Over 400 lbs. What are my chances

that they will be able to do this laproscopic instead of open?  This isn't something I really thought about until today... I was all set for lap...  Now I am worried.  I see the surgeon on the 26th and just want to be emotionally prepared if they tell me I am not a canidate...

I am working with Dr. Andrew Averbaugh in Baltimore... I have my psych eval on the 23rd, and hopefully will get approved fairly quickly, I don't think I need any more tests, appts other than the pre surgery classes, etc.

I am soo ready for this!  Anyone else had Dr. Averbaguh and/or go to St. Agnes for surgery?

Thanks for listening and just being here!!!

Angie

I have dr. averbach...I am still preop though...I did my psych eval. just this past monday, I still have 3 months of a six month monitored weight loss, I see the NUT next month....I love dr averbach!

I think I did this whole process backwards! I went to the seminar last November and then downloaded the packet offline... and since the top of the sheet said Pre Appointment Check List, I took it to mean just that...

So I got started!  I met with my doctor for the six months of supervised weight loss and journaled every bite of food I put in my mouth for six months...  Each month I did what she wanted and got my six months outta the way...

Then about 2 weeks ago I did the NUT...  I called weeks ago for the psych eval and couldn't get in until next Tuesday, so I do that next...  (How did it go? Did you see the person he reccomends that is in their offices?) 

By the time I see Dr. Averbaugh, I will be ready to go... my goal is surgery by October 15th... *Grins* I set my goal at August 1st last November and having been moving it as I did the checklist...  so I won't be too upset if I have to move it again!

I loved Arlene Swantko, she is very up front and tells it like it is!

Angie

yep, I saw bea flynn....she was very easy to talk to....at the end of about an hour of talking, she said, well, I am going to write that you are a good candidate for surgery, and that you are willing to do wht is necessary to be successful and then she said in response to something she asked me, I shrugged and said I am what I am, oh, yeah, she asked me if my weight caused me not to go places....and that's what i said, no, I am what I am...and she said "you are a wise woman" LOL

Dr. Averbach and his staff are very good.  I had my surgery Feb 28.  He may seem cold at first, but I think thats his way of making sure that you are really serious about what you are going to do.  He is very professional.  Don't worry.  There is always the possibility of them putting you on a liquid diet for a short time.  I did it for a week and a half before the surgery. 
If you have any questions, feel free to pm me anytime. 
Good luck.

Hey Angie!  Just curious since we are moving up to York sooner or later.  Is there a reason you are coming to Baltimore for surgery rather than with a doc closer to York?  Just not any/many bariatric surgeons up that way?  I'll be needing to find a doc for band fills.  I can always drive down to my doc if I need to, but if I can drive 15 minutes instead of 30+ I'd rather ya know? lol

Hi Heather,
I choose Baltimore because I work down there...  I never even looked at what surgeons are up here.  My doctor was in Reisterstown and Dr Averbaugh and Dr. Singh were her first choices for the surgery... So I went with her recomendation and attended a seminar. 

We lived in Owings Mills for a few years after we came to this area... We moved up here but continue to commute down to Woodlawn/Windsor MIll to work, so I figured follow up appointments would be easier if it was all done down there...

I am betting you can find someone up here for fills, there is alot of support for the surgery on a yahoogroup I am on (York-PA-Chatter) so they must be getting filled :)

Thanks Angie. I posted something on the PA forum too looking for good band docs for fills and I'm sure I'll find someone good.  I just don't want to go willy-nilly and end up with a mostly RNY doc who casually handles band fills because they took a one day seminar you know?  I want someone with plenty of experience like Dr. Schweitzer.  Where are you in York?  Mom is off Queen Street near "Chapp's".

I am farther up in York, West York technically... We are almost out of York into a town called Spring Grove... if I lived on the other side of the street in my residental neighborhood my kids would be in another school district and wouldn't be considered York at all! 

For a place with a small town feel, York is HUGE... Something I realize more each day!

I know what you mean!  It's sort of a culture shock for Mom.  She said it's so quiet that it's scary and she loves that everything is so close to her house.  You know there is a mental institution in Baltimore called Spring Grove! lol I know where it is up in PA though.  Mom and I thought it was funny when we first saw the sign for it.