| 1. |
How is your clinic different? |
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This is a private doctor's office, by appointment, with little or no waiting room time. We don't sell vitamins. We don't require painful shots, we won't starve you, and we don't give every patient the same medication. |
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2. |
How should I choose a clinic? |
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| 3. |
How much does it cost? |
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The start-up costs for the first four weeks is $325. After that, it is $215 per month. We require no contracts. Our fees are paid every four (4) weeks and include physical exam, doctor visits (typically every two weeks), vitamin supplements and nutritional counseling as needed. Medication costs are billed separately, and vary from patient to patient. Medications normally average $15 - $30 per week. Blood tests are also
billed separately. (See FAQ
#14). |
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| 4. |
What about B-12 shots? |
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B-12 shots do not cause weight loss, but other clinics may require them 2 or 3 times a week to generate more return visits. This is unnecessary and can be painful. Dr. Dudney does not use shots casually, and will discuss this on your first visit.
See More Info on B-12 Shots |
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5. |
Do you accept health insurance? |
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No. We do not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance. Payment is expected at the time of service. We do accept personal checks and credit cards. |
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| 6. |
Can I take appetite suppressants in your program? |
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Yes, after medical evaluation, appetite suppressants can be used to reduce hunger and appetite, reduce thoughts of food (aversion), and make you feel more full on smaller portions (satiety). This can greatly increase your ability to stick with the diet. Dr. Dudney will go over the risks of medication and you will be fully informed about the type and strength of any prescribed medication. We do dispense mediation in our clinic, or you many use an outside pharmacy if you
prefer. |
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| 7. |
Do I have to buy food products? |
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No. Although we do occasionally recommend diet bars or liquid protein, most of our patients do not need them. Some cycle off and on when they hit a plateau in their weight loss, and others prefer to count fat grams only. All patients must count fat grams and eat some regular food every day under all our plans. |
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| 8. |
When I drink extra liquids I get puffy. Can I take fluid pills on the program? |
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Yes, if medically safe, we recommend very mild diuretics for the first few weeks of our diets. By eliminating excess fluid, we can more accurately tell when you are losing "real" weight. You will feel more comfortable if edema can be reduced. Diuretics can also be helpful to control blood pressure problems. |
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| 9. |
What if I have gained weight with antidepressants? |
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Many times Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, Trazadone, Lexapro and other medications can contribute to weight gain. A lot depends on how long you have been taking the antidepressant, how strong the dosage is, and what were the original target symptoms. Our goal would be to modify the antidepressant so you can lose weight and maintain a stable mood. |
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| 10. |
What happens on the first visit? |
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You will fill out a medical history form and a dietary questionnaire, have blood tests, a consultation with the doctor, and discuss an eating plan. This usually takes about 45 minutes. Return visits to the doctor are required at 2 week intervals, occasionally more or less often depending on your progress. We know your time is important, and waiting time will be kept to a minimum. |
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| 11. |
Can I fill out patient forms before arriving for my appointment? |
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Yes, Medical Weight Management encourages printing and filling out the patient form prior to arrival at the clinic. If you click here, you can print the required form, fill it out, and bring it with you when you come for your appointment in order to save time. This form requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If this software is not already installed on your computer, you can download it for free from:
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| 12. |
Will I gain the weight back? |
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Most patients who adhere to lifestyle changes of exercise and a low-fat diet can keep the weight off. Medications have been shown to be safe and effective for weight maintenance as well as weight loss. We recommend gradual rather than sudden stoppage of medication after you reach your target weight. |
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| 13. |
What are the risks with remaining over-weight? |
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There are certain risks with remaining over-weight or obese. Among these risks are tendencies for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and certain cancers. These risks may be modest if you are not very overweight. Even if you don’t need to lose much, the cosmetic and psychological benefits of weight loss can be very rewarding. If you are extremely over-weight (50-100 pounds) a reduction by only 10 percent of your starting weight can reduce your risks of
medical complications. |
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| 14. |
What type of blood tests will be done? |
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Blood tests are drawn quickly and privately in our office. Tests are billed separately and average $98. If you have had these tests within the last two months and bring the results with you, further testing may be unnecessary.
These tests include:
- lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides)
- blood chemistries (potassium, calcium, sugar, etc.)
- kidney function
- liver function
- blood count (red and white cells, platelets)
- TSH and T4 (thyroid function)
- Extra hormone tests are available by request:
Men: PSA (prostate blood test) and testosterone level - $40
Women: FSH/LH (menopause hormone test) - $40
Dr. Dudney will review the results and provide you with a copy for your records. |
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| 15. |
Are children treated in the clinic? |
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No, we do not treat children under 18 years old. The child psychiatrists listed below have special skills to address eating and mood disorders in children:
Dr. Jillian Glass, M.D. - (813) 251-1076
Dr. Tim McRae, M.D. - (813) 258-8559
Dr. Phyllis Feldman, M.D. - (813) 258-2361 |
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| 16. |
Can my prescriptions be phoned in? |
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No. It has been our experience that phone-in prescriptions are left on pharmacy voice-mail recorders with an unacceptable risk of error. It is also office policy to NOT phone in prescriptions for diet pills, sleeping pills, pain pills, or any controlled substance. Patients must be seen in the office by the doctor for medications. |
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| 17. |
What else should I know? |
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You should understand that there are many ways and programs to assist you in your desire to lose weight. If you have been discouraged with other programs or if your willpower for calorie counting or food exchange programs has been unsuccessful, a medically supervised program such as ours offers you an option to prevent discouragement and hopeless feelings about your weight. You need to know the success of our program will depend on your efforts and motivation. We cannot guarantee
success, as a tendency to be over-weight is a life-long problem, and you will need to continue watching your weight all of your life. |
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| 18. |
How do I get started? |
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Call us at (813) 873-2036 for an appointment or stop by our clinic and pick up the initial medical forms. |
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19. |
How fast can I lose weight? |
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Of course, results vary from patient to patient, but many have lost 10 pounds in the first two weeks. A more realistic goal is 1 to 2 pounds per week. Slow steady loss works best and is associated with less fatigue, fewer complications and less risk of sagging skin. Semi-starvation diets of less than 800 calories can be unsafe. |
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