So, which so called "DS surgeons" should we avoid?
for kjfras (Kerry) 
This is SUCH a difficult topic to navigate, but an important one. I have to thank and applaud Bev for what she does. I can't imagine anything more difficult. Thanks also to the vets here who try to keep newbies and those researching in the know.
We know that there are bait-and-don't switch doctors out there. We also know there are butchers out there. Many of those are well-known and somewhat "no brainers".
Unfortunately, though, a lot of surgeons fall into a gray area where the DS is concerned. There are so few DS surgeons out there that one hates to eliminate ANY viable options, but at the same time, it is discouraging to see surgeons who used to provide the DS and seem (for whatever reason) to be drifting away from it.
I would put my own surgeon in a "gray area". I love Dr. Bonanni and I think he is an incredibly skilled surgeon. He cuts a fabulous DS, and his patients seem to do very well in terms of weight loss. For SMO friends in the area, I'd send them there in a heartbeat (with the caveat that the nutrition and supplement advice is RNY-focused and they need to do their own research).
On the flip side, I would recommend that anyone with fewer than 150 to lose avoid him and not waste their time. He will push the RNY and deny a DS. I have seen several people who had this happen to them, and it makes me frustrated and angry on their behalf.
Now, do I think he should be completely removed from DS Facts? No. Do I think that his policies on who he'll give the DS to should be frequently mentioned here and people warned about what to expect? Absolutely. I sometimes feel guilty and like a broken record sharing the details everytime Abington comes up, but it's necessary.
We know that there are bait-and-don't switch doctors out there. We also know there are butchers out there. Many of those are well-known and somewhat "no brainers".
Unfortunately, though, a lot of surgeons fall into a gray area where the DS is concerned. There are so few DS surgeons out there that one hates to eliminate ANY viable options, but at the same time, it is discouraging to see surgeons who used to provide the DS and seem (for whatever reason) to be drifting away from it.
I would put my own surgeon in a "gray area". I love Dr. Bonanni and I think he is an incredibly skilled surgeon. He cuts a fabulous DS, and his patients seem to do very well in terms of weight loss. For SMO friends in the area, I'd send them there in a heartbeat (with the caveat that the nutrition and supplement advice is RNY-focused and they need to do their own research).
On the flip side, I would recommend that anyone with fewer than 150 to lose avoid him and not waste their time. He will push the RNY and deny a DS. I have seen several people who had this happen to them, and it makes me frustrated and angry on their behalf.
Now, do I think he should be completely removed from DS Facts? No. Do I think that his policies on who he'll give the DS to should be frequently mentioned here and people warned about what to expect? Absolutely. I sometimes feel guilty and like a broken record sharing the details everytime Abington comes up, but it's necessary.
Maybe talking more about the "gray area" surgeons would be a useful thread topic? Dr. B. and Dr. G. are great examples of such surgeons IMO.....Great cutters, HORRIBLE program for pretty much everything else, far as I can see. Then there's that 150-lb. nonsense. But for people who fit their parameters and who can take on their own followup and education, they're a viable option.
Ah, EN, you hit on something there. All a really intelligent, researched and prepared DSer needs is a good cutter. The rest of the details are just roadbumps on the way toward the goal.
It's the ones who somehow sneak through the psych eval and other screenings that need the hand-holding and babysitting. They shouldn't be getting the DS.
This is just my opinion, BTW. I'm not an attorney, doctor, nurse, or anything, really.
And anyone can be sued at any time for any reason. If we lived our lives by avoiding lawsuits, we'd be screwed, and not in a good way.
It's the ones who somehow sneak through the psych eval and other screenings that need the hand-holding and babysitting. They shouldn't be getting the DS.
This is just my opinion, BTW. I'm not an attorney, doctor, nurse, or anything, really.
And anyone can be sued at any time for any reason. If we lived our lives by avoiding lawsuits, we'd be screwed, and not in a good way.
