All the good pre-pre Op stuff questions - ThinnerTimes

Chongo · 08-10-2008, 01:36 PM

Hey all,
Here's my dilemma.. I live in Crescent City CA, almost 300 miles from an real civilization. We have a regular hospital that has the usual stuff, but we're technically starved of medical specialists. The docs here can stop bleeding, set a broken bone, and sew ya back together. But for anything serious, we're sent to San Francisco, or Redding. Both far away, and costly to travel to.

Now Eureka is 80 miles south of me, and it far better developed. It has 2 Bariatric Surgeons (which won't see me on account of california medicaid insurance), informational seminars, dietiticians, and all the heart testing stuff. But they too send people to SF and Redding for the serious stuff.

I know that when you go down the path for WLS, there's going to be a galaxy of tests and seminars and things like that. I accept the fact that I will have to make the trip at least 2x to meet the surgeon, and then to do the deed.

My question here is, will I be able to make a majority of all the little appointments (ie. dietitician, EKG, psych eval, etc) in Eureka the town closest to me, or will I have to travel the 300 miles every time something pops up?

Right now, I'm more intimidated about the gas prices and lodging expenses, then getting hacked on by the doc.

Any insight into this is greatly appreciated. Thank you all very much.

Doug

pummychal · 08-10-2008, 02:38 PM

I had my surgery 90 miles/2 hrs away. They set up all my appointments on the same day for that reason (EKG, Psych., Nutritionist and Surgeon). All the rest were done locally with my PCP. See if they can do that for you.

VickiLyn · 08-10-2008, 03:38 PM

I'm about 80 miles away from where I will have surgery. I scheduled my Dietician, my psych eval and surgeon consult all for the same day. It was a full day, but better than having to make numerous trips. Make sure you determine what your insurance requires and also what your surgeon requires. Many won't let you go to just any psychiatrist. It has to be one knowledgable in WLS. Good luck!!

Baja Big Dog · 08-10-2008, 03:57 PM

Chongo,

I too had the same dr. as Pummy, (same practice, diff dr.), and I also went to San Diego for the meetings, all in one day, and the surgeons come to Orange county monthly for all the OC patients.

Its a pain ion the ass, but hey, whats a couple trips, if the gas and lodging is an issue, use my formula in my Siggy, and determine how much money you will save by having this surgery!!!

Chongo · 08-10-2008, 04:24 PM

I sure hope they can schedule stuff on the same day. That would be awesome. The travel, while not really that far, is taxing.. Many curves, and gas at $4.50 a gallon with an old murfmobile. It don't go far

And it doesn't help that my wife can pinch a penny so hard she'll give it a blister.

Tho in times they way its going, I spose that can be a good thing.

izanmanyzanz · 08-10-2008, 11:51 PM

I had my surgery a 105 miles away. For six months I would schedule all my appts with the nut and pysch and exercise on the same day. Only once did I have to redo pysch due to his schedule. I made it a day for the family, like a little mini vaca on that day. We would do special things like park, flea market, visiting friends that lived there. It made it worth it as all my paperwork was in same office and submitted at the same time. I made that choice to be with the best doctor and I dont regret that decision at all.