RE: Research Questionairre

[Guest guest]

April, I couldn't get this go to through to your personal email

address. Anyway, I think it would be interesting to see others'

responses! Mar.

1) VBG or Rny? Date of wls?

RNY, 10/20/99, Revision 5/4/00

2) How long did you research before having wls?

8 MONTHS

3) How many doctors did you see before choosing yours?

Interviewed three before choosing.

4) What were the deciding factors for you in choosing your wls?

I liked his demeanor and the fact he didn't try to push you into having

the surgery. Liked his pre and post-op programs and how all his post-op

patients were there to support you. He also was well versed with dietary

issues and had a dietician on staff, which three and a half years ago,

many doctors did not. Also, location was a bit of a deciding factor. He

was at very good hospital that is 20 minutes from my home. If I decided

to go with the doctor at Mt. Sinai (who I really didn't care for) and

there was a problem, I would have had to make over an hour trip in by

train to go see him and he was never really readily available. Some

people you just get along with and have a good feel for, some you don't.

I had a real good feeling about him and have recommended him to many

people since and they've all been happy with him and their results.

5) Do you feel that you have been successful? (Knowing that the

medical community feels that loosing 50% of excess weight is

considered a success)

Yes, I've been incredibly successful and exceeded my doctor's

expectations.

6) If you could do it over again, would you choose the same wls? Why

or why not?

Yes I would choose the exact same surgery with the exact same surgeon.

Best thing I've ever done for me and therefore it was the best thing I

could have ever done for my family and for those who love me.

7) Have you had complications directly resulting from the wls? Some

docs feel that my SVT is somewhat caused by the surgery. Seems to be a

metabolic/cardiac problem. Because of the surgery I do tend to get

dehydrated rather quickly and can't seem to " catch-up " when I'm down a

bit on the liquids. Being dehydrated sets off the SVT. Otherwise, I

can't say that I've had permanent problems directly related to the

surgery.

8) What co-morbidities did you have before wls? Do you still have

those after loosing the weight? If so, are they worse/better?

I was fortunate enough to do the surgery before I started getting

problems. I did snore prior to the surgery and according to my husband I

had sleep apnea. I was never formally tested. Now he says that I'm so

quite when I sleep that he puts a mirror under my nose to make sure that

I'm breathing.

Regina

[Guest guest]

OK, here goes...

1) VBG or Rny? Date of wls?

open RNY 8/11/99; stomach transection 8/24/00

2) How long did you research before having wls?

about a year

3) How many doctors did you see before choosing yours?

I had 3 consultations

4) What were the deciding factors for you in choosing your wls?

BPD/DS was not widely done then, and I didn't want all that

malabsorption anyway, but all 3 surgeons I interviewed did the RNY.

I didn't want the VBG either because I needed the dumping, as well as

the restriction.

5) Do you feel that you have been successful? (Knowing that the

medical community feels that loosing 50% of excess weight is

considered a success)

Yes, I've lost 150 pounds, and my BMI is now 24.4, just into

the " normal " range.

6) If you could do it over again, would you choose the same wls? Why

or why not?

Yes, it's the best one for me.

7) Have you had complications directly resulting from the wls?

I had a staple line disuption. Other than that, no complications.

8) What co-morbidities did you have before wls? Do you still have

those after loosing the weight? If so, are they worse/better?

My ankles were starting to swell, and my knees were getting bad, also

acid reflux. The co-morbs are gone, but I still occasionally have a

little knee pain, but nothing like before.

in NJ