Just Starting to Check out for Surgeons

I live in Ky and need to find a Dr. that does Duodenal Switch surgery. That has a good success rate of course. I wanted to go to Dr. Husted in Nashville Tenn. but he doesn't accept Ky Medicaid. Do any of you know of a good Dr. that does this procedure and accepts my Inc. This is a hard thing to decide much less having to run down a good Dr. to boot. Help if you can. Thanks

Hi Nora...did you try going to the main page-- there is a place where you can find other message boards..there is one that is specifically for Duodenal Switch..maybe someone there can help you, I am sure you will find someone from KY who had surgery .. The only surgeon that I am familiar with (and I am sure there are others) who takes KY medicaid is Dr. Tom Sonnanstine in Florence, Ky..however he only does bypass and lapband Good luck with your search..hope you find the info you are looking for.. Brenda

Thanks for the info, but I am getting more confused as I go. One says this another something else. Do you know Dr. Sonnanstine and his success rate? I don't know anything thing else to call it. I want someone that knows what they are doing. It very scary thing to even think about much less getting someone you don't know anything about. I guess I am just flushtrated. I am already in bad health and I need something done but this is a big step and I don't want to go into it without as much info as I can get. Thanks for listening.

Nora, there is NO surgeon in KY doing DS, which is a shame. I had DS last year with Dr. John Maguire who has moved to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. There's also Dr. Anderson at New Life Surgery Center in Kettering. I don't know if they accept Medicaid, but it's worth a try. Dayton is about 2.5 hours from Lexington. Best of luck to you. -joanne s 277/160/150

Joanne, thanks so much for the info. I just wanted to ask you if you would tell me a little about Dr. Maguire and your experience with your surgery. Some people are telling me that the DS is this most dangerous of the procedures will you tell me what the Dr said to you on the matter? I don't understand why they make this so hard for people, our lives are shot to begin with and then you have to go through hours and hours of, it seems to me a bunch of crap. Everyone looks at you as though you want to be fat or you could just lose the weight not to mention the redicule and discrimination you deal with. I am sorry I guess I got carried away and said to much. It just get so flushtrating some times. Thanks for listening.

Nora, my suggestion would be to visit the docs and see what you think for yourself...everyone is very partial to his/hers own surgery/surgeon.. esp if you have had great success... I spent most of last year with Dr. Sonnanstine as his patient advocate., I watched him work and got to know him personally..He is a very good and talented surgeon along with his compassion and love for his job makes him very popular amoung his patients as well as the hospital staff. he has an info session the first thurs of every month, you can go to that in Feb..or call his office and make an appt. to meet with him one on one.. Make your decision after you meet the docs..you will get a feeling one way or the other..I believe Dr. Sonnanstine will explain all the surgery options to you so that you will have a complete understanding.. If I can answer any questions you may have, email me.. Brenda

No, you didn't say too much and I'll listen anytime. Email me offline if you want to chat and I'll be glad to give you my phone number if you want to call. I understand and remember how I felt at almost 300 lb. I think you're doing the absolute right thing to find out about all the surgeries, and decide which one is best for you. The RNY works well for some people, the band works well for others, but for me I liked the long-term results with the DS and the way the stomach anatomy is kept fairly normal (just smaller). And my experience so far has been really good. I've lost over 100 lb and have no complications or complaints other than 2 bouts of diarrhea cleared up by antibiotics within the last 15 months. If you want, my surgeon's website has some pretty good information on DS and RNY (he does both so he has no reason to try to steer you away from one or the other.) It's newlifesurgery.org (add the www). Good luck! -joanne s

Nora, while it is true that we are all partial to our own surgeons, I believe almost all the people doing surgery in kentucky at this time are exceptional. Sure some have had a patient or a few patients that have had complications but as you are well aware, this can happen with any surgery. Also, all the docs, I'm sure have an element that are not happy with their surgeries and place the place on the surgeons. brenda, gave you good advice. YOU as the CONSUMER have the right to talk with and have any questions answered by the surgeons. The key to the whole thing is research, research and more research. Be well aware of any complications that can happen. Also, run like heck from any doctor you get the feeling that he is more interested in money than he is you or that paints you a rosey picture without telling you about the complications. it is not a surgery to be entered into lightly. It must be your last option after everything else has failed. BTW, where is Beech Creek? Is it the same one that is right outside Manchester? I am from Manchester but have been gone for about thirty years. But, I was in Beech Creek a few months ago for a family reunion.