So, which so called "DS surgeons" should we avoid?

 For Dr. Smith, he's had a program fee for quite some time - at least a couple of years.  I paid it a year and a half ago, and I know people who had to pay it who had their surgery a year plus prior to that.  So it's not new.  

The process is that you attend a seminar and get the application for his program.  Once you submit it, he reviews your application and if you are accepted by his program and are considered a good candidate, then you pay the application fee for the initial consult.  You don't pay the program fee and then wait to see if you're accepted.  Just wanted to clarify in case others are reading your post because Dr. Smith is one of the best.  

"I have both talked about it, if we wake up with sleeves instead of DS's, it will be okay with us. We prefer the DS but we can deal with sleeves."

Wait a minute! I thought the biggest reason you were having WLS was because of your diabetes!!! Isn't that why you were originally going to have the RNY, and your husband was going for the VSG? And then when you learned abouot the RNY and reactive hypoglycemia, suddenly the DS's highly superior resolution rates meant it really WAS the best surgery for you after all???

So---if you wake up with just a Sleeve, which won't give you nearly the help with your diabetes, that will "be okay"???

Oh **** honey, don't be all logical now. The fact that they are traveling all the way to NYC guarantees their success.

To quote my friend Nicole, Try and keep up, okay?

If you mean me, because I know we are such good friends and all, my name is Nicolle.

Best of luck to your and your wife on your VSGs.

Nicolle

Trying to "keep up" is why I ASKED. Since when did the Sleeve become "okay" with your wife, since her primary motivation in getting WLS was her diabetes? Which the DS has a 98+% cure rate for?

Umm did you bother to notice you put

Gagner and Herron on there twice?

Which would make then 8 surgeons that are starting to get questionable results.

And Husted is only questionable because he can't seem to keep himself anywhere for any length of time. Not because of skills or any other reason.

Ha! Nice catch! Looks like his post isn't worth the electronic paper it is written on!!!!! 

Nice job with that Copying and Pasting there Chad!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a nice day!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm....I went to bed early last night and missed this thread.

I would skip the University of Chicago docs, Drs. Alverdy and Prachand.

When I joined here 4 years ago, the U of C had a few patients who posted here, but they had Dr. Alverdy as their doc. Since Dr. Prachand came on board, it seemed that less and less patients of theirs post and stick around here.

When I made my decision to have the DS 3 years ago, the published infectious disease stats at the U of C hospital was too high for my tastes and they had done considerably less DSes than Dr. Rabkin, so I went with Rabkin. (Sooo freakin' glad I did, BTW!)

Now, there is just too much negative hearsay/scuttlebutt about the U of C practice to give me confidence:

They are very selectiive to whom they give their DSes: must be BMI over 50 and in practically perfect health (I would have easily qualified for their program, so this is not sour grapes). The people I know who have had their DS recently with them in less than perfect health have been real persuasive, bringing in tons of data with them to dazzle them with their DS knowledge. I think that's because they understandably want to lower their risk and they want to be publishable. However, I resent that patients have to jump through arbitrary hoops to get life-saving healthcare.

Their aftercare is not the greatest and many of their recent patients seem to struggle with a  variety of issues, including poor Lesley with rhabdo. The latest buzz has them being watched by their accrediting body, the Bariatric program of the American College of Surgeons for a high incidence of recent leaks.

I have happily served as an angel to several U of C patients, including SandraN and her hubby, Carmen, Chickflickstyle and her hubby. None of them post here regularly anymore. I could take that as a sign of my general loveliness, but because my other (non-U of C) angelettes post here just fine, I don't think that is the case. I think they do not love their DSes and don't want to hang around here much.

Again, this is all hearsay and must be judged as such. Nonetheless, if my best friend in Chicago decides to go for the DS, she's going with Rabkin.

Nicolle