tonights meeting

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Tonight I went to one of those programs where the doctor presents his

clinic and his surgery of choice. I waited after all had left to ask a few

specific questions on the DS. His talk covered several wls but not the DS.

Well, finally afterwards I asked him why the RNY over the DS. He said two

things. More malabsorptive (sp) problems with DS and he was a

conservative doctor. I also asked what he had been taught in med school,

only the RNY.

He was a nice man, knew quite a bit. He understood that I knew quite a bit

for a potential patient.

Boy was I sad as I left.

The nutritionist spoke about how much the life change would be. She kept

showing how much food you could eat, how you needed to chew your food to

mush, etc. They said the stomach will eventually get to 3-4 ounce ability

and that you would have to eat low fat, low calorie for the rest of your

life.

The stats they gave were: 10 % of patients at 5 years have gained back all

of their weight. Most lose 75 % excess weight loss and then gain back

about 10 %. I think he said they reach the nadir point and bounce back.

The most successful patients were those who lost the weight and then

developed an aggressive exercise program.

When they talked about the food issues I wanted to choke. I really want

the DS. I explained to the Doctor how I felt the DS offered a better

quality of life with a more normal eating pattern developed in the end

stages.

Tomorrow, I am going to call the one Doctor in Colorado that this doctor

said would have any idea about DS done in Colorado. He is the leading

surgeon in wls in Colorado with the most experience. Their packet they

sent me was only about the RNY so I don't have much hope. I am then

calling Dr. K, Dr. Athone, and Dr. Welker to see if they will even

consider my insurance coverage or have any hopes there.

Discouraged and limited in Colorado.

i