Nicolle, I need advice on getting a DS at U of C

Dear Nicolle,

I am interested in getting a DS and live in the Chicago area.  I had posted on the DS board yesterday and someone mentioned you had travelled to get your DS with Dr. Rabkin in SF.  I was wondering if I could email a few questions to you directly.  I have received my ok to schedule the info seminar and eval at U of C.  But another member mentioned to me that Dr. Prachand & Alverdy might refuse to do the DS if my BMI is 40 (under 50).  I just wanted to find out if you had any experience with U of C?  

Please let me know...

Thanks for your help,
bumblebee 

Hey, bumblebee. Sorry I was off this board for a couple of days.

I have heard many times that U of C will not do DSes for people wih BMIs lower than 50. Someone on the DS board just posted about that ysterday,was it you?

I know plenty of people who have gone through the U of C program and they are doing well. I can put you in touch with them via PMs, if you like, and you can ask their experiences.

I was well over their limit, at almost a BMI of 56, but I wanted more experience than they had, so I traveled for Dr. Rabkin. It was the best decision I have ever made! He has been doing DSes for years and is runs a great, responsive practice. Travelling is not a big deal, honestly.

You usually have to be there for a total of 12 days. The first day, you get your butt to San Fran. Day 2, you go to the hospital and get your final pre-op testing done (you do most of it here, with your docs and they send it on to Rabkin in San Fran) and do a bowel cleanse in the evening. Day 3, you have your surgery. Day 5 or 6, you are released from the hospital to your hotel room (whatever you choose in San Fran, I stayed at a budget place that was super, but others I know do it up and stay in very pricey places.). Days 6-11 you heal, rest, if you feel up to it, do touristy things, etc. I was having some typical post-op diarhhea, so he checked me to make sure I did not have C-Diff in the middle of my stay, so it's great to be close. On Day 11, you go to see Rabkin and he checks to see you are okay and then you fly home when you want.

It was surprisingly easy and I loved being in San Francisco. Rabkin's group is very helpful. I felt well enough that I took a bus tour of the city, we rented a car and visited family, had nice dinners with friends, etc. My hubby came with and it was like a low-key, NO SEX, honeymoon. Without our little kids, life was sweet.

I love my DS. I lost nearly 200 pounds effortlessly and I eat what I want, keeping an eye on the dreaded carbs that can outsmart any WLS, of course. My type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and other problems are GONE!

I sent you a PM with my email address in it if you would like to "talk" more.

Rabkin hosts a monthly support group here in Chicago--I see my surgeon more than local people see their surgeons! You can come to the next one in Feb. Always the third Monday evening of the month. He attends most meetings and if he does not, a local PCP gives a great talk on what the DS is, etc or one of his staff attends, like the psych or RN. There are more than 100 of his patients in the Chicago area.

Hope this helps!!!

Nicolle

I know of someone on OH who had the DS with Dr. Alverdy and a BMI much like yours. 

She had to make a good case to get the exception made.  As I understand it, when speaking with Dr. Alverdy she outlined her medically sound reasons for wanting the DS over the other options and he agreed to do it, even though there definitely is a standard 50 BMI minimum guideline for DS at U of C.