Has anyway heard of David C. Voellinger?

I am a former patient of Dr. V; However, I did not have my DS with him.

 

My experience was frustrating. 

1. His pre-op process was expensive and very rigirous.  The program fee was pretty steep (don't remember $$$ it's been 4 yrs ago). If you are on Medicaid, this may be a factor for you. Insurance likely wont cover this.

2. There was LOTS of pre-op testing.  This is good in a sense, but my problem was it ALL had to be done at his office or with people he works with in Charlotte. I live in GA, this meant several trips back and forth.  They did do a very good job of trying to schedule several tests, and specialist visits on the same day for me.

 

3. The paperwork process was ridiculous. This is the reason I gave up with them!  They would lose stuff, not submit to insurance on time, not return calls timely. I finally started communicating everything via email, so I would have a paper trail and would CC him on all of them.  Luckily I always made sure to get my own copies of every test and visit, so I had them on hand to send when they lost it which was frequent. 

4. I was never treated rudely in an overt manner, but I did not feel like I was important to them. I felt like the office had more patients than they could handle.

 

As far  as his skills as a surgeon, I only know of the one guy he had a bad result with years ago when he first started. I think this must be why he is overly careful with the   pre-op process now.  It is VERY thorough, and he will not cut corners or grant exceptions.   Rumors circulate on the wls boards about surgeons all the time.  In this patients case, people say the man was really big over 500lbs, which may have contributed. I honestly dont know.

 

As for settling for RNY....   Please dont!   Even if it meant waiting until you can self pay or get other insurance to cover the DS.   Just not worth it.   If you absolutely had to compromise, maybe go vsg and revise to DS when your situation is better but DO NOT settle for rny or a band.

This is not like going for a pedicure and settling for pink polish because the lady is out of red. You have to live with this altered tummy the rest of your life!  

 

I suggest making a trip to attend Dr. V seminar, as well as a few other surgeons 3 minimum. Preferably DRs that do all 4 surgeries to get unbiased opinions.

 This is a choice you should make yourself and not one to base on internet rumors.  Educate yourself!!!  If you are even remotely considering rny, you obviously have not mastered this step.

 

 

Thanks for the info, those are the type complaints that I keep hearing. As for RNY, I have actually done lots and lots of research which lead me to want to change my mind to the DS, but the thing is, I have a BMI of 63, so something needs to be done NOW!  If I get the sleeve and I don't have the money or insurance to be revised at a later time, I will probably fail with just the sleeve. Yes, I would prefer the DS but not to the "DS or nothing at all" level. Up until 2 months ago, I was completely content with my choice of RNY and if I have to, I will go back to being content with that choice. I doubt anyone could tell me anything about the RNY that I don't already know, good or bad. I'm just hoping that since I pretty much know every thing that I feel I need to know about it, I will be better prepared for what's to come because the DS with Dr. V is not looking promising at all. I have spoken to people who are years out from RNY and happy, just as I have spoken to DS'ers who are happy years out. 

If at all possible just get the DS.  Don't follow my footsteps and have TWO major surgeries and all the risks inherent with going under the knife twice -first for the RNY and then again for a revision to get the DS.  Also you will lose at a better rate by getting the DS because revisions seem to lose slower.

What comorbids or other health issues are you dealing with?

If diabetes, be aware that the facts on the remission rate for the RNY is not as high and there are studies coming out now showing it comes back after several years.

If you need NSAIDS, you have no option, the RNY will NOT let you have them.

PLEASE don't settle for a surgery you will end up being unhappy with. Also, after the honeymoon period, it takes HARD work and dieting to maintain on the RNY...I went into this to NOT diet again...been doing that since I was 12 years old.

It would be easier to wait and fight for the right to have the DS.

 

Another thing about Dr. Sudan is that he does not charge a program fee.  He just took what BCBS of NC paid him. This may make Dr. Sudan's office more competitive for you from an out-of-pocket price standpoint. The travel costs to Durham may be less than you think too.  If you don't have a car you can take the Amtrak from Charlotte to Durham for pretty cheap and I think there is public bus service from the Amtrak station to very near the hospital.  If someone goes with you they can stay in the recliner in your hospital room or there are some cheap hotels nearby.  I put my sister-in-law up at the Comfort Suites for a good medical rate and they offer a shuttle back and forth to the hospital.

I had my RNY with Dr V in July. I had no problems with any paperwork or insurance issues. His whole office has undergone a change in staff and things run pretty smoothly. He does not have any program fees any longer. My insurance covered everything except the NUT stuff but that is my insurance. 

I lived in NC when I had my DS.  Vollinger  had a long wait for Medicare which is the insurance I had.  Sudan was not yet in Durham so I went to Smith in Atlanta. 

I would recommend Sudan and Smith.  I don't know much about Vollinger.

~Becky