VSG Questions

Sooo... I've decided to pursue my self-pay options for VSG. (my company's insurance does not cover ANYTHING!!!) I've done some research and have calls/emails into 6 different facilities requesting information and cost estimates.  I would also like to get some feedback on surgeons in the Chicagoland area and possibly what the costs for your VSG procedure.   Since every facility is goign to tell me that they are the best - I'm hoping for some honest feedback and expectations from those who have gone before me.  I really need to have this done and I'm praying that VSG will fit into my already limited budget.

Thanks for any info and feedback that you can give,

Kari

Kari, hello and welcome to the IL board. You have come to the right place for support.

I cannot help you with the costs for VSG but to give you info that my doctor does VSG. Dr Rosen (LifeWeigh Bariatrics in Downers Grove) and his team puts the patient at the top of the pedestal. The patient is important to them and they are included in all aspects of their care and management. They take a wholeistic approach to your care and are given tools to help make your weight loss successful. They are there with you from beginning to end especially for the patients that need the doctor supervised diets for several months before. They start teaching you early on about the necessary lifestyle changes that need to be made and how to implement them for the rest of your life. There are monthly support group meetings at the doctor's office and the majority are attended by Drs Rosen or Mikhail. During some of the other months the dieticians, nurses, exercise physiologist, office staff and patient advocate are at the meetings. They are all there to guide you through the process and are there for you for the rest of your life.

You might want to look into going to a seminar to hear what is said and you can ask any question that you would like including the costs for the procedure, hospital stay and PO care.

Chris

edited to add the link for LifeWeigh http://www.lifeweighbariatrics.com/index.html

Hi Kari,
I actually am having the VSG done on 01/24/2011. I see Dr. Joyce in Joliet at BMI Surgery. I actually go back next Friday for consents to be signed and the pre op with the Dr. Because I have insurance, as of right now they havent really spoke to me about cost but I am sure its coming. I'll get back with you after 01/07/11 when I see the Dr. again.
Good luck to you. I am so excited about my upcoming surgery.

Lori

 Kari

Welcome!

I had the RNY but if your go to the page of Find a bariatric surgeon and/or hospital on the tool bar at the top of the Illinois page you can enter a dr's name and see the evaluations for that doctor or a hospital name and see the evaluations for that hospital.   This was extremely helpful to me when I was researching my choices.  I also had several "interviews" with doctors and their staff to see if I felt comfortable with their office and their methods of patient care.  I wanted to be able to feel that I was going to get the best patient care and be able to relate to the staff.  That was very helpful to me.  

You may want to check on the VSG board if you have not done so, yet. Those folks have experience, albeit mostly short-term.

Not to be a grump, but you (like me--I was 344 pounds at 5'6") have a lot of weight to lose (and maintain). Be sure and talk to any doctors you see about their patients' long-term success rates (3-10 years) with the VSG. Lots of people on the VSG board say ill-informed things like "oh, well, if the VSG does not work for me and I regain, I am half-way to a DS, so I will just have the intestinal part done." Please do not fall for that line of flawed thinking.

As for me, I did NOT opt for the VSG because I had a lot of weight to lose AND TO  KEEP OFF. The odds of a successful long-term, restriction-only procedure for someone with a high BMI were not good at the time I made my choice, 3 years ago (because there is no real metabolic change and no malabsorption).

Hopefully, your docs will be able to help you with more current data, particularly with THEIR series of patients. Here are the stats the American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeons (which your chosen surgeon should be a member of) published on the success rates of the various surgeries. See page 10 of this guideline document:

http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/Bariatric.pdf

Anecdotally, a friend of mine got the VSG the same day I got my DS. She never lost to goal and is now regaining, despite her best nutrition and exercise efforts. She had far less to lose than I did. She is very disheartened.

Anyway, I hope you have the data you need to go in and ask questions to appease your concerns.

Best of luck to you!

Nicolle

I'm a bit far from you, but I'm having my VSG at Herrin Hospital in Herrin, IL by Dr. Ahuja.  It's a very popular choice there and everyone I've talked to at the support groups love their sleeve.  Good luck!