Back from the Seminar...WOW!

Let Me Start by saying thank you again for all the support you all have given me on here.  It's been VERY helpful.  I went to the seminar at the Kane center yesterday, hosted by Dr. Wallace.  It was VERY informative, and pushed me off the cliff into the abyss that is WLS.  I'm gonna do it (the RNY).  I have called my insurance company, and I have to do the six month supervised diet.  So the ball is rolling, and I know I'm in for a crazy ride.  As some of you may have read...I was heavily considereing the DS.  But my insurance DOES NOT cover it, and Dr. Wallace seemed pretty opposed to it due to the MASSIVE mal-absorbtion.  He also said it was an over-all riskier procedure.  So much conflicting info...it's like banging your head against the wall. 

 I feel I will do well with the RNY. I'm ready for all the changes.  I'm ready to REALLY LIVE.

I'm supposed to schedule my consultation within the next few days.  I want either Dr Kane or Dr Guske for my surgeon.  I was VERY impressed with the Kane Center, and how cautious their surgeons are about this surgery.  I'm happy to have you guys to talk with, and I visit here all the time to read all the posts.  Thanks again for all the help.

Laura

Well, even in the bariatric world with the docs there is conflicting info so you just have to weigh (pun intended) the odds as to what is conflicting and what is fact. Some docs just need to be educated. The Kane docs just do a few different procedures with the major ones being RNY and the band.

I am curious why you are choosing Jimmy Kane or Pauly Guske when you went to the seminar with Dr Jonathan? By the way my DH had his WLS with Dr Rantis and Dr Jonathan assisted.

I did not have my surgery with any at the Kane Center but have a wonderful relationship with Jimmy as he saved my life in '91 when I had a gall bladder issue that turned into pancreatitis and I spent 117 (yes one hundred and seventeen) days in NW Community Hospital, him and his dad saved my life. That was well before the Kane's even had the group of docs that are in the office now.

That is a long time to spend anywhere.  Pancreatitis is no fun and is the worst pain I ever remember being in.  It had me screaming in public with very little worry what any who heard thought.  Then all of the questions of a teetotaller about what drinking binges I might have been on.  It was enough to drive a guy to drink.

I do not remember much pain in the form that you are talking about because I was in ICU for 6 weeks and basically not with it. I woke up on a respirator, had 17 bags of IV stuff going into me and on a special bed to prevent bedsores and asked what the date was (it was somewhere around the end of Sept and I had my gall bladder (GB) out Aug 30th) and told Dave we needed to cancel our Christmas party later in December. It was touch and go for a long time and when a doctor tells the spouse that all that can be done at that point is to pray (the Drs Kane Jr and Sr have a deep faith) then you know the patient is in bad shape.

Dave was asked the same of me about how much alcohol I drank - blah, blah, blah. I was not a total non drinker but an occasional scotch or beer. The thing that pushed me over the edge into pancreatitis is the fact that I let my GB go for close to 2 years and I had stones in my bile duct for eons, this is what caused my problems.

Hey Christine...

When I scheduled my seminar they did not ask if I had a surgeon preference at that time.  I guess I didn't realize they all rotated on a schedule.  I may actually attend again, as I have a very good friend who wants to go and see what I will be going through and what I'm up against.  For that one I will try to get either Dr Kane or Dr Guske as presenter.  

My mother works with some folks who have had the surgery, and Dr Kane and Dr Guske come VERY highly recommended from them.  So that is why I am choosing one of them.    

I'm nervous...VERY nervous.  But I am also at an amazing peace with myself and my decision.  I have hope...and I guess I forgot how having hope feels.



Thanks

Laura 

No, they will not ask you if you have a surgeon preference when you schedule for the seminar because many times the docs change their schedule at the last minute. Sometimes the girls that run the seminar do not know until the last minute which doc is going to show up. You can attend as many seminars as you care to as they are all free.

Why are you nervous? There is nothing to be nervous about. You should have an anticipation of the unknown . . .  I was never more comfortable with my decision to have WLS than most things in my life.

I am comfortable about my decision.  I have NEVER been more sure about anything in my life.  I guess I'm nervous about the actual surgery itself.  I have never had surgery...and have never been in the hospital.  Those are the things I'm nervous about.  I know in time that nervousness will fade.

I look forward to sharing this incredible ride with you guys.  Thank you for all the advice and kind words...it REALLY helps.

Laura

Laura. i think the Kane Center is awesome. I love Dr. Guske, of course his was the seminar speaker I went to.

Make sure your Dr. records every weigh in, ect. If you miss one month, they make you start over. Make a record page, and have him sign it each time along with the weight and if you gained or lossed.

You are at the beginning of the ride of your life.

Hugs,
Lisa

Thank you Lisa!!  I'm looking forward to the ride...and sharing it with you guys!!!

Laura

You right where I was last year.. I all seams hopeless right now.. You're thinking HOW will I ever get there.. But, it really goes by QUICKLY.. The ride really isnt that crazy.. It seams that way right now but next year you'll be wondering WHAT the bid deal was.

During insr approval phase, DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The visits to the Dietitian, The Visits to your PCP. Another thing that was suggested to me by Michelle  in the insr dept durring this phase was to get Weigh****chers records.. So if you havent saved any from the past start going now and submit that record along with your insr paperwork for some reason the insr companies like to see that. Toooooooooooo Much Documentation is better the too little.