PNC- Right for me?? Another Program? Lots of input wanted :)

 I am very close to having my WLS going to insurance.  I chose PNC because of the nurses having been through RNY or banding and their compassion.  I have heard quite a bit of not so good (negative) stuff regarding PNC recently and I am not really sure if the program is for me anymore.  I NEED compassion, understanding and excitement as I go through major changes in my life with RNY.   As well as a good support system.  I know I can attend the coffees and such but I want doctors and nurses who care and supportive.  I don't want to be just a number!!  I want to be a person  :)  Can any of you who have been through give me some input.  I want to got to my appointments and NOT be let down.  

If you had your surgery done at PNC recently would you still choose them if you had a choice to go elsewhere?
If you had surgery with PNC awhile ago, would you continue to go with PNC with the follow-up care you are getting??
If went with another program where you happy? and where did you go?

This is just such a major decision I need it to be right so all the input I can get the better.  

I know everyones experience might be different but I need to hear all the experience of you all....you HAVE the EXPERIENCE!

Thank you all in advance!  I am just not sure if I should continue with that program when I am hearing so much negative info. 

Atousa

I am 2 mos out and had my WLS from Dr. Jones and went Park Nicollet Methodist in St. Louis Park.  Overall I have to say that I was pleased with the pre-care, surgical care, and so far the after care has been good.  I think if you need compassion that is what you will get - but they are also there to kick us in the butt when we need it to do the things we are supposed to - know what I mean?  The nurses I work with have been in my shoes.....and that means a lot to me.


After surgery I wrote the following on my blog (if it helps):


O.U.C.H

Yeah....the title just about sums it up.

So lets start from the beginning.....I will leave out the gory details - I know this makes many of you happy. I get to the hospital at the appointed time. Check in and then sent promptly to get my labs done. Igor.....yes Igor was his name....draws the blood.

Then upstairs I go the get in the lovely fashionable gown that would be my ensemble for the next couple of days. Then, I get poked and poked....and poked again. The nurse doing the IV was an angel....no pain. The nursing assistant that brought me the warm blanket - again an angel. The other nurse that proceeded to give me the first of 5 or 6 (I lost count but I think its 6) Heparin shots IN.MY.BELLY.....not so much an angel.

The assistant sleep doc was funny and wheeled me away and knocked me the crap out.

Next thing I know I am awake and feel like I was on the losing end of a boxing match. The bypass portion wasn't so bad....it was the gallbladder removal. It was larger and full of large stones (not what the doc expected) so they had to cut more there....after pulling and maneuvering so yeah....its really sore there. He said he was really really surprised I had not been having issues and he would be willing to bet that if I hadn't chose this surgery then I would have been in the hospital within the next couple of months just for the gallbladder....that is how bad it was.

Get to my room and I need drugs....good ones. Moving. Not so fun. Nurses messing with my drain tube....not so fun. More shots in the belly.....just plain evil.

Before the evening it through I have to get up (ummm not fun) and walk and drink. I did it. I didn't complain...but I wasn't happy about it.

I was in and out of sleep and then woke up about 2am Wed morning. And met Barb....my vampire nurse. Sweet old lady. I think she liked me. I guess I was the only one up so she hung out with me a lot and gave lots of good tips for warding off pain. At this point in time, I learned what the meaning of "gas pain" is. All of that air they pumped me with for the surgery. O.U.C.H.

The incisions not so bad (except gallbladder site) but the gas is almost unbearable. And unfortunately the only way to get it out is to move....a lot. So I did. I walked the halls. A lot. Oh and I finally got to shower and got my first meal....who knew jello could taste so good. That was the first "solid" (and its not really solid) anything I have had in 2 weeks.

Wednesday night they removed my IV (insert angels singing here) and I finally got some real sleep....but...they kept coming in to wake me up. The would wake me up for vitals, to drain the tube and for the #$%^# shot in the belly!! Seriously, just let me sleep mmmmkay?

Thursday AM time to get ready to come home. They removed the drain (ouch again), and another blasted shot in the belly!!! (between the incisions and the marks and bruises from the shots we could play connect the dots on my tummy). I got a lecture on staying ahead of the pain and taking pain meds, on getting my liquids, and on continuing to move.

Once I got home and in my own environment some of the gas decided it was time to go (tmi?) but not all of it...still quite a bit of pain from that.

Each day is a little better so far....and the gallbladder site is by far more painful than the other. I have to keep drinking....constantly.....one ounce every 15 mins. (and that my friends makes me feel totally full) to get in my required amount. The pain meds make me sleep so I am in and out of it....but when I am awake....things are pretty cool for about an hour or so.

So that is the update thus far.

