Need Advice(Long sorry)

Ok everyone I need some advice. I have finished my 6 month medically supervised diet and have been approved for the lapband with Bluegrass Bariatrics. They are the only physician group I contacted when I began this journey. After researching on the board I decided I wanted to check in with another group just to make sure I am making the right choice so I have sent my paperwork to Dr. Sonnanstine. I also have become very interested in the bypass surgery instead of lapband. I need pros/cons of each group of physicians. Tell me what you know so I can make an informed decision. I plan on weighing the information I get here and meeting with both physicians before I make a final decision on the group I will choose. Also can anyone give me pros/cons they had with the hospital they used. I am looking at  Baptist East in Louisville, Georgetown Community, or Central Baptist in Lexington.
Thanks again for any information you can give me, this board is awesome!

I used bluegrass bariatrics, and they have been great for me.  I can't think of any cons, but I'm sure that someone will.  I have heard great things about Dr. Sonnastine who is now at Georgetown.  I had my surgery at Central Baptist in lexington and have been very pleased with their staff and the follow up care that I have had.  just make sure that you feel comfortable with the surgeon and the hospital that you choose that's the most important thing you can do. for you.  good luck in your journey.  congratulations for taking your first step towards a healthier you!!!! (no matter who you choose)
Becca
 

Baptist East Hospital in Louisville is very new at doing WLS.  I believe that one of my friends was the first WLS they did there, and her surgery was late last summer.  I had my surgery at Norton Suburban, which is a Center of Excellence.  I feel like I had very good care there.  One of my nurses had had WLS and really understood what I was going through.  They have a new unit dedicated to bariatric patients.  My room was very comfortable and I had it all to myself.  I think all the rooms in that unit are private.

As for deciding between the lap band and the gastric bypass, I wish you the best with that.  I was a self-pay patient and could have had any surgery I wanted.  I didn't want to pay $15,000 for a lap band only to have to turn around a year or two later and revise to a bypass for an additional $20,000.  For me, I felt like I needed more than just restriction -- I also needed that malabsorption that gastric bypass provides.  I was also concerned about having to go in for fills with a band and the higher probability of needing additional surgery later due to band slippage, erosion, flipping, etc.

I know a lot of people who have had gastric bypass and done very well long-term with it.  I only know one person who has done well with a lap band.  I know several people who have gotten lap bands and not achieved the weight loss that they had hoped for.  Of course, any weight loss surgery is just a tool and much depends on how you use it.

There are pros and cons to both types of surgery.  Only you can decide what is going to be best for you.  Whatever you decide, I wish you success, happiness, and health!

I would suggest speaking to your primary care doctor, and family. You will get a lot of different answers for WLS on here, based on what people feel was the right choice for them or people they know. But the best thing is to figure out what the best choice for you. Some primary care doctors are for any type of WLS but there are some who are Strictly against others. I believe this website is a great tool for research, but ultimately you will have to decide what is BEST for you. Good Luck in your journey!

Congrats on your decision to have WLS.
I chose to have the RNY because I like immediate gratification.  I knew I did not have the willpower or patience that the lapband would require.  I also knew I wanted fast results.  Now with that said, I dropped the weight fast and now I have to follow the diet and exercise plan.  So all wls options are tools.  Just weigh the pros and cons and follow your instinct on which is the right one for you.
Can't help you as far as dr. and hospital advice goes.....I am out in eastern Ky!
Best of luck to you!

Leslie

Good luck researching all your choices.  I know that WLS was the only way I would ever be able to lose the weight.  I do feel like I made the right decision for me with the facts as I was able to research at the time.  I researched for years.  Finally was covered by Ins and went after one surgery, but ended up just knowing a different surgery was a better choice for me.  Just be patient and find out all the facts...  Unfortunately your Insurance most likely will help you make the final decision, but band, bypass, DS, Sleeve... the list goes on.   Only you can make the best decision!  All of us are just giving advice.  You will know what is right.  Good Luck!!

I chose Bluegrass Bariatrics because they do surgery at Baptist East. I have had all of my tests done at Baptist East and also had a great experience when I had a hysterectomy in 2008.   Dr. Oldham did my lap band surgery just this past Wednesday, February 3 and I can't say enough good things about him and the care I have received in going through the whole process.  Everyone at the Bluegrass Bariatrics office have been great and always respond quickly when I have called or e-mailed. 

Dr. Oldham himself called me the day following my surgery just to see how I was doing and if I had any questions.  Baptist East also called and even my insurance case manager. 

I wish you good luck in making your decision.  It is a very personal decision and I am sure you will make the right one for you. 

Mary

Hi,  I am one that will speak out for Dr. Sonnanstine.  I think he is awesome.  Dr. Weiss with BBSA did my surgery, but after 10 months of losing very little weight and asking them when I was going to quit trying to get this band to work and go to another doctor for a DS they finally decided I had a leak.  Dr. Weiss replaced my port, which his ARNP had punctured but I still had to pay the bills for it to be done over.  Doctor bill, he did discount some but the hospital bill and all the others were full price for the second go around.  I decided in the hospital the second time that I was going to change doctors, or at least give Dr. Sonnanstine a visit.  I went to my follow up appointment with Dr. Weiss and told them I probably would not be back and gasp, Dr. Weiss, himself came in to see me to try to get my to stay with  them.  I told him that he was so rude to me when I was in the hospital that I had to at least give Dr. Sonnanstine a try and I did and I love him. 

If you care if you ever see a doctor again then BBSA is not the place for you to go, because the doctors never see you again unless you have a complication.  The first time I saw Dr. Weiss after my first surgery was the day he came in to see me when i was in the pre-op area of the hospital for him to do my second surgery. 

Dr. Sonnanstine follows all his patients and he gives his own fills, which do not hurt, do not bruise and he does not have to probe around to find the port.  He also encourages and talks to you about the weight loss. 

I think Dr. Weiss is an excellent surgeon, just as I do Dr. Sonnansine, but I think they have spread themselves too thin to give good aftercare. 

I hope you are happy with your choice,  I am not trying to sway you either way, only you can make that decision.  Good luck.

Jacqueline

I am an eleven month post-op lapband patient of Dr. Husted's in Somerset and have my first appointment with Dr. Sonnanstine tomorrow.   I am a little nervous since I've only had one cc fill  in the 11 months with Dr. Husted.  Will Dr. Sonnanstine use fluoroscopy to find the port?  I played the guess & stick game with Dr. Husted and really don't want to do that again.  Any information would be greatly appreciated.