Dr Callery is going to be my surgeon :) Any Advice - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Cynthia · 11-06-2009, 10:23 AM

Hello there. So I had to switch my medical group because the one I currently have is horrible. So I am switching as of Dec 1st and my new medical group refers to Dr Callery

The new referral will be sent over on Dec 1st when the new medical group takes effect, and I will be attending his seminar on the 25th. I had been having so many problems with my old medical group the best option was to switch to Greater Tri-City IPA and the good thing is I get to keep the same PCP. Anyone who has had their surgery with Dr, Callery I have many questions and would love to hear about your experience and how quickly or slowly the process went from your first visit. Thanks

cali4ialuv · 11-06-2009, 10:47 AM

Dr. Callery performed my GBS six years ago. He and his team are a great group of professionals. The process after the initial seminar went fairly quickly. You will be in great hands. I've had no complications. My start weight was the same as yours, the day I had surgery. I now 150 and lov'n life. (I could stand to loose another ten pounds, but I'm maintaining.) Good luck with your journey, and hold on for the ride!

DenMomLT · 11-06-2009, 11:17 AM

I'm a new patient of Dr. Callery as well. My initial consultation after the educational seminar was good. Kelly is fabulous, though tough! Things are rolling around really smoothly. I've jumped through all of the hoops they had for me (EKG, gall bladder ultrasound, blood tests galore, psych consult, sleep study). I see Kelly again on Nov. 20 and hopefully it'll just be a matter of putting the paperwork together and submitting to insurance.
You're in great hands with Dr. Callery and his staff. They are all wonderfully friendly and understanding, cooperative and knowledgable.

Cynthia · 11-06-2009, 11:27 AM

Did Dr Callery's office do all of those tests...Gallbladder, blood, ect or did you have to have your PCP do them. Thanks

DenMomLT · 11-06-2009, 12:07 PM

Kelly, at Dr. Callery's office, gave me a list of things to do after my initial consultation with them. She gave me the lab slip for the blood work, and my PCP did the EKG right in her office. The gallbladder ultrasound was on a referral from my PCP. She has been 100% supportive, so didn't hesitate about helping to get the gallbladder ultrasound done - it was just a matter of filling out a "lab slip". Psych consult...OMG! The way my insurance works, I just had to go to my providers' website and look for a psychiatrist/psychologist who accepted my insurance. Found one. Went to her and had a HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD visit. She told me in the first 5 minutes that 2 of her patients had WLS and never asked her opinion about it. That made her mad. She was overweight herself, so I think she viewed it as the "easy way out" (but that is ONLY speculation on my part). The report she sent to Dr. Callery was horrible. She had nothing positive to say about me, or the surgery. Fortunately, I had called Dr. Callery's office and given them a heads up before she sent it. I've since made another appointment with a different psychiatrist and am looking forward to meeting with her. I definitely asked about her opinion on WLS before I scheduled the appointment. Be patient...it all works out. Getting stressed over it just expends energy that we don't need to, and more often than not just makes things go slower.

Cynthia · 11-06-2009, 12:15 PM

I am actually pretty calm...lol After I yelled at my medical group I suddenly felt better. I am so glad I changed. They denied my consultation to a surgeon and my PCP was so mad and even included a letter of nessesity and they denied it. So I had to change and we will re submit on Dec. 1st. with the new medical group. If you dont mind me asking what type of insurance do you have?

DenMomLT · 11-06-2009, 12:30 PM

I originally had Aetna PPO, but my employer's plan with the PPO did not include WLS in any way (weigh), shape or form, so I switched to the Aetna HMO. It's been great. The only difficulty I had was getting my PCP's office to realize that I was now an HMO patient and needed an official referral (Authorization for Consultation) in order to go see Dr. Callery. They kept writing on a prescription pad, "Referral to Gastric Bypass Surgeon" and I kept saying, "NO!!!! I need a referral." Once we were all on the same page everything has been great and moving along quickly.

cocoa · 11-06-2009, 01:07 PM

Hi Cynthia,

Dr. Callery did my band surgery in Feb. 2008. I have nothing but good things to say about him and his staff. My nurse at the hospital for my post-op care also had great things to say about him.

They told me what tests I needed and I worked with my PCP to get them done. My PCP gave me a card for a psychologist in my area. He was very nice and very positive about my results, it just took him nearly 2 months to write my letter. That was my biggest snafu and had absolutely nothing to do with Dr. Callery's staff.

Dr. Callery is very kind and compassionate and the one time I called with a problem--my band was a little too tight--he called me back within 15 minutes of my call (it was during normal hours) and they worked me in a couple of hours later.

My biggest suggestion to you is research, research, research and ask loads of questions. The more you know going in, the better you will do post-op.

Best of luck to you in your journey!!

Denise

rainrain · 11-09-2009, 07:27 AM

Hi Cynthia,
I am a Dr. Callery patient from almost 5 years ago. My experience with him has always been wonderful. Since I am his support coordinator I may be biased, but even before that, I had great admiration and have always heard positive feed back about him.

I noticed you live in Oceanside, I would like to invite you to my home support meeting which meets on 2nd Tuesdays of the month, tomorrow is the next meeting. (I live in Oceanside/ Vista area.) We have patients who have many different doctors as well as Dr. Callery. It is an excellent start for your journey to be involved with support groups.

Dr. Callery also offers several meetings.

Looking forward to meeting you!!
Rain

Cynthia · 11-09-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainrain

Hi Cynthia,
I am a Dr. Callery patient from almost 5 years ago. My experience with him has always been wonderful. Since I am his support coordinator I may be biased, but even before that, I had great admiration and have always heard positive feed back about him.

I noticed you live in Oceanside, I would like to invite you to my home support meeting which meets on 2nd Tuesdays of the month, tomorrow is the next meeting. (I live in Oceanside/ Vista area.) We have patients who have many different doctors as well as Dr. Callery. It is an excellent start for your journey to be involved with support groups.

Dr. Callery also offers several meetings.

Looking forward to meeting you!!
Rain

That sounds great. I would love to get connected with a support system in my area. Please message me with the details. I will be unable to attend on the 10th but will mark my calendar for next month. Thanks Cynthia