Surgery in Georgetown?????

I have heard they are not doing surgery in Georgetown? Does anyone know if this is true. I have a friend going there and they switched back to Tristate due to waiting so long and still no date on when surgeries will start. Hum Any info on this?

They are doing surgeries in Georgetown.  That is where I had mine 4/29/2009.  Mine was with Dr. Sonnanstine.  And alot more people have had them since mine.  As a matter of fact a friend of mine is having hers today at Gtown.  I know they are very busy in Dr. Sonnanstines office what with still getting everything up and running but they seem to be doing well.  I was just down there last Friday.
Donna

Yes , they are doing surgery in Georgetown. I was banded there on June 15th, Have a friend going for RNY on july 8th From my understanding sugery has never stopped just a change in doctors. Dr. Sonnastine is doing surgeries and he is great.Tammy_M

I had RNY at Georgetown 9 years ago.  I gained back what I lost because my pouch stretched out evenutally and the stoma stretched out.  So it is like I never had a surgery.  After a GREAT deal of research about all the surgeries, I am having the Duodenal Switch.  It has the best long term rates for weight loss and keeping it off.  The band is the worse and the RNY not much better.  IF you all find yourself being able to eat more and more or feel like you are hungry all the time, be aware that your stoma and pouch has stretched out.  Nobody told me and I have suffered all these years not knowing anything could have been done about it.  Now i know there is another chance with DS.  I have researched so much.  Please be careful and be your own advocate.

BBSA is still doing surgery there too they replaced my port on the 11th of this month.  They are leaving G-town but Dr. Tom will still be there and I would rather go to him anyway.  I have no idea why they did that unless they were going to Dr. Weiss and Oldhams group which is BBSA.  If they were going for a band it is hard to get a date with them because BBSA goes to so many different places doing surgery now.  I believe Dr. Weiss and the new guy only go to 7 but Oldham is doing lap band at 8 different facilities now. That might be 6 for Weiss and the new guy and 7 for Oldham but it is a lot of places for 3 doctors to be spread out doing surgery.  I also heard they are fixing to expand into another state.  I figure they are what I would call a surgery mill.  If they have left G-town completely now then they are not able to do the RNY anywhere because I learned this week that CBH is not yet equipped to do the RNY.  All I have to say is they are good surgeons but if you want a quick date, a doctor that follows you after you have surgery then you shouldn't be using them. 

But Dr. Tom Sonnanstine is there now and he is doing surgery and is an excellent doctor.  I switched to him just this week and I really do like him. 

Jacqueline

Forgot to mention that Dr. Tom Sonnanstine does not charge a program fee like BBSA does either. 

Oh yeah they are definitely doing surgeries down in G.town . I believe that there was a short break for roughly two weeks from the time Dr. Tom moved from Saint Luke in Florence to G.town but that was just organization time- get his practice up and running, get all the proper certifications( it is my understanding that they are different at every hospital), streamline the program, oh and most importantly Dr. Tom had to uproot his family and begin a new life for them .

The lack of surgery date may not be on G.town's end, insurance companies are so funky about okaying everything for example I was banded a year ago this past February it only took about three weeks for the insurance to ok it. My husband on the other hand waited and fought with our insurance for almost six months.

There are also many health clearances that insurance companies and some doctors require for example cardiac and pulmonary clearance. I would rather have all the preoperative clearances done and make sure my vital organs are in the best possible shape they can be( for an obese person) than for me to get pushed right on through like a surgery mill and something awful happen like cardiac arrest, a heart attack or  having to be on a respirator for a long spell.

I know the prospect of surgery is so exciting and nerve wracking but sometimes the wait and hassle are really truly for the best.

I wish your firend luck and hope that he/she will think long and hard before switching programs.

You should contact BrendaGold, she can help you with that.  She has a lot of inside information and I know she can tell you for sure, but I believe his first surgery was in April.
Did Dr. S do your surgery at St. Luke?
Jonda

This could depend on what surgeon you are seeing.  If Dr. Tom, yes he is doing surgery, but if Dr. Weiss and Oldham, they may have quit by now but I am not sure. Most people do not realize that there are two different groups that two surgery there.  I'd stick with G-town if you are not locked into a doctor anymore.  If you are then Good Luck and hope it is Dr. Tom. 

Jacqueline

I have heard wonderful things about Dr. Tom.  As far as Weiss and Oldham go, not so good. I know a bunch of people from that area, some who had surgery wtih Weiss and Oldham and never got to see the doctor after surgery, for all of their band fills. The followup is done by a nurse in their office. There must be some rule against this.

Holly

Holly,  that is how mine were done, by the PA not the nurse but the ARNPs also do the fills. 

I questioned this and even asked Dr. Curry and he said he didn't do that many fills either he spent his time seeing patients that needed surgery or were having problems.  So probably not a law against it.

I just won't recommend Weiss and Oldham anymore and switched to Dr. Tom and I think things will be fine.

Jacqueline