Yes, Dr. Sonnanstine does VSG and he is a wonderful and caring person.  Dr. Weiss said he would check at surgery when he removed it?  That makes no sense, if you are having problems it appears to me he would want to know before doing another surgery.  My gosh, that could be the reason you are not losing and having any luck with the band.  He told me just before he replaced my port that he didn't think it was leaking that he thought i was not eating right.  My tubing was leaking like a sprinkler they said, but he had me in tears and I swore I would not continue to see him after that. 

Georgetown did not dump them, but they do like to say that they did.  They had already had an office built prior to even notifying G-town that they were leaving.   The problem they had with G-town was that they wanted more office space and G-town apparently could not provide it.  Oh and you don't have to pay a program fee with Dr. Sonnanstine either and he hits the port on the first try and without probing around.  He also does not fly to every hospital around to do surgery.  He does teach some but he even has late office hours one day a week for those that work. 

Jacqueline

I should have read your story before posting.  First off, BBSA left Gerogetown on August 8, 2008, the day after I had my lapband surgery.  Although they still do surgery there, the last I heard they do not work well with G-town.  They left on their own accord, yet they got upset when they hired someone else.  Dr. Sonnanstine is just the overseer of the program at G-town and they do his pre-op education, but he, like BBSA, has his own practice. 

What you went through is typical because G-town was without a doctor from August 2008 to April 2009.  I am not making excuses for them because they should have come out and told you that you needed to be dealing with CBH rather than them, but for a while they were still doing BBSA pre-op education for the patients that were going to have surgery at G-town.  At the same time I can't totally blame them because it appears to me they were left in the dark not knowing what to do, as were those of us that were patients of BBSA.  Truthfully, after I had my surgery I was lost because I didn't feel G-town wanted us nor did I feel CBH wanted us or BBSA.  It was kind of like we, those having surgery just prior to them moving from G-town, were left in the dark.   I remember I had a scare and I called G-town like I was told to do in my pre-op ed and was told I needed to call BBSA and I did and was told I needed to call G-town. 

I am very thankful I switched doctors due to all the confusion and now I don't have that to worry about.  I know Dr. Sonnanstine will take care of me and my needs.

Jacqueline

Up until recently I had not been an avid reader of the boards.. but after reading several different boards I am curious about other people's experience with Georgetown or Bluegrass Bariatrics.  I have had an awful time.  I wrote about it on the VSG board and on my blog.. if you'd like to read it go here http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/ohemgee/uzone,blog/action, view/blog_id,253468/

I have been a patient of Dr Weiss' since June 2006.  I had my band in January 2007 and have been trying to have a revision since September 2008.  Please share your experiences with me!  I feel much better knowing I'm not alone in my battle.  : ) 

Hi Samantha!

I just wanted to see if you've heard of Duodenal Switch? It has the best results for long term maintenance. If you check out the Revision forum here on OH you will see the majority of revisions are bands and RNY. Many times those who are 3 years post op RNY will start to gain their weight back. Duodenal Switch is perfect for someone with a BMI of close to 50 (though people with smaller BMI's also do excellent!) We have one of the best DS surgeons right here in Kentucky- Dr. John Husted. http://www.johnhustedmd.com  Please take the time to research every surgery option out there. You don't want to pick the band or RNY on the basis they're the most popular, widely offered, or the only ones your insurance cover. You also don't want to be 3 1/2 years post op like me and regret your surgery choice.
I wish you nothing but the best!
Good luck on your journey.

Katrina

I need this and if i can remember I will join in tomorrow.  You all don't want to know what I ate today.  :)  Not as bad as the week of Christmas, but bad enough.  I have gained six lbs over the holidays and I am sick because of it but I knew it was going to happen if I didn'****ch myself.

Jacqueline