"My surgeon has always kept me well-informed and has been patient with my questions, anxiety level and addressed my family as well.
The staff at Duke University WLS is superb. I have been well taken of there. I feel as if I have been their only WLS patient. I know this is surely not true! Their level of expertise is surely learned.
The thing I liked least is that I would have liked to have seen her more after surgery. I saw several other doctors from her office and under her supervision, but no one knew me like her, or at least I had the most comfort with her. I had some high blood pressure concerns and the attending physician cautiously monitored me. Literally, sitting at the foot of my bed in ICU. All of them took good care of me. However, this is my experience with most surgeons. You see them about once a day.
The Duke WLS aftercare program is extensive. It includes a dietician, nurse practioner and a psychiatrist specializing in bariatric/obesity issues. One must sign a contract to cooperate for a minimum of one year. I guess they come after you if you dont!!!
All surgery risks, complications and short/long term risks were addressed...one by one...in a small group meeting. Family was invited. The surgeon also informed us how many deaths were attached to each one, if any. Some people, like myself, are curious about this. Duke WLS has completed over 1400 bariatric surgeries. If interested, to this date, they have had a total of 4 deaths. God knows best for all of us. "
