

it looked like I was going to have problems too. I was told that he would

do my surgery but that he would only be covered as " out of network " .

Meanwhile, my PPO's list of preferred providers showed him as in-network.

Apparently the woman I first talked to at Dr. G's office had been given

incorrect information and he was really in-network for me. I hope

something like this happens for you! If not, at least he will accept the

amount your 2 insurance carriers will give him for the surgery itself.

When you look at that amount, the $200 for the consult seems like a

pittance. Of course, there is no excuse for them not letting you know

before you came to the consult that you would have to self-pay the $200.

Jacenth (one of Dr. G's insurance people) definitely told me as soon as I

scheduled my consult appointment that I *might* have to pay for it out of

pocket. She may be the one that they were talking about who left. I know

she had eye surgery in August and hadn't come back when they expected her

to. Maybe she ended up quitting. Anyway, I have been working with a very

nice lady named Teresita, who was Jacenth's supervisor, and she has been

wonderful about taking care of my insurance questions. You might call her

to confirm what you have been told and to see if there is anything that can

be done about getting back your $200 (or at least a portion of it). If she

can't help you, ask to speak to Marla Chu.

I was really interested in what you said about Dr. G doing the surgery in 2

parts for people at your weight. I weighed 387.5 at 5'6 " when I went for

my consult, and he didn't mention anything about this to me. Perhaps it is

because you are having a revision? Can I ask how tall you are? Hmm.....

Well, I really trust Dr. G as a doctor, so I'm sure he will do what is in

your best interest.

Good luck on everything!

Debbie in WV

BPD/DS with Dr. Gagner

September 26, 2000!

mailto:debbie_bond@...

September 14, 2000

Hi kookie,

Wow, this is so amazing! I wonder why he didn't mention this to me? Maybe

because I'm taller so my BMI is a little lower - who knows. Still, I'm ten

pounds heavier than you are, so you would think he would have mentioned it

if it is really just a weight issue. You are right, though, 200 pounds

gone forever is worth it whether it requires 2 surgeries or just 1! I am

so excited about this " second chance " ! I am tired of being this size. I

miss out on so much of life because I just can't keep up. I have a

daughter who will be 2 in October, and I can't wait for the day when I can

actually run and play with her rather than just sitting there " keeping an

eye on her " . She is so precious to me and it breaks my heart to think of

the teasing she would face growing up with such a fat mom. What is really

bad is that I can see my bad eating habits growing on her and, though it

devastates me, I feel powerless to do anything about it. She has no

genetic predisposition to becoming overweight - my husband and I adopted

her from China - so if she becomes obese it will most definitely be my

fault. I don't think I could live with myself if that happened. I'm

praying that this surgery will allow me to eat more " normally " so that

doesn't happen.

Thanks for your prayers about my surgery - they mean a lot to me. And

thanks also for the book recommendation. I have read some of Lori's posts

on how good it is, and it is on my list!

>I saw Dr G yesterday and he put the most emphasis on my weight being the

reason for the >2 part surgery, although l sure being that l'm a revision

has something to do with it. >My weight right now is 377 lbs and l am 5'4.

>Debbie, l am so excited for you, and your upcoming surgery. l know all

will go well for >you and the starting of your life as a thin person is

near. YOu will be in my prayers.

>The Doc was also very confident about me losing at least 200 lbs,

forever!!! Which is >my selling point. Debbie like me you must be so sick

of the weight. Life is getting >pretty tough with the weight.

>Debbie l'd like to share with you a book that Lori (from this group) was

kind enough to >share with me. The title of the book is 'Prepare for

surgery , Heal Faster' Lori was >telling me that they may even let you

listen to the tapes that come with the book in >the operating room.

>Here's the URL http://www.healfaster.com/ or you could get it at

Amazon.com

>If l could answer anything eles, feel free to ask,

>kookie

September 15, 2000

In a message dated Thu, 14 Sep 2000 4:34:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

debbie_bond@... writes:

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