Trying to talk to the surgeon about RNY vs DS is impossible!

My surgeon advertises that he performs the lap-band, sleeve, RNY, and DS. At the initial consultation, I was pretty set on the RNY, and talked to him for about 5 minutes about it. Since then, I've been doing a LOT of reading during this 3 month pre-op nutrition counseling. I'm really interested in the DS now and want to go with that surgery! At my last meeting with the nutritionist, I brought it up, and she mentioned that he does a couple of them a year. I talked to the nurse, too, and she said he probably wouldn't consider me for a DS as I only (ha)  have a little over 200lbs to lose, and the DS is usually reserved for people that weigh 500+ pounds.

If this is true, I might need to consider going to the surgeons in Dayton, OH instead, as I know they do DS surgeries, often I think.

But trying to get an answer and talk to my surgeon is proving impossible! I called the office today, and asked if he could answer my questions over the phone or via email. She told me I needed to wait until the pre-op appointment to talk to him!! Isn't that where they schedule my surgery date and everything? I don't want to wait until then. What if I have to start the process over in Dayton? She also said I could go to another informational seminar and wait in line to chat with him after it's over. The next seminar is nearly a month away, and it's a 45 minute drive just to sit there and wait through another seminar.

Is it always so difficult to talk to the surgeon? If he's so unavailable now, how will it be after surgery?

If you want a DS, make sure your surgeon is vetted.  Someone who only does a couple a year is not who I would pick. Ever.  It is a complicated surgery and needs the best.  No the DS can be done on even lightweights-there are many of us.  I only weighed 205, of course I am of the sawed-off variety.  Go to DSfacts.com and make sure you have a vetted surgeon.

And if my surgeon treated me like you describe, he would be gone no matter who he is.  The DS is a proactive person's surgery.

If you have something you want to discuss with your surgeon, you should be able to do that prior to your pre op appt.  How do you know you even want to schedule a pre op appt if you haven't been able to get answers to your questions.  I would not use a surgeon that refused to answer my questions, period.

If I wanted the DS, I also would not let a doc that only did a couple a year do mine.  I would want an experienced surgeon doing mine.

Heather, try Dayton...your surgeon isn't vetted to do a DS. (dsfacts.com) And if he only "reserves" it for the SSMO, he's not doing anyone a favor.

Plus a couple of times A YEAR????? My surgeon, even tho also NOT a vetted surgeon does 2-5 a WEEK!

I had no trouble getting to talk to my surgeon pre-op but I haven't even seen him post op AFTER leaving the hospital. And my surgery was 21 months ago.

Liz

Get a new surgeon.  I was no way over 500 pounds, yet I was 200 pounds overwieght.  (The only time in my life I was a "super acheiver"-ha!)  I've seen the RNY performed on people who weight more than 600 pounds, so weight alone does not determine surgery type. That nurse is a moron. And so is the surgeon if he keeps an employee who spouts such ignorant **** waddle.


Not responsible for spelling errors since OH has still not resolved the glitch that send me to weird sites when I click the spell check button.

 Definitely move on to Dayton if you're interested in a DS.  You don't want a surgeon perform that rarely does.  This is your insides we're talking about here!

Don't worry about having to start over either.  You only want one surgery, so get the one you want no matter how long it takes.

As to difficulty reaching the surgeon, that's very common.  The office staff is trained to deflect your questions to the nurse or the nutritionist.  I have the same problem.

Please, PLEASE, look into getting a new surgeon. Any surgeon who tells you that the DS is "only for people who weigh over 500 pounds" is an idiot. ANYONE who qualifies for WLS qualifies for the DS. And certainly, anyone who needs/wants to lose 200 pounds NEEDS the DS.

There are far better surgeons in your area.

 This surgeon sounds more like a "bait and don't switch" surgeon. Some say they do the DS, but have done so few, or none, that they aren't really comfortable doing it and persuade patients once they get them through the door that something else would be better for them. Usually, it's just what's better for the surgeons comfort level and pocket book, with no regard to what's easiest and best for you to live and succeed with. 


And 500 lbs??? Puhleeese. Sure, the DS is the most effective on the super (or super super super...)morbidly obese, but it's most effective for the rest of us too.

The fact is, the requirements for the DS, or RNY or the sleeve are exactly the same, and any surgeon that is trying to tell you otherwise is full of it.

 Even though I have the same doc as you I haven't had a problem with talking to him. I haven't talk to him so say him, but the nurse has went to him when I was having issues with my galbladder and he is the one that anwered the questions, and that's why it came out. There is a doc in toledo patick white that is a good guy as well, my coworker husband had surgery there in feb. I don't know if I could trust someone who does a few a year. When I went to the semailr there was a guy there who had the DS done by lalor and was looking great. My guess is you would have to start everything all over again if you go to someone else. I would ask the nurse that you want an answer from lalor right away if you are consider for the DS. He memtaion the DS to me and I'm 130 pounds over weight by the cart. Deman is what I would do.

Thanks for the insight, guys! The nurse ended up leaving me a voicemail after their office was closed to let me know she was there to answer any questions I might have. So, I can call her back tomorrow. I also registered for the Dayton surgeon's seminar next week so I can see what he has to say!