And.....which DS surgeons deserve our business?
RABKIN, RABKIN, RAH RAH RAH!!
He takes on the sickest patients, without worrying about his statistics. He is a VERY skilled lap surgeon, rarely having to convert to open, and he has the tools and skills to do 800 lb patients laparoscopically. He does the most challenging revisions as well (I believe always open, by the way). He takes the time to prepare good LOMNs (which Larra and I helped to revise), and he helps his patients fight to get insurance coverage.
His aftercare program is topnotch. He supports (and in some cases, pays for the meeting site) about 20 formal monthly support groups around the country, including many that he flies around the country to attend from time to time. His support group leaders (myself included) receive some training, and most have leaders as well as attendees with several years of DS experience.
He does studies and publishes. He is very up on the nutritional issues as well. And he is dedicated to saving the lives of the morbidly obese.
Second preference: Keshishian. I don't know as much about his support programs, but as a surgeon, he is also superb. I don't like that he charges a program fee, but I do like that he takes Medicare -- both of which Rabkin doesn't do.
I feel very fortunate to have two of the best DS surgeons in my state.
He takes on the sickest patients, without worrying about his statistics. He is a VERY skilled lap surgeon, rarely having to convert to open, and he has the tools and skills to do 800 lb patients laparoscopically. He does the most challenging revisions as well (I believe always open, by the way). He takes the time to prepare good LOMNs (which Larra and I helped to revise), and he helps his patients fight to get insurance coverage.
His aftercare program is topnotch. He supports (and in some cases, pays for the meeting site) about 20 formal monthly support groups around the country, including many that he flies around the country to attend from time to time. His support group leaders (myself included) receive some training, and most have leaders as well as attendees with several years of DS experience.
He does studies and publishes. He is very up on the nutritional issues as well. And he is dedicated to saving the lives of the morbidly obese.
Second preference: Keshishian. I don't know as much about his support programs, but as a surgeon, he is also superb. I don't like that he charges a program fee, but I do like that he takes Medicare -- both of which Rabkin doesn't do.
I feel very fortunate to have two of the best DS surgeons in my state.
Dr. John Rabkin
Once he started my DS he found several other serious problems that were unknown going in.
He didn't stop and back out, he didn't convert to open; his fixed each of them and did it top-notch. He saved me from another surgery, or two. How awesome is that? His efforts provided me with the opportunity I needed to work and regain my health.
His skills are sublime, and he loves his work. What a package!
I am in awe, and forever in his debt.
Once he started my DS he found several other serious problems that were unknown going in.
He didn't stop and back out, he didn't convert to open; his fixed each of them and did it top-notch. He saved me from another surgery, or two. How awesome is that? His efforts provided me with the opportunity I needed to work and regain my health.
His skills are sublime, and he loves his work. What a package!
I am in awe, and forever in his debt.
Century Club: Thanksgiving Day 25November2010 I am truly grateful
Diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and GERD resolved along the way.
Onederland: Citizen & permanent resident 17Dec2010
'Normal' BMI range reached 26July2011
18 Month Surgiversary 148# BMI 23 26Nov2011
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Diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and GERD resolved along the way.
Onederland: Citizen & permanent resident 17Dec2010
'Normal' BMI range reached 26July2011
18 Month Surgiversary 148# BMI 23 26Nov2011
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*** huggles*** You need to share your story my dear. We need to know MANY stories in this, a testimonial based source. Many folks got a "real DS" from him but you did NOT. If you are able to share the details of what happened and why not that would be very helpful. But if you don't feel up to it folks should understand this as well.
It will be hard to be open about your story hon, cuz there are lots of other folks who have GREAT results from him. But bottom line is that every surgeon has EVERY result. Dr. Peters is a great example of this, as I've shared here and as he has said in public: He knew he was taking a big risk to operate on me. My surgery was complicated but you'd never know it by my recovery and subsequent experience.
It's partly BECAUSE of my flawless experience that he dared to operate on Kelly Kirk....who had basically equivalent risk factors and was mega informed and chose to go forward knowing she would die for sure without surgery and maybe would die because of surgery. Kelly died, breaking many hearts, especially Joe's her husband's. But he and all her loved ones took great pains to exonerate Dr. Peters, who took her death oh, so hard.
Okay. If people just look at me, they can assume that Dr. Peters is a miracle worker. If they look just at Kelly, they can assume he's a murderer. Both ideas are wrong.
Same is true for Dr. Ungson and his many "flawless" cases compared to you. You are not bad, flawed or a failure. You are you and have your story to tell. No surgeon has all perfect outcomes. The folks who are not perfect deserve a voice, too. Tell your story in all its detail, along with how you are working out the results. Preops need to know there are no guarantees and they need to know what they are signing when they put their signatures on forms.
I know that I very carefully dictated to Dr. Peters exactly what I wanted and instructed him on what to do or not do. I crossed out big chunks of his form, edited, intialed, clarified etc. We ALL need to be this kind of thoughtful and attentive. It might mean we go under anesthesia, get sliced and diced and closed with no real changes. Or maybe we'll get something we didn't bargain for. This is important.
It's partly BECAUSE of my flawless experience that he dared to operate on Kelly Kirk....who had basically equivalent risk factors and was mega informed and chose to go forward knowing she would die for sure without surgery and maybe would die because of surgery. Kelly died, breaking many hearts, especially Joe's her husband's. But he and all her loved ones took great pains to exonerate Dr. Peters, who took her death oh, so hard.
Okay. If people just look at me, they can assume that Dr. Peters is a miracle worker. If they look just at Kelly, they can assume he's a murderer. Both ideas are wrong.
Same is true for Dr. Ungson and his many "flawless" cases compared to you. You are not bad, flawed or a failure. You are you and have your story to tell. No surgeon has all perfect outcomes. The folks who are not perfect deserve a voice, too. Tell your story in all its detail, along with how you are working out the results. Preops need to know there are no guarantees and they need to know what they are signing when they put their signatures on forms.
I know that I very carefully dictated to Dr. Peters exactly what I wanted and instructed him on what to do or not do. I crossed out big chunks of his form, edited, intialed, clarified etc. We ALL need to be this kind of thoughtful and attentive. It might mean we go under anesthesia, get sliced and diced and closed with no real changes. Or maybe we'll get something we didn't bargain for. This is important.
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