Starting to think about surgery

HI all

So I have thought about weight loss surgery on and off for about 2 years.  I think now I'm at the point where there is a strong possibility that I want to do it.  I have an appointment with my primary next month to just get an idea and feel for things. 

My question to you is this...Who did your surgery.  Were you happy with them?  Have you seen anyone you didn't like?  Also tell me the good bad and the ugly...any complications, things of that nature.  I know everyone is different and I have been looking around and reading but I also like to hear from people that have went through it and not just some medical journal

 

Thanks

Shannon

 

Hi Shannon, I'm pre-op scheduled for surgery at Saint Agnes in Baltimore with dr Averbach on 8/19...I've only dealt with him and one other doctor from Saint Agnes Dr. Singh...he was nice...but I did not like his office staff so I switched. Because of our insurance I wanted to make sure to use a doctor that works with Saint Agnes (my husband works there and the coverage for this is %100!)



The team that dr Averbach works with Is amazing! They all work out of an office in Catonsville. They provide you with so much info I find myself at a loss for questions! Dr Averbach is straight to the point but an awesome doctor.



Best of luck to you

Hi Shannon,

I live in Southern Maryland, where there are no local surgeons that do the gastric bypass surgery.  I did a lot of research and found Dr. Joseph Afram, in Washington DC to be the best.  He has a HIGH success rate and LOW complication rate.  I know many people that went with Dr. Afram.  I was very happy with him and his staff.  He offers a quality program to meet all of your needs.  He requires you to go to a heart and a lung doctor in DC to be tested before surgery, as well as a sleep study if you've never had one.  Then you have an all day appointment at his office to meet with him, the insurance lady, the shrink, the nutritionist, and the personal trainer... and you also stay for a group meeting and then scoot on over to George Washington University Hospital for a bariatric class.  They tell you all about the surgery and give you a tour of the hospital.  You do have to jump through a lot of hoops to get the surgery.. different tests and such... but in the end, its worth it.

 

So, with Dr. Afram, some patients have to go in the hospital the day before to get a filter placed in through your groin to prevent blood clots going to your heart and lungs.  Its a quick process, that doesnt hurt a bit.  In 3-6 months post op, it gets removed.  Then you go in for your surgery... it all goes so fast that by the time you'r scheduled to go in to the OR, you're basicaly out of it.  I dont remember anything from the time they starting wheeling me back til sometime in the middle of the night.  The next day I woke up and was walking around just fine.  They keep you well medicated so the pain is very minimal.  He does surgery on Tuesday and most get released on Thursday.

It is an adjustment getting used to only eating 2 ounces of food at a time... but when you see your first weigh in, you feel good.

I decided to go off of his scale so I dont confuse myself.. so this passed Wednesday, only a week after my surgery, I had lost 9 pounds.  I think I've lost a few more already.

 

 

Hi Shannon-  I as well bounced the idea of surgery for several years before I decided now was the right time. I researched and looked into all the information for years. I went to a seminar at Baltimore Washington Medical Center for Dr. Mark Kligman. He is to the point with everything. My process started that day. After his seminar I made my initial appointment with him. He talked to me about my best opinions were. My surgery is scheduled for August 19th and I can tell you from start to now everything has been great. His staff are very helpful and great. A few people I know have also gone through his office and have had great results.