dr. gary belzberg kaiser harbor city

Hello Everyone

I have a consultation with dr. Belzberg in Harbor City for the Vsg procedure. Has anyone had surgery with him and what was your experience. I am nervous about the VSG procedure not knowing what to expect. I am kind of up in the air about the whole thing only because I am scared and don 't want any complications. I was approved for the RNY but decided against it because I didn't want any rerouting of my intestine or malabsorption issue. Any infomation is greatly appreciated

Thanks
Shawnacmt

Dr. Belzberg did my RNY in 2006.  Personally I did not like him as a person but he is a good surgeon. My husband was very nervous about my surgery so I brought him to an appt to speak with the dr.  Well Dr. B told my husband that he did not believe in the surgery and that people should lose weight on their own. I was so mad. I brought my dh there to get his fears in check and the dr doesn't believe in the surgery? WTF!!!!  Is he just in it for the money? I still got my surgery with him because I didn't want to start over and I only has a choice of one other surgeon. I knew from research he had good surgery hands and I didn't want him for his personality. His beside manner stinks and so does his cologne.  Also I asked him about getting my gallbladder out while he was in there and he said no. I had to have my gb out a little over a year after my rny. So I wasn't too happy about that either. Luckily there is a whole team of people for aftercare so I didn't have to see him much. 

Oh yeah. One more thing.  When I had to get my gb out I did not have kaiser insurance anymore so had a new WL surgeon following my case. After they took out my gb I was still really sick and they needed to do exploratory surgery to see what was wrong. My new surgeon called Dr B to ask about my rny.  He would not call her back even after repeated messages. He only called back after she left a message saying she went to med school with his brother. I ended up having an internal hernia repaired and have been good since.

Michi

Hey Shawna,

I did not have the VSG, but one of the girls in my Kaiser class went up to Harbor City and had this DR, and LOVES him. She had the procedure in December and is losing steadily with NO PROBLEMS!
I wish you success.
Hugzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,
Sweeny

Dr Belzberg was my surgeon in November 2007 when I had my VSG.  I love that he was just a matter of fact person.  We discussed ALL the various WLS procedures and scheduled my VSG 2 weeks after I saw him.  I am thankful to him for his skill as a surgeon.  Feel free to check out my profile =)

Ms Shell

Hi Shawna,

I'm not a frequent poster, but I do read the boards daily.  Let me start by saying that I love my sleeve.  Before my sleeve, I would never feel full after eating.  Now, I get full, and I am completely satisfied.  I don't miss eating big meals in the least. 

Dr. Belzberg did my sleeve.  I believe he is a very good surgeon, just not very personable.  He did a very good job with my sleeve using a (loose) 34f bougie; however, I quit losing weight at 5-6 months out, and have not lost weight in 7 months.  I still have plenty of restriction, but the restriction is just not enough to get me to goal.  I think the sleeve is a great tool if you have a lower BMI of maybe 35-40.  If you have a higher BMI like I did, you may never get to goal, let alone stay there, without some malabsorption IMHP.  At least that has been the case with me. 

There are no long term studies that prove the efficacy of the sleeve over a long period of time.  There are people who have made it to goal, but only time will tell if they are able to keep the weight off.  And like I said, it's the people who have a lower BMI that have an easier time making it to goal.  I truly hope that the people who do make their goal weight can keep the weight off.  I'm not trying to bum you out or bring you down, I'm just speaking from my own experience and from the studies I have read.   

Right now I am fighting Kaiser (again) to complete the 2nd part of the DS so I can have some malabsorption.  Kaiser is willing to convert my sleeve into a gastric bypass, but is not willing to give me a DS which is my right to have.  The gastric bypass is not an option for me because of the meds I take (NSAIDS) and will be taking for the rest of my life. 

Like you, I used to be afraid of the malabsorption of the DS.  But after much research, I am no longer afraid.  You just have to commit to taking all your supplements (no exceptions) for the rest of your life, just like any other WLS.  From what I have read, the trend with the DS seems to be going in the direction of making a smaller stomach, a longer ailimentary limb, and a longer common channel so the DS patient can absorb more nutrients.

