Pound4Pound
Phase II Has Begun
Mar 14, 2009
March 14, 2009It is definitely time
for a journey update. As I mentioned in my last post my journey has the same destination, it just has a new road map. I started with getting referred by my PCP for a lap-band with a local surgeon. Local surgeon enlightened me on the RNY (Oh WOW!!!
). My researching then discovered the Holy Grail of WLS. 
The Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch
. At this point in the journey I researched and chose my surgeon. His name is Dr. Dennis Smith, Jr., MD, FACS in Marietta, Georgia at The Advanced Obesity Surgery Center. And OMG am I impressed with this man! In the WLS world I have discovered that our surgeons are like our kids. Whoever your surgeon is, he is the best in the world (at least to you anyways). Yours is OK, but mine is the best. Dr. Smith does all of his surgeries laparoscopically which was important to me. He says he can actually see everything better. Just 2 minutes in a room alone with this man and you know he is the right choice. He is calm. intelligent, to the point and you cannot stump him. It is not a one-way street with this man. You must be right for him and he must be right for you or this surgery ain't going to happen. He does not bend or budge on anything he requires or expects of you. If you want long term success, in my humble opinion, this is the type surgeon you must seek. Please don't take this the wrong way. He is very serious about your safety and success, but he isn't a hard ass. He even chuckled a bit with me during our session. Just don't go in thinking he will bend the rules for you. Would you really want him to? The Advance Obesity Surgery Center and Dr. Dennis Smith, Jr. have been awarded the "Center of Excellence" designation as a bariatric center. This badge has to be earned.
Enough about Dr. Smith for now. As for me, Thursday March 14th I had my nutritionist consultation. I went Friday March 13th and all in one swoop got my Upper GI, gallbladder ultrasound and pre-op labs done (15 vials of blood mind you). Things I have left to do are a cardiac clearance, pulmonary clearance and a psychiatric clearance. I've already had the cardiac and pulmonary tests done. I just need to meet with the doctors and have them issue a clearance to Dr. Smith. I also quit smoking on December 29, 2008. I have been cigarette free long enough now to qualify for surgery. I
everyday I will never pick up another cigarette. There are many things I have done in my life that I wish I hadn't, but picking up my first cigarette is so far out in front at #1 it really needs it's own category. Looks like my locomotive in picking up steam. I'm getting
. Wish me luck!
0 Comments
About Me
Prattville, AL
Location
26.2
BMI
Surgery
11/06/2009
Surgery Date
Oct 14, 2008
Member Since
