St. Joseph East and reality hits...

Oh it is SO GOOD to see others from Kentucky and from Saint Joseph... EVEN BETTER! That's where I'll be having my surgery. I haven't had my first visit yet. I've been trying to get insurance in case there are any complications after surgery that would require medical attention but have been turned down because of my weight. I know one woman who had surgery there and Doctor Knighburt was her doctor. She said he was wonderful. I talked to the clinic this a.m. and asked about his experience and the lady on the phone said he probably had more experience with the RNY than the other two doctors. I do like what I've heard from the two of you about your experiences. When they scheduled my appt. for the phsyc eval, the nutritionist and the internists, IMMEDIATELY my hands began to sweat and I was SCARED! I've been researching more since that day and finding GOOD things. It seems the mortality rate is very low and even complications aren't too high on the chart either. I find this very comforting, of course. I've been viewing the before and after pictures last night and a few today. There are some INCREDIBLE changes. I am so impressed. I only saw a few with legs as large as mine so I just don't know what my legs will look like after weight loss. Isn't that a silly thing to be concerned with at this "stage of the game"? The closer time gets to that first appt., the more I find myself questioning my decision. Did you all go through that? I have a granddaughter who needs me so much. Actually, my daughter does. I don't know how she'd make it without my help. There's also my soul which is most important. I know I'm not where I need to be. I'm just scared but I know it's normal to be scared before major surgery. I read somewhere yesterday that the mortality rate on RNY surgery is similar to Hysterectomy, Apendectomy and something else. I don't remember the third surgery. However, the lady I know who had the surgery knows of TWO women (one she knew personally) who had the surgery and died from complications. These ladies were from Richmond, KY. I'm so excited about the possibilities. :dance: I'm terrified about "the possibilities". :angst: I can hardly wait to have it done and behind me so I can begin the healing process and my new life that is going to affect everyone I love. What a better person I will be for being able to be happier with myself.

Hi Gale, It's very normal to be scared, everybody goes through that. I admit I started getting pretty nervous when I found out that my Insurance approved me, cause I knew it wouldn't be long then. I've read stories about people backing out right at the last minute! The thing that motivated me was just thinking about how much better my life was gonna be and It definately is now, I had sleep apnea and diabetes and both are gone now so surgery was worth it just for that. Dr Nighbert is a good surgeon and he's been in the business for a long time, There's alot of people that can give you some good feedback about St Joe's. If I had it to do all over again I would in a second because it was well worth it. If you have any questions you can email me anytime. take care.

Tony, thanks for writing to share with me. I thought about what would happen if I paid my money and then wanted to back out. I'm feeling better today and am so excited about it but just can't shake the nervousness of it all. I'm sure I'll feel better after it's all over and I'm seeing the changes start to take affect. I saw where you're down *80* pounds already! :clap: You can't have much left to lose. you don't look very large at all in your picture. I was shocked when I saw an 80-lb loss already for you. You have to be thrilled beyond compare. I'm not sure what sleep apnea is but I've heard of it for years. People say my husband had it before he lost weight. His night sleep was horrilbel and he would fall asleep all throughout the day, even driving. It got very dangerous for him. I just snore REALLY loudly. I feel like something falls against my airway when I lie on my back and closes it off some. I hope the upcoming weight loss helps with that. Please keep me posted on how you're doing. I sure am glad to have found this site to have some people with experience in this to help me and also to have others who will be sharing the experience with me as I go along. Gale

gale, Dr. Nighbert was known as ne of the very best general surgeons in the state of kentucky for thirty years before he started doing the gastric bypass. I am a retired nurse and have taken care of many of his patients. Plus, even tho Dr. Steiner did my surgery and of course, I think he is the best, i had an emergency while he was out of town and Dr. Nighbert took very good care of me in the hospital. As far as I am concerned, I think the St. Joe group is by far the best in kentucky. You will be very pleased with the care you recieve at St. Joe. I was disappointed in the nursing staff but I made an official complaint and things have really changed for the better now and people are getting great nursing care. I will be the first to admit, being a nurse myself, I was probably a little hard on them. it would be wise for you to have someone with you to stay on them when things happen like your iv running dry. You will love the aftercare program also.

