Any one had surgery from Dr. Thomas sonnastin?
My first time posting, be gentle. My appointment is Thurs. I have researched for so long. And I know it is time. My DH can't go with me so I am going alone which that is ok. This is my journey. I have been obeses my entire life. I was never thin so I am not expecting anything other that health and flexibility. Right now I am limited to so little because I have such terrible back and knee pain.. Grochery shopping is so bad. I refuse to ride in a chair. I found Dr. Sonnastin on the innternet and he is in our local town Before you had to go to Lexington or accross the river to Ohio. I am so scarred. I really am worried about death. I was blessed with twin daughter, total surprise, when I was 38. I quit my job at 42 to be a stay at home mom. I physically can't keep a house. I can go on and on. I have never ever been thin so I really don't know what to expect. Thanks for listening. How long does it usually take for Insurance to approve. I hope I have enough records. I don't know about any of you but the worse I feel the less likely I am to go to the doctor. Seems like everything has to do with My BP Constant HA pain with knees and I feel like I complain all the times. My poor kids hear everyday. "Mommy can't, I just don't feel good". I am just so tired.
Thanks for Listening.
Jane C
Hi Jane!!
I am a huge fan of Dr. Sonnanstine, he is awesome...I had weight loss surgery in June of 2003 and he didn't make it to this area until last year unfortunately, or I would have had him do my surgery!
For the last several months I have spent a great deal of time with and around the doc. He is very down to earth and easy to talk too. He will answer your questions and be very upfront with all the good and bad about this surgery, he won't hide anything. Dr. "Tom" is well trained and very good in laparoscopic surgery, I know I have watched him work!..yep you heard me right he has allowed me to observe him in surgery. As a matter of fact I will do that again this Wed. I can't tell you how cool it is spending time watching him in action. He takes this job very seriously..as a patient you will get to know him very well..You will see him a few times before your surgery, countless times while in the hospital and a few more times after. He has a great group of people working with him like Dr. Lisa West-Smith who does his psych evals and will conduct I believe it is 3 preop session..you will spend one evening with him then one with Beth his dietician, that doesn't count all the one on one you will have.. And I can't leave Taryn his nurse out, everyone loves her..I think she is so cute and fun.. As you can see I have gotten to know his staff pretty well and again would not hesitate to send anyone I know to him..I have alot of faith in Doc Tom..I will be anxious to hear what you think of him too.
If you need a little extra support just email me. I can talk all day about him..LOL
Good luck!!
Brenda
Let me tell you a little about me and my relationship with DR Tom. In July 2004 I met him in one of his first meeting my name is Ron and I was 560 lbs with a BMI of over 80. I found that i could understand and see that Dr. Sonnanstine showed true compashion and a love for what he does to this day. I had my surgery on November 1 2004 aand as yesterday I am now down 250 lbs. Man what a difference 9 months can bring. I have a whole new outlook on life and I must admit with out Dr Sonnanstien and his staff I probably would have not seen my 40 th Birthday.
Jane it will change your life in so many ways and you know it is not the big things just alot of little thing that all add up. NIce to tie my shoes and not feel as if i need oxygen. I wish you all the luck in the wrld and i can tell you you have found an awsome DR. one I trusted myself woth and I feel made the best choice in my life
On another note i am sorry I havent posted on the Ky board as much as I should, My new saying is someone told me "I dont have time to be fat anymore" Kinda cool huh the big thing is that it is so true. I hope you all can make it to Cincinnati for the conference in Aug. hopefully I can shed another 20 lbs before then we will see ....good to meet all of you
Hi, Jane!
I can attest to everything that Brenda told you...I am one of Dr. Sonnanstine's patients and, if I had it to do over, I wouldn't want anyone else to do it. He did my lap RNY on 12/20/04...best thing I could have ever done for myself. I had hit my all-time high of 305 in May of '03, right before I broke my right foot, and was very miserable. I spent all that summer in a cast and was very slow to heal. That experience gave me a taste of what it would be like to be an invalid, knowing that it was directly related to my weight, and I hated it...couldn't stand the thought of losing my independence. That was when I started to look into the possibility of having weight loss surgery but, like you, was nervous about the risks. I didn't have any serious health problems yet, though I had a family history of heart disease and diabetes and knew it was just a matter of time, but I did have lower back, hip, knee and foot pain that was quite limiting, especially since I have a job that requires me to spend alot of time on my feet. I also began to suffer from severe depression and anxiety in January of '04...I had literally hit bottom and decided that this was something I had to do in order to take back my life. So, when I started looking around for a surgeon and saw that there would be a lot of time and distance involved, since I did anticipate a lot of follow-up care, I got very discouraged. Needless to say, when "Dr. Tom" opened his center at St. Luke West right in my own backyard last summer, it was an absolute godsend. At our first meeting, he was very caring and understanding (which was good because at that point I was barely holding it together) and yet he was very much a straight shooter...no sugar coating. I left his office very impressed by his manner and his training, having every confidence that he was the right doc for me...and my opinion of him has not changed...he and his staff have been great...they're like family to me. How long it takes to get approved depends on your insurance...in my case it took more time to get the letter from my PCP than it did to get approved. In fact, I'd have been able to have mine sooner than I did but I was in classes and wanted to wait for the semester break. I don't know how long the average wait time is now...Doc, Taryn or Kristine could tell you better than I could. What I do know is how my life has changed for the better. I'm down to 197 now...under 200 for the first time in my adult life...and I feel marvelous. I have so much less pain and so much more energy...no complications and very little trouble with eating certain foods. I feel a lot better about myself and am a much happier person. I dump...but I'm glad I dump because it reminds me not to do the stupid stuff foodwise that I used to do and because it keeps me humble. And, by being in two support groups, I've gained so much more from being on this journey than I ever thought I would. I've never been skinny either and wouldn't know how to act if I were...it's really more about being more healthy, more active, more confident and more able to do the things I've always wanted to do. Looking good is just "gravy on the mashed potatoes" of life.
Take care and hope to see you at the next information session on August 4th, Lisa
Jane,
Brenda is right he is awsome!! Brenda actually got to watch my surgery and she knows from experence. I am 6 weeks out and feel better than I have in years. I have a 6yr old daughter and a 2yr old son and I know exactly how you feel not being able to do with them what you really want to. I had to bug my insurance a little bit but I think it only took about a month and a half from the time I seen Dr Lisa West-Smith. Hope all goes well with you.
Kim Lewis
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