Monthly DS Meeting in Chicago
Hi, everyone! Just wanted to let you know about an upcoming DS information/support group meeting with John Rabkin, MD from San Francisco. This is our regular, monthly meeting (held on the third Monday of each month) but we had a change of venue, so this is some new info.
Where is it?
The next DS support group/info meeting will be held on Monday April 19, from 6-8 at:
Mercy Medical at Dearborn Station 47 W Polk, Chicago, IL 60605 Suite 1 G, 1st floor, NW corner
There is metered parking for $3.00/her or valet, in rear of building. This is a new venue for us, so I have no clue how it will be set up.
What is it?
A support group and free, no-pressure informational meeting. (I literally went to 17 of these meetings before my DS and NEVER once felt pressured to do anything!!!).
The first hour of the meeting has the new people who are looking at their surgical options, usually 1-5 people, so it's always a small group setting. Your group meets with Dr. Rabkin and he does a little Powerpoint presentation. He usually does a historical look at bariatric surgery, showing the genesis of the idea of the DS. And then he talks about the DS. He answers questions, etc. He's a very nice man and super-savvy about the DS and revisions. One week a month he does liver surgeries and transplants, so he knows his way around a body.
Simultaneously, post-op people meet and discuss their issues in another room.
At 7:00, the newbies and the vets meet together and the newbies get to ask questions of people actually living with the DS.
We wrap up at 8.
Background:
There are only two surgeons in the Chicago area who actually offer the DS. They are at the University of Chicago and will only usually do them for patients with 50+BMI. I certainly qualified, but after doing my research, I wanted the most experience my insurance money could buy, which was John Rabkin of San Francisco (www.paclap.com). Traveling was a breeze for the DS.
He will do the DS on "lightweights" with 35+ BMIs with comorbidities and revisions on people with failed RNYs, sleeves, bands and VGBs. In fact, he is one of the top revisions surgeons out there. He comes to Chicago just about every month to be available to us (there are about 80 of us now) and meet new prospective patients.
I am extremely satisfied with my DS, my post-op lifestyle, and my particular surgeon. I am in NO way paid for my information-sharing with you all by anyone. (Now THAT would be a great career for a stay-at-home mom, huh?) I just like to share info on what I feel is the best thing I ever did for myself.
If you want more info, feel free to PM me.
Nicolle
Where is it?
The next DS support group/info meeting will be held on Monday April 19, from 6-8 at:
Mercy Medical at Dearborn Station 47 W Polk, Chicago, IL 60605 Suite 1 G, 1st floor, NW corner
There is metered parking for $3.00/her or valet, in rear of building. This is a new venue for us, so I have no clue how it will be set up.
What is it?
A support group and free, no-pressure informational meeting. (I literally went to 17 of these meetings before my DS and NEVER once felt pressured to do anything!!!).
The first hour of the meeting has the new people who are looking at their surgical options, usually 1-5 people, so it's always a small group setting. Your group meets with Dr. Rabkin and he does a little Powerpoint presentation. He usually does a historical look at bariatric surgery, showing the genesis of the idea of the DS. And then he talks about the DS. He answers questions, etc. He's a very nice man and super-savvy about the DS and revisions. One week a month he does liver surgeries and transplants, so he knows his way around a body.
Simultaneously, post-op people meet and discuss their issues in another room.
At 7:00, the newbies and the vets meet together and the newbies get to ask questions of people actually living with the DS.
We wrap up at 8.
Background:
There are only two surgeons in the Chicago area who actually offer the DS. They are at the University of Chicago and will only usually do them for patients with 50+BMI. I certainly qualified, but after doing my research, I wanted the most experience my insurance money could buy, which was John Rabkin of San Francisco (www.paclap.com). Traveling was a breeze for the DS.
He will do the DS on "lightweights" with 35+ BMIs with comorbidities and revisions on people with failed RNYs, sleeves, bands and VGBs. In fact, he is one of the top revisions surgeons out there. He comes to Chicago just about every month to be available to us (there are about 80 of us now) and meet new prospective patients.
I am extremely satisfied with my DS, my post-op lifestyle, and my particular surgeon. I am in NO way paid for my information-sharing with you all by anyone. (Now THAT would be a great career for a stay-at-home mom, huh?) I just like to share info on what I feel is the best thing I ever did for myself.
If you want more info, feel free to PM me.
Nicolle
I had the kick-butt duodenal switch (DS)!
HW: 344 lbs CW: 150 lbs
Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea GONE!
No, he does not practice in Chicago, unfortunately! He visits us all of us in Chicago almost monthly and does surgery out of San Francisco. Yes, he's very cool.
The only two docs who do it here are at the University of Chicago, Drs. Alverdy and Prachand. They seem to prefer to do the DS on patients with BMI of 50+. There are a handful of their patients on the DS forum. I have visited them while in U of C and they generally have been pleased with their care.
I know people on the DS forum have used your doc (that is, if you're using Houston). Check in there with others if you'd like feedback on him, putting his name in the post.
If I can help you in some way, let me know!
Nicolle
The only two docs who do it here are at the University of Chicago, Drs. Alverdy and Prachand. They seem to prefer to do the DS on patients with BMI of 50+. There are a handful of their patients on the DS forum. I have visited them while in U of C and they generally have been pleased with their care.
I know people on the DS forum have used your doc (that is, if you're using Houston). Check in there with others if you'd like feedback on him, putting his name in the post.
If I can help you in some way, let me know!
Nicolle
I had the kick-butt duodenal switch (DS)!
HW: 344 lbs CW: 150 lbs
Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea GONE!
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