Peoples Experiences

Hi to all, Can anyone give me some feedback on the dr's you have choosen? Timeframes, personalities, just plain and simple what you think/thought of you doctors? I am in the waiting game part with Dr Barba's office and although I would love to have him to the surgery I just can't wait another 6 months. I have done ALL the pre surgery requirements and I now hear there is at least 50 people that need to be scheduled JUST to see him the first time. Mind you during this waiting game I am supposed to keep off the weight I lost. If I could do that I wouldn't need the surgery!!!! Not trying to be funny just frustrated.... any help or advise is welcome!!

Slow down! If you can find a doctor to do this surgery sooner..you are asking for trouble! The doctor has a big following for a reason, probably because he is a good surgeon! I waited an entire year for all my appts to be done...before I had my surgery and, at first I felt the same way you do...I wanted the surgery yesterday!! I had lots of confidence in my doctor *Dr Aranow..and was willing to wait. I learned so much in the months that I waited. I know of someone who had all her pre op visits in Nov of 2002 and surgery Dec of 2002...one month! This person suffered for an entire year with vomiting, malnutrician and was hospitalized twice...the last time for three months...She finally found a specialist in NY who would try to help her...they ended up resecting lots of bowel, because the surgery was done incorrectly. She almost died...I am happy to say she is doing great now, six months later. My point is..she went into this hastily...and got poor results. I say, wait and learn. I hope this helps...I do hope you do not take offense to anything I said... Joanie RNY 7/2/04

Carrie: My doctor, Dr. Tran, is in Bridgeport. What is wonderful about him is that he is a part of the Bridgeport Hospital Weight Management Center and has his own group of physicians. The cardiologist, nutritionist, psychologist .. they are all at Bridgeport Hospital. I had my appointments with the specialists pretty much done before my consult with Dr. Tran. He was absolutely wonderful. I love Joanie, but do not agree with her 100%. I think there are wonderful surgeons all over CT whether their planners are filled up for one month, six months, a year .. it's important to do research and I will tell you the reasons I chose Dr. Tran. I went to several support group meetings for several doctors. At Dr. Trans, he has a professional speaker each month. The post-op patients shared experiences and didn't have many questions about what stage they were in and what they should/should not be doing/eating. They were very well educated. At one of the other doctors meetings, this question was raised: "Should I start taking a multi-vitamin?" I almost walked out right then and there. There are doctors that use a drain and doctors that do not. Dr. Tran uses a drain, this way you can see if there is a leak after surgery, prior to the swallow test. He also has had only ONE leak that was repaired right away and no fatalities. A nice touch, he said a prayer with me right before surgery. I LOVE HIM and I would forever recommend him. And by the way, from the start of my appointments, to surgery .. 6 weeks and I am doing well! Tara

Carrie, I read everything I could get my hands on about the surgery before I had it. I went to three dr, consults before I chose my surgeon. One of the main reasons I chose him was because I knew several people who had him do the surgery before mine. Not one of these people had any major complications and all of them loved him and highly recommended him. Even if you go with your first choice-I would go to a second consult. By the way it took me almost 8 months from the beginning of my testing etc to my surgery date-But here I am one year later than that first consult and happy that I made this decision. I am never going back to where I was. Hugs, Elaine

I am still pre-op but I already think the world of my doctor, Jonathan Aranow out of Middletown. He is VERY thorough in his pre-op evaluation which I appreciate very much. At first I just wanted the surgery right away. I am and have always been a big fan of instant gratification and once I made up my mind that I wanted the surgery I didn't want to wait 8 days let alone wait 8 months! During the process (which at times felt like it would never end!) I came to the realization that what was best for me was to have all this preoperative testing to make sure that when it was my turn that I had the best and healthiest results possible. After all, that is what it is all about! Playing the waiting game has given me time to more fully research the surgery and to mentally prepare myself for it even more than I was in the beginning of my journey. Dr. Aranow is a wonderfully nice and very intelligent compentent doctor who I feel truly cares about his patients. I started my journey back in January and my surgery is scheduled in 3 weeks. So all in all it took about 8 months from start to finish. My advice is to go see any specialists that you think your surgeon might require from you such as a cardioligist, sleep specialist, pulmonoligist, etc. Start making a diet history and try to be as through and complete as you can. Start exercising now (if you haven't already) it will make surgery and recovery easier. Good luck and hope you find the doctor that is right for you!

Another patient of Dr. Aranow, going to chime in here. I'd never let anypone but Dr. Aranow touch me with a ten foot pole. HOWEVER, you'll find that most of us feel very passionately about the surgeons we choose. Some of this is a little OT, but I feel the need to say it anyway... Personally, and this is JMHO, I think if you have not looked at other surgeons, you are doing yourself a dis-service. Most surgeons who have a long list, have one for a good reason. Did you know that 2 1/2 years ago, I could only find 6 doctors in this entire state that I considered even marginally qualified to perform this surgery? Today, on this web site alone, there are over 15 listed as performing this surgery. Don't tell me that they're all suddenly highly qualified, competent surgeons, out to cure the world of obesity one patient at a time and dedicated to our long term success. That's just not realistic. IF (and I do mean only IF YOU HAVE RESEARCHED) you feel strongly that Dr. Barba is the most competent surgeon for you and you are totally comfortable with his aftercare, then your only logical choice is to wait. Choosing someone JUST because they can do surgery quicker, or rationolizing that they are the best because they can operate quickly is quite possibly the worst mistake you'll ever make in your life. I can't caution you strongly enough against it. Waiting is frustrating, but it's not the end of the world. It will give you time to get yourself in the right frame of mind (get yourself some psych counciling, if possible) and to prepare physically (loose weight, improve your cardiovascular health by exercising, quit smoking, etc) Good luck to you, whatever you decide. Lisa C

I am going to Dr. Aranow because of his track record with little complications from the surgery. I was so impressed with him. And I'm a firm believer that you talk to people who have already had the surgery and see what they say. Everyone I have spoken to has raved about Dr. Aranow and is totally confident in him. After meeting him, I've jumped on the band wagon. He's brilliant. I trust him with my life. I met Dr. Barba and his group, and I did not have that same feeling. Just my opinion. Also, Dr. Aranow doesn't have as long a wait as Dr. Barba. That was just an additional bonus.

Hi Carrie, I can only say "ditto" to everything that was said here - especially from Lisa. You need to be confident in your surgeon's abilities, and you really should check out another surgeon. I live in East Windsor and chose Dr. Bell at Yale because of his experience and his great track record. He is a highly talented laproscopic surgeon, and I would recommend him to anyone seeking Lap RNY. If the only reason you are thinking of switching is because it might be quicker, then you need to rethink a bit. If there are other reasons, then you should do some additional research while you wait. Hope this helps. God Bless, Kathy Bilodeau Lap RNY 12/3/03 -94 lbs. and NO complications!