Delores, you look fantastic. I can hardly wait to get this weight off. I think about the WLS more than I think about the new house we are going to build. Matter of fact, I almost never think about the house anymore. lol It's a wonder I'm not dreaming about it. I met all three doctors at the seminar and liked all three. I thought about flipping a coin to choose a doctor but I doubt I'll actually go that route. :eyes: I've read good things about all three. Doctor Kneighburt has the most experience so I'm planning on choosing him. I really liked him and the brown-headed doctor. I think his name is Dr. Steiner. I get the two younger men mixed up. Thanks for your input. Thanks also for filing that official complaint and straightening out the nursing staff for the rest of us. :thumbsup: Gale

Thanks for the compliment. I wanted to clear one thing tho. Actually, I don't believe Dr. Nighbert has the most experience in gastric bypass surgery. Dr. Nighbert just started doing them right before they opened the center. Dr. Steiner was recuited from California, I believe, where he had already been doing it. His most experience is in lap surgeries. You should go to his profile on here and read it. he recieved his lap surgery (not bypass) at the University of Kentucky but recieved his bypass training from the ones that started it in California and trained under the one that did Carnie Wilson's surgery. Either way, you will be in great hands and i could be wrong about the time frame. anyway, read their profiles.i

Gale, I went to the seminar on May 8th and was schedule for all my pre-op testing on May 26th. I have medicare, so there was no hoops to jump thru for approval. My husband was very skeptical about the whole process, but after attending the seminar with me he is 110% with me now. We loved all three doctors and I can't decide on one that I liked better because all three were awesome! I am going to go with the one that has the first opening. I feel very confident in all three. Maybe I am crazy, but I am not scared at all. I have prayed about it and have a calm and peaceful feeling about it. That tells me it is the right thing for me. I want to be able to do activities with my children again and improve my health. I don't know your religious background, but my advice it to pray about it and ask God if this is his will for you and to wrap his arms of love around you, protect you, give the surgeon a steady hand and to give you the peace about it that you need. I put it all in his hands knowing that his WILL will be done. Good luck.....I look forward to being a LOSER with you. Email me anytime. I'd love to have someone that is going thru the process at the same time as me to talk to. Angie

Angie, I'm Pentecostal, a very strict religion and yes, I'm a firm believer. I prayed for strength tonight at church and for God to be with me in this. I felt better but still feel the nervousness. I'm sure it will get worse as surgery time draws near. I hate to spend that much money on myself but I just can't hardly stand where I am right now. I feel like I'm being selfish. I believe it was the May 8th seminar I was in. I wonder if you are the lady who was sitting next to me. She said she had medicare as well. I was the one in the black shirt that asked so many questions. lol I was near the front of the room. If you were behind me, I probably didn't see you unless you were asking questions. Perhaps we'll see each other up there again. I think Dr. Knighburt will probably be my surgeon. I'd like to meet each one and talk to them individually. I liked all of them though and have heard good things about all three. Is this your first WLS or will it be revision? I know there were a few people there who are looking at revision. I just wish my surgery was YESTERDAY and I was already through that part of it and knew I was going to live. :-) By the way, I'm south of Lexington about 80 miles. Are you in Lexington? Gale

im having my wls next monday at saint joseph they are the best u are in good hands dr steiner is doing my wls if i can help u with anything email me anytime

Tina, are you able to sleep? I'm going for my first appt. tomorrow for some pre-test stuff and it's after 3 a.m. and here I sit. I hate to think what the night before surgery will be like. I want to know everything you feel like sharing with me about your surgery and the after... and before too of course. You can't give me too much information. Thanks. I hope you have a wonderful surgery and a very speedy recovery. Gale