Revision from VSG to DS
Hi PattyL,
Thank you for replying. Was Kaeshishian your Doctor and did you come from aother state to use him?
I checked his website, called his office and spoke to someone there about out of state patients...looks like it would take about 3 days to get the surgery after consult and testing. My concern is the cost of staying in California for several weeks and not having any local follow up, support groups etc. after the surgery....And I would not have easy access to Keshishian after surgery should something happens. By chance are you living in Arizona?
I appreciate your responce. Thank You.
No, I did not use him. But he undoubtedly one of the best. I live in Las Vegas and if I should ever need a DS specialist that's where I would go. There are none in Nevada either. He has patients all over the world and he seems to keep up with them quite well on FB and e-mail. Also he is one of the few DS surgeons who understands supplementation.
After you recover from surgery, you don't need a surgeon anymore. Any doctor you chose can order your labs.
I went with my H and sister to Spain when they had surgery. So I understand the travelling thing!
Hi Cookielu46,
Not sure if you are the one who emailed me about Dr. Shuster at Banner Gateway ? I tried to reply to your email without success, so I looked you up by your handle.
I used Dr Shuster and the reason I wrote I would never use him again is because he caused bleeding somehow, a nick, a slice, who knows but my grief was that HE never told me! The RN who cared for me was phenomenal. My heart rate was above 110 all night post surgery and she was the one who told me. When I asked him about it; he sort of pushed it off and didn't want to talk about it.
All that being said; I did have a very successful RNY. I lost weight; over 100 lbs and 4 years into this; I have regained about 20 which is my fault.
I was just really angry at the time but I did do very well from day one. Up and walking within a few hours and feeling great. The nurses were just awesome.
So, if the other doctor is still there; I have forgotten his name, I would recommend him. Heard good things about him.
Good luck and this really changed my life! Most allergies are gone, high blood pressure gone; only thing left is reflux which is easily controlled by medication.
So, I guess on reflection, that it really was a small thing. I have done so very well. Just really did not appreciate the attitude but then he is a surgeon and does so many daily and I did so well after that I probably did not need to trash him.
It is an assembly line at Banner but what the hey, it worked!
Best of luck, hope you find a good one!
Hi LilAuldLady - Not sure if you are getting my responce message so I'm sending it again.
Thank you so for sharing your experience. I am in the tail end of getting in all my clearences for surgery. I met with Schuster Nov. 3rd. after having a bad experience with a well know Dr. here in Az....Dr. Robin Blackstone. I Wasted 4 months trying to see her and she blew off 2 appts. with me. Then called me on the phone and said that if I had a VSG 5 yrs. ago it should have worked better than it did for me and I should go on her Dietitions diet program and forget about any DS revision, she won't do one on me...completly brushed me off. Oddly at her seminar 2 months before, she spoke of every surgery "exept" the Ds. I asked why she did not mention the DS, Do you do them? she said yes and changed the subject. After the seminar ended, I briefly spoke with her about my lack of loss with the VSG and she suggested a DS would benefit me. Now she's saying she won't do it ~ Schuster said she really does not like to do DS Surgeries...prefers RnY and pushes for that one.
At first Schuster recommended RnY due to my sweet tooth, but I said I'd prefer DS becauses I already have half the operation done (sleeve) and I'm not thrilled about cutting down my already small stomach any further. At my age (70) I don't want to choose another wrong surgery DS will give me the most weight loss and least amount of regain. Yes it is more tricky to do surgically, that's why I'm concerned for his ability and experience in doing DS surgeries. I'll have to watch my nutrition and take a ton of vitamins, but I'm willing to do that if I can get a surgery that will end this obesity once and for all. So he agreed to do the DS. ~ I'm meeting with him Dec, 1st to review my concerns and quize him on how he'd handle a few things. He is with the Bridges center for weight loss managment at St. Lukes hosp. in Phx now working with Dr, Fang. He's not working Banner Hospitals anymore.
Someone on OH recommended a really good DS Dr. in Glendale California, Dr. Keshishian. I called there and was told as an out of town patient my process with him would only take 3 days, Consult, exams, then surgery, but I'd have to stay in Ca for 14 to 20 days for after care and followups. That would cost 3 or $4000 in hotel costs plus money for other needs, so I don't think I can do that.
Schuster nicking something is not a good thing even though you came out feeling good. All surgeons have incidents like that from time to time. I saw a surgery on YouTube...good dr. did a full surgery video that showed 2 nicks in surrounding tissue that I noticed right away, then watched him put a stitch in each nick. When they are working lapacopicly it is harder to work around things. Schuster's brush off attitude has been been remarked about a few times, but 16 reviews praised him all around so I'm on the fence as what to do. I don't think I'll find anyone else that is any better or worse, There are not many surgeons here in AZ that even do Bariatric weight loss work so I'm feeling pretty stuck with what I've got available to me and I hate feeling that way. However, if I want this surgery local at home I'm guessing I'll have to go with Schuster. Depends on how well our next consult goes. I intend to be very frank with him in what I expect from him as my surgeon.
Thank you again for responding. If you are still here in Arizona, might be nice to get together for a coffee, It's hard to meet up with other WLS people in Az. Thank You!!
Cookie, it is someone else who wrote about their experience with Dr. Schuster, not me. I have never met the guy! And I'm not in AZ, sorry. If you want to meet up with the nice person who shared her personal experience so generously, you could shoot her a pm.
I have in fact never before heard of Dr. Schuster at all. Those of us who have been around the DS community for a long time know who the players are, and I doubt that he does the DS frequently, or at all. I would recommend that you ask how often he does them if you go through with your appointment, but my gut feeling is that the consult will prove to be a waste of time. You have already lost a lot of time chasing after one surgeon, it's time to accept the reality of the lack of good DS resources in your area and look further afield.
Your reasoning in wanting the DS rather than gastric bypass makes perfect sense - you already have a sleeve, just need the switch part added. You want the operation with the best results, and that's the DS - it has the best statistics of any bariatric surgery for percentage excess weight loss, for maintenance of that weight loss, and for resolution of almost all comorbidities. Stick to your guns!
Again, please take a look at the pm I sent you earlier.
Larra
