Newbie here on board - VSG and research surgery ???'s

Jen_mn
on 5/10/09 12:38 am
Hi everyone,
This board has been so helpful to me.  I am still in the research phase of which type of surgery to have and would appreciate all the wonderful advise I could get. 
1.  Has anyone here had a VSG done in Minnesota and if so which MD?  
2.  Has anyone had the research surgery being done at the Uof M where they go down the esophagus?
Stacy M.
on 5/10/09 3:51 am, edited 5/10/09 3:57 am - Woodbury, MN
I don't know which surgeons will still do the VSG. I looked into it and all the surgeons I could go to  (according to my medical insurance) - well none would do it. Basically I was told the RNY has replaced it, VSG has higher risks, and that RNY has basically replaced VSG and most surgeons have abandoned VSG.  That was just the feedback I got.

I went to the information session for that research study at the U and it did not interest me at all. I didn't like the procedure- it was basically stapling of the stomach opening just below the esophagus opens into the stomach, leaving the rest of the stomach.. so yes it does restrict what you can swallow, but it doesn't reduce the actual size of your stomach... THE HUGE FACTOR of it is that the surgeons there have only done 4.. yes I said 4... of the procedures at the U... and they are only looking to do 40 patients total. I'm sorry but I have no interest in a procedure that has only been done 4 times by a sugeon.. no thank you.  The other factor to it is that you are followed by them for one year.. and thats it. zip, zero, nada after that.. you can continue to be followed by the U of MN bariatric office but its under your own cost and insurance. And they couldn't even guarentee if our own insurance would cover us for medical coverage for follow-up if we had a "research" or "investigational" procedure. They said it could also possibly be seen as a pre-existing condition and not covered by insurance. There were just too many combinations of weirdness with it that I didn't care for.


Stacy
I'M FINALLY A LOSER
  TOO!!!

HW 240  SW 229  CW 160.4   FG 150     FG 130-140          
highest   surgery   current        first goal   
final goal       


 

*~ Dayner Dee ~*
on 5/10/09 8:31 pm - East Burbs, MN
WELCOME Jen...!!  Wishing you all the best on your journey!!


Dana      
 

    

Jen_mn
on 5/11/09 8:32 am
Thanks for the input.  This is definitely a very hard choice........  
happy girl
on 5/11/09 10:12 am
Do you mean the Sleeve or VBG?




2003 RNY, 2007 Revision Distal RNY
April 17, 2009 ~ fleur de lis TT w/Muscle Repair, Medial Thigh Lift, Ventral Hernia Repair 


  

 

Jen_mn
on 5/12/09 12:20 pm
I meant the sleeve
seashell6417
on 5/11/09 12:42 pm - Gaylord, MN
Assuming you mean VSG and not VBG I think you will find Dr. Krook at HCMC is trained.  When I was considering the sleeve he was the only doctor that I found in the area trained on it.  At that time he had been trained but had not performed any surgeries because health insurance companies in this area still considered it experimental and did not cover it.
Tami

Jen_mn
on 5/12/09 12:21 pm
How long ago did you research Dr Krook?
Diamond Girl
on 5/11/09 3:51 pm - Ham Lake, MN
Go for the full Duodenal Switch ("DS"). That's my recommendation based on what you're looking into. Dr. Buchwald or Dr. Ikrammuding at the UofM perform.

As for your second question, I'm not aware anyone in MN has had the Stomaphyx, but that would be for a revision RNY patient. If you are not referring to Stomaphyx, please clarify.
Jen_mn
on 5/12/09 12:23 pm
I haven't really looked in to the DS yet.  I see that you have had it.  Any regrets?? Or why did you opt for that surgery. 
I am not sure what the name of the research surgery that Dr Ikrammudin is doing.  All I do know is that it is non-invasive and they go down thru the esophagus.
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