I. am. not. a. doctor.
HW 250ish SW 219 CW 110 LW 100
*sigh* That would require the person to be intelligent, researched, prepared and not prone to self-sabotage. That's a lot of "ifs."
I'm reminded of the person with whom I corresponded a while back who was in great distress over rapidly declining protein levels and a bad belly reaction to whey type supplements. When I asked about EATING MEAT, person responded that meat consumption was severely limited due to finances. Person could only afford steak twice a week. Therefore very little meat was being consumed.
I responded, of course, "Um, how about hamburger? Chicken thighs? Eggs? Cheese? Canned tuna? Whatever fish is on sale at your local fish place (person lived next to ocean in place with LOTS of fish options)?"
Answer? "OHHHH. I had no idea those things contained protein. Can you write up a high protein diet for me?"
Scary stuff. Unfortunately, as the DS becomes more available with insurance, more people are going to get cut but not educated in these practices that have ****ty programs. And often as not those same programs will tell their patients, whom they are so woefully shortchanging, to not believe what they read on the Internet in places like this one. Hell, they could at LEAST steal one of the couple of good handbooks available online (like the one Dr. Keshishian uses) and hand that out, but often as not it doesn't even go that far.
*sigh*
I'm reminded of the person with whom I corresponded a while back who was in great distress over rapidly declining protein levels and a bad belly reaction to whey type supplements. When I asked about EATING MEAT, person responded that meat consumption was severely limited due to finances. Person could only afford steak twice a week. Therefore very little meat was being consumed.
I responded, of course, "Um, how about hamburger? Chicken thighs? Eggs? Cheese? Canned tuna? Whatever fish is on sale at your local fish place (person lived next to ocean in place with LOTS of fish options)?"
Answer? "OHHHH. I had no idea those things contained protein. Can you write up a high protein diet for me?"
Scary stuff. Unfortunately, as the DS becomes more available with insurance, more people are going to get cut but not educated in these practices that have ****ty programs. And often as not those same programs will tell their patients, whom they are so woefully shortchanging, to not believe what they read on the Internet in places like this one. Hell, they could at LEAST steal one of the couple of good handbooks available online (like the one Dr. Keshishian uses) and hand that out, but often as not it doesn't even go that far.
*sigh*
If only, right? And a very few DS surgeons make a significant effort to reach this kind of goal....that of only giving a DS to people with the brains and mental health to make it work right. But that is too much to ask of just a surgeon. S/he would need a whole team, none of whom felt the slightest obligation to any bottom line other than the integrity of the procedure and an honest assessment of patient suitability. And dang, we ***** all the time here about surgeons who try to do just that.....
Thing is, they tend to do like Dr. Bonnani and Dr. Antavi.... can't spell his name.... and use an arbitrary number to weed people out. It isn't about size. How could this be addressed at the ASMBS level, I wonder? What kind of tools could be developed and put into surgeon's hands to make their lives easier?
Thing is, they tend to do like Dr. Bonnani and Dr. Antavi.... can't spell his name.... and use an arbitrary number to weed people out. It isn't about size. How could this be addressed at the ASMBS level, I wonder? What kind of tools could be developed and put into surgeon's hands to make their lives easier?
Ya I added a "note" to his listing a while ago ;)
Fernando Bonanni, MD *
Fernando Bonanni, MD *
Abington Memorial Hospital
Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
225 Newtown Rd, 2nd Floor
Warminster, PA 18974
Phone: 215-441-6800
Fax: 215-441-6810
~ Please note, it has been reported that Dr. Bonanni is no longer performing Duodenal Switch surgery on patients with less than 150 lbs to lose, unless they are diabetic or have a condition requiring NSAIDs.
I have fretted some about the few stories I have heard from patients of Dr. Simper....complications and issues. If we could drum up more patient testimonials from his DSers it would be very nice. He's basically just about the only Western (not West Coast) DS option except for Dr. Christian Oakley (sp?), whose name virtually never comes up here even though he seems to have pretty good results among the few folks who have shown up on OH.
Input about these two folks please?
Input about these two folks please?
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