So, like I said,  I believe if a person has a lower BMI, they have a better chance of making it to goal with the sleeve.  I also want to add that even though I haven't lost weight in 7 months, I have maintained the loss I did have during the first 5-6 months.  I have never been able to maintain any weight loss in the past, so that speaks well of the sleeve.  The problem for me is that even though I have maintained this weight loss, I am still morbidly obese and I still have all of my comorbidities.  Feel free to PM me if you have any further questions.

I hope this helps!

Terry

Hi!
I hope the person reads this that first started this blog.  I had my surgery a  Gastric By pass Roux N Y in July 2009.  My surgeon Dr. Gene Rumsey, from Pacific Bariatrics, did the surgery at Scripps Mercey Hospital in San Diego.  I am a Kaiser patient.  He is a wonderful MD, great bedside manner and I did wonderfully after surgery.  I lost weight before surgery on my own from 287 to 180 then went back up again.  Another round of dieting and another 100 pounds lost.  When I started to seriously investigate the surgery for myself, I was afraid Kaiser would turn me down at 183, so I lost down to 255 before I went to my first meeting.  Unfortunately I had had a Colonoscopy and prepped for that and when I weighed in at the meeting I was 250.  Which of course was fluid loss from the prep and even sticking to the meal plan I was back up to 255 at the second class meeting.  When I weighed in the day of surgery I was 200 and when I was discharged four days later I was 204, again the fluids they gave me for sugery caused this.  For one year I was absolutely on target and had no complications.  I knew the number one complication was LEAKS and the number two was BOWEL OBSTRUCTIONS.  When I developed the symptoms of number two in 2010 I went to urgent care, but they said it was gastro enteritis to fast and let the stomach heal.  I tried to explain about being a post By Pass patient, but everyone knew more than me and when I asked they contact a bariatric MD then said if I wasn't better in three days to come back.  By the third day I was in misery and went straight to the nearest ER.  Again right away I asked they contact a bariatric surgeon at Kaiser and I told them I was post Bi-Pass.  To make a long story short, I was in the ED for over 24 hours, not hydrated enough, had a RN try to put an NG down me which I told them wouldnot work with me and may puncture my pouch, the morning came and a surgical doctor came in.  I told him that i was post  By Pass and that I was asking all night long to call a bariatric surgeon.  The words were not even out of my mouth when he turned around and chewed out the ER MD and called Harbor City and spoke to Dr. Belzberg who immediately accepted me.  It took hours for the process to transfer me those 60 or so miles.  When I got there he was waiting for me and within minutes I was in the ED for surgery.  BOTTOM LINE:  Dr. Belzberg save my life!  His bedside manner was great.  HIs care was great.  I sit here today, because the surgeon intervened and Dr. Belzberg took quick action. 
I lost a total of 170 pounds from the highest recorded weight at my PCP's office.  At 18 months  the malabsorption and starvation phase passed and I was able to eat better and food tasted better.  So I have gained 17 pounds and am 134.  I look a lot better and feel a lot better at this weight. I went from a size 28 -30 dress to a size 8!

Dr. Belsberg is a great Bariatric physician like Dr. Rumsey.  I would recommend either of them to anyone I know.  I meet regularly at bariatric Support meetings with many other of their patient's and hear first hand how satisfied they are with their care.  I  hope that by this time the person beginning this blog has had their surgery.  My reccommendations to those *****ad this in the future are these:
1.  Do everything the MD tells you
2.  Make sure you hydrate and take all of your vitamins as instructed
3.  Attend a Bariatric Support Group Regularly even if you are 2  or 5 years out, go to the Back On Track  part of the meetings and make sure you stay on the right road to successful wieght loss and retain it.
4. Really investigate where you are going to have your surgery done, sites like this one are important
5.  If you can speak to a few people who have had the By Pass done it is good to remember that everyone is different and responds differently to the surgery in some ways.
6. LAST BUT MOST IMPORTANT - If you think something is wrong go back to your surgeon right away.  If you go to a Urgent Care or ER, be adamant that they call a Bariatric MD to see you or at least consult with them on the care you need!

Sorry in the delay for responding, but thank you everyone for your input. I will continue to pray and research the vsg procedure. I will have my questions for the dr and forge full speed ahead and make my decision after my consultation.