Hoosier Loser Wannabe

 Hey y'all! I am sooooooooo glad I found this forum. A friend gave me the link and boy do I have some questions for y'all!  Hope y'all are ready.... I have talked with my PCP and I have chosen St. Vincents for my surgery. I have contacted my insurance...they say I am totally covered..but need to send in criteria. I have spoken to St. Vincents about the surgery and was told give them a call when I decide what surgery I want so they can get me an appt. with the surgeon that does that type. WHOOOOOOOOOOA nellie....doesn't the consultation HELP you decide on which surgery to have??? or am I backwards!  How did y'all decide on which doc to choose at St. Vincents?????? Also can you tell me how long start to finish is all the pre-op? I am soooooo ready to get healthy and live a "normal" (If there is such a thing) life. I just want y'alls take on the facility and docs please! I am looking forward to the program on TLC Monday night at 9pm "Big Medicine". Hoping to find some answers there also. Thanks for reading me...and God Bless y'all!

Hi! Welcome to OH (ObesityHelp) and welcome to the Indiana board! Also...welcome to WLS (weight loss surgery) journey! As one who went to St. Vincent's, love the place, love the bariatric wing!!  You can check into some of the type of surgeries through here (see left columm under 'The Lobby') as well as the surgeons (left column, 'Find a Bariatric Surgeon'). Typically, if you are super mobidly obese (more than 500 lbs), then a DS switch would be a good choice (and Dr. Inman would definately be the surgeon you want). There is also the RNY (most common), Lap band, and a combination of both. Some surgeons have a better track record as far as performing surgeries laproscopically. If the scar matters, read the surgeon stats before making your decision. Some people prefer a male surgeon (Dr. Evanson is easy on the eyes ).  Being comfortabe with your surgeon and having faith in them and their abilties is very important. Each person on here would most likely say 'mine is the best'...so trust me, asking 'who do you recommend' would be of no use for you. LOL.  A consult will definately help you in your decision making. But do read up on a few of the procedures so you can narrow it down some. That, or go to a consult with Dr. Inman so that you can learn about all three...not sure if she does the lap-band though. If you aren't +500lbs, go to any consult. Dr. Jones has a great rep. Her associates, Dr. Cacucci & Dr. Gupta are also fantastic. I know this doesn't help as much as you hoped. But really, the best thing you can do is educate yourself on the procedures & the surgeons who do them. Let us know if you have any other questions we can assist with!

Sherri

Have you been to any support group meetings at St Vincent's or other bariatric centers?  It's a good way to meet the staff and ones who have had the surgery and those who are looking to have it done. I had my RNY (lapro) done by Dr. Blackstone in Scottsdale, but when I moved to Indiana I started going to the Clarian Bariatric Support Group and met some wonderful people.  The dietician Ruthann was marvelous and their surgeons come in to the meetings so you can meet them.  Not all at once of course.  Dr. Mattar has been at several groups and he is wonderful.  With only being 6 months out when I moved I needed followup care and because of meeting him and the staff, choose them.   Like the posting said each of us will say our doctor is the best.  Try going to several support group meetings and see if it is easier to make your choice that way. Good Luck to you.

I just wanted to say that it's great to see another AZ person here in IN.  I had my RNY with Dr Blackstone too, in Dec!  Small world!  Maybe I will get to see you at the next support group meeting.  My bedford group tele-confrences with the Clarian Indy group.  Have a great weekend!

Hi Janene, I justed email you, and I have to agree with Sherri, everyone of us has our opioion on who is the best.  I do not think you can go wrong in choosing St Vincent's, I have heard wonderful things about every surgeon there. I did alot of research on the computer on the different types of surgery, and I start attending support groups so I had the opportunity to speak to others that have had, and was thinking about having the surgery.  I decided on the RNY, and I will never regret that decision.  It has given my life back to me.  I am healther now and more energy then I have since I was a teenager, and that has been many moon ago. I can get out and help mown our 4 lots and I planted a garden this year.  I am able to chase after my 3 year old grandson.  I have joined a bowling league.   Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help.  If you want to attend support groups, there are none that is really close to us.  There are located in Indy, Fort Wayne, Kokomo.  If you would like someone to go with you, let me know.  I need to start fitting in some support groups again.  I used to go to the one in Fort Wayne, I haven't been in months.   I am going to get off her right now.  I need to go and shave my legs so I can get my new tattoo.  Woooooooohooooooooooooooooooo. 

thanks y'all for replying...you have given me lots to think about. one more  question....how do u stop wanting the donuts...cookies...ice cream after surgery?

Typically, the way it works is you go to St.V for a free weight loss seminar. Then at the end, you can have a consult w/a doc to talk about what surgery is best for you. This consult is not free. And if you have a preference for a doc, let them know when you schedule your seminar date.

Thanks to all of you that replied...y'all have been soooo very helpful!