Question:
Where do I Start? I want WLS but dont know where to start? BTC or Dr.

I'm starting my very first steps in this process, very scared and don't know where to start. I have a doctor's appointment Monday July 31, 2000 with my family doctor to see if she know's. I'm planning on going to Columbus, Ohio for the surgery......Getting ready to build a web page to track my progress. I love the personal web pages, If you have one please send it to me for my viewing pleasure!! Wish me Luck. — Tennille (posted on July 29, 2000)

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July 29, 2000
Start by exploring all the different procedure types. RNY, Duodenal Switch, VGB & Fobi Pouch are the most common. I do have a personal website where you can read my story. <a href="http://www.mywls.com">http://www.myWLS.com</a> Good Luck to you..
— [Deactivated Member]

July 29, 2000
I would start by calling your insurance company and finding out if 1)If there are any exclusions on your policy for WLS. 2)Ask them what steps they require, any particular doctor etc.. to precertify for surgery (if they don't have an exclusion) GOOD LUCK!
— ZZ S.

July 29, 2000
I can only advise you as to what I did.. I started with this site just one year ago.. I read all the information supplied to me by members here and searched on my own also... This is a starting place for the history of surgery types <a href="http://www.asbs.org">ASBS</a> I then followed all the links at <a href="http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~olwen/ocwlnkws.htm">Olwen's Links on Obesity Surgery</a> Then I found some very detailed information at <a href="http://www.sabariatric.com">Surgery for Morbid Obesity</a> and super information and animated drawing of RNY at <a href="http://www.surgcliniccentar.com">The Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas</a> If you will go to my profile page I have about 10 other links for you to visit.. If you have any questions please feel free to email me or ask the board here at AMOS.. You can also use the "search engine" feature on the main page..typing one word works best.. example: (epidural) you will see all kinds of responses about various pain controls while in the hospital.. Good Luck in your quest for knowledge.. I had Open Divided proximal RNY 12/8/99 Beginning weight 367 now 230 and still melting weekly..
— Victoria B.

July 29, 2000
After going back to my pcp repeatedly with failed weight loss attempts, (he said surgery should be last resort)he finally said he would give me referral to whomever I chose. I chose an obesity clinic at a hospital about 45 min away. I went in for my consultation which was three hours, including psych eval, nutritional eval, and a meeting with the surgeon. He examined me, said I was good candidate for rny distal (because My bmi is 70)and after 100lb lost would recommend me for penniculectomy. He said I'd have no problem with insurance. So I was booked for surgery and pre-op tests. Went in for 1 mo followup visit,he was thrilled i lost 10 lbs. Went over risks for about the third time and I signed the permission slip. The scheduling person took care of the insurance and it was already approved. so they said all I had to do was show up. I also attended one of their support groups. About 100 happy people all losing weight were there, it was great to hear all the stories. They meet monthly. I've also opted to attend a special pre-op class attended by the pschologist, nutritionist, a couple of nurses from the floor I'll be on and one recent rny patient. (Cool HUH?) So I guess what I'm trying to say is if the BTC does it all go there, I'm still 45 days pre-op but getting ready with the help of some great people like AVA LEE to name one.
— Wendy W.

July 29, 2000
Do you know which hospital/surgeon you are getting in Columbus? I live just a few miles from Columbus, and this surgery is routinely done at just about every hospital here.
— Louise H.

July 29, 2000
I WOULD START WITH YOUR DR. HE KNOES THE ANSWERS.
— [Anonymous]

July 29, 2000
I am also from the Columbus area. I started out with the Bariatric Treatement Center and after one denial, was approved by my insurance carrier. However, my insurance carrier had more experience in working through the OSU Center For Wellness and suggested I work through that program rather than the BTC. Although the BTC program seems like a good one, I beleive the approach used by the OSU team is much more thorough. They incorporate psychological evaluations, nutritionists, as well as the surgical team. Preparing for this surgery is much more than the actual surgery itself. You must be ready mentally, and prepared to make some major lifestyle changes. All the things that contributed to our obersity are still present after the surgery. Even though your volume intake is restricted, and the malabsorption present, you must still make the right food choices. You must also commit to exercise to get the most from the RNY. Please checkout the OSU program before you make your decision to go forward.
— Mari R.

August 30, 2000
I have compiled some LINKS of interest for the members... Lots of good reading and research material here.. Visit every site. Lots of Links, RNY Surgery video, and TONS of information: <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/vbowen">Gastric Bypass Information and Recipes Support Page</a> Below are links to the list of Surgery types: <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/vbowen8">Surgery types</A> ASBS: History of Weight Loss Surgeries: <a href="http://www.asbs.org">ASBS</a> Obesity Search -Engines: <a href="http://www.loop.com/~bkrentzman/links/ob.search.html">Obesity Search</a> Obesity Surgery Guide: <a href="http://www.amedeo.com/medicine/obe/obessurg.htm">Obesity Surgery Guide</a> Obesity Surgery Information: <a href="http://gort.ucsd.edu/newjour/o/msg02334.html">Obesity Surgery</a> The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: <a href="http://www.bariatric.com/roux.htm#weight">Bariactric.Com</a> Right Weight: <a href="http://www.rightweigh.com">Right Weight</a> Benefits and Risks of Surgical Treatment of Serious Obesity: <a href="http://www.gastricbypass.com/B&RSTMO.html">Benefits and Risks</a> PRO & CONS: <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/vbowen7">PRO & CONS</a> Olwen's Links on Obesity Surgery <a href="http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~olwen/ocwlnkws.htm">Olwen's Link</a> Alvarado Center for Surgical Weight Control <a href="http://www.gastricbypass.com">Alvarado</a> Divided Gastric Bypass <a href="http://www.obesesurgery.com/bypass.htm">Divided</a> ThinnerTimes Gastric Bypass Surgery for Morbid Obesity <a href="http://www.thinnertimes.com">Thinner Times</a> The Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas <a href="http://www.surgcliniccentar.com">Surgical Clinic</a> Surgery for Morbid Obesity <a href="http://www.sabariatric.com">San Antonio Surgery for Morbid Obesity</a> Bariatric Treatment Centers <a href="http://www.bariatric.com">BTC</a> John D. Husted, M.D. - Nashville, TN <a href="http://www.yp.bellsouth.com/sites/hustedmd">My Surgeon</a> Fobi <a href="http://www.cstobesity.com">Fobi Pouch</a> Fobi - Scientific Publications <a href="http://www.cstobesity.com/accessby.html">Publications</a> NIH: National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement <a href="http://text.nlm.nih.gov/nih/cdc/www/84txt.html">NIH STATEMENT</a> George Cowan Memphis TN <a href="http://www.obesitywellness.org">Dr. Cowen</a> Dr. Champion Laparoscopic RNY <a href="http://www.drchampion.com/Bariatric/Rny/rny.htm">Lap</a> ************************************************* The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery helps you lose weight in three ways 1. You eat less (Volume restriction) With a separate small stomach pouch, you feel full after eating a small amount of food. This approach is much more effective in restricting food volume than other surgical techniques, such as stomach stapling. 2. Your appetite changes (Behavior modification) The procedure reinforces a change in your eating habits. After the procedure, most patients find that their body will not easily tolerate foods that are high in refined sugars and fats. With this built-in control, called "the dumping syndrome," which produces short-term discomfort and flu-like symptoms, you naturally learn to avoid these foods. Other surgical procedures don't provide this important benefit of behavior modification. 3. You absorb fewer calories (Malabsorption) Food bypasses part of the small intestine and digestion occurs in the lower part of the small intestine. These two factors reduce the amount of calories your body absorbs from the food you eat. The reduced stomach pouch size, change in eating habits and absorption of fewer calories allow patients to be successful at long-term weight loss, as opposed to short-term weight loss programs or diets that rely on willpower, costly meal replacements, or dietary supplements. I chose the Fobi pouch (divided) procedure after 8 months of research.. At 367 pounds beginning weight I wanted the greatest amount of weight loss with the least amount of side affects and down the road deficiencies from malabsortion. After intense research the data shows that surgeries depending on strictly malabsortion have no better weight loss or record of keeping it off than the surgeries that offer restriction and slight malabsortion. It's all up to the individual.. Any WLS surgery is a tool and we are the mechanics that operate that tool.. We can make a decision to maximize that tool in our decision and actions.. Open (divided) RNY Dr. John Husted, M.D. Nashville, TN. 12/8/99 Beginning weight 367 as of today 218 and still dropping. Visit my webpage at <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/vbowen">MY Webpage</a> and see my PICS at <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/Vbowenweightloss">My PICS</a> 
— Victoria B.

August 30, 2000
Thank you for listing your DS sites I figured I would leave that to the DS members to do all their own HTML. I did noticed you forgot to list the <a href="http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Surgeons/Hess_Brochure">Hess Brochure</a> Which also spells out the DS procedure from a surgeon that actually performs it. Lots of informative links posted today members.. So Happy Clicking !!!!
— Victoria B.

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