I think every clinic can be good depending on what you demand of them. I like PNC... but I have the band. I see the fill doctors and they are absolutely wonderful. Everyone there knows my name.. I don't have to go anywhere else to get labs or other treatment... I even go there for psych. What I don't like is that they don't have a LapBand support group... but once again, that's a different surgery.

I think PNC is good... great people. There are other great programs, such as Unity Hospital in Fridley.

From my own experience, I'd recommend PNC to anyone!  I chose them because they were considered a 'center of excellence' by my insurance carrier and they were closer to home.  My care has been topnotch from the beginning.  They're helpful & supportive, sometimes my biggest cheerleaders.  I've been so pleased with PNC in general that I switched my primary care to them as well.  I have the band, so I certainly see them more often than a bypass patient, but I have a good friend that chose bypass and she is as happy with them as I am.

Certainly you need to make the best choice for YOU, but I don't think you can go wrong with PNC.  But as with most things, you get out of it what you put into it.

Good luck!

LeAnne

I can tell you that after having gone through PNC initial phases I wound up gonig to Fairview Southdale and Dr Benn.  The reasons were that I found that PNC was like an assembly line (my personal opinion) and I was not comfortable with their process. 

I found Fairview to be more personable and I think Dr Benn is amazing.  He is not a warm fuzzy kind of guy but when both my sister and I had complications, he was there every day checking on us.  He was in three times to see my sister and it was his day off!! 

That has been my experience...  YMMV

Kevin

 Thank you for all your input.  Like you Kevin....I am just starting to realize that I am a number and with just the sheer number of surgeries they do...it's hard not to.  YKWIM?  I know I will get what I put in and I am willing to do anything to be successful on my end but I feel a program helps as well.  I guess in my gut it just didn't feel right....I felt like I was in an assembly line.  So for my peace of mind I am going to check out another program.  Of course, I would just like to continue with PNC as I am so close to being done and I would like my surgery done so I start losing weight....but for me this is a lifetime commitment so waiting another month or 3 I am willing to wait for the right fit.   

Thank you for all your input....anyone else??

Atousa
mommy to Brayden(6), Cailyn(3) and Brynn(2)

I am just starting out at PNC and so far everyone has been wonderful to me.  I expect humor more than anything and everyone Ive seen has been funny.  I like compassion when Im hurting but I prefer honesty and if I werent doing a good job on my part I would rather hear about it than have someone try to placate me.

As far as being just a number...thats the way the world is getting to be these days.  If you want to be more than that you need to step up and make it happen.  Irregardless of the place you choose...much of the success is up to you.  Do with it what you will.

 You do have to be a number to some degree if that is the way a institution is set up.  I think it comes in part to being a small business owner and liking to work with other small businesses.  I like to personal touch you get.  Oh well....I know I'll be a number in certain situations, but I don't  have to like it  :)  lol  I think compassion was not quite the right word I used above...I just want to know that I am getting the encouragement and also honesty (if I am doing something wrong) that I would like.  Thanks again!
Atousa

I am 9 months out from WLS at PNC.  I think that the pre-op and early post-op care was fantastic.  It was nice to be able to do everything in house and not have to go one place for the psych stuff, another for dietician, etc.  After about 6 months, though, I think their program is not as good as it could be.  The support groups are too big (for me), so that isn't for me.  The follow ups with the nurses are great, but once you get switched over to the bariatrician for all the visits, it isn't as good.  The dr. is very nice and everything, but I don't feel like I get much out of the visits, so I look at it as a health check up and to get blood work done.  I guess if I was having major problems they would refer me to one of the dieticians or psychologists.

Being this far out, I have decided to live a healthy lifestyle and look for positive reinforcement outside the PNC program rather than focusing on being a post op patient.  Things like Weigh****chers meetings, YMCA exercise classes, etc.  I go to a counselor that specializes in WLS post ops so I get the one on one compassion, feedback, whatever it is I need to work through the torrent of changes that happen after surgery.  I don't expect the WLS facility to meet every single one of my needs - I don't know if the other hospitals excell in this area or not.

One significant thing that I noticed that I thought was better about PNC versus the other programs:  no pre op weight loss requirement.  I heard so many people at coffees and on this board stress about not losing their required weight and being afraid that their surgery would be canceled if they weigh in too high at the hospital.  PNC requires a 10 day pre op liquid diet and bowel prep, so it isn't without requirements, but I was grateful to not have to worry about being at a certain weight by surgery day.  In fact I gained 15 pounds during the 6 month "diet".

Now I am just rambling, but hopefully it made some sense to you.  good luck in whatever you choose to do.
Amelia

Well, tomorrow I'll be four weeks out, so I'm kind of a newbie, but I'll give you my take on it.

I love PNC.  Everyone from the ladies at the front desk to the lab people, the nurses, my surgeon, everyone.  They've all been super, super great to me.  I really don't have one complaint.  They've been on the ball since I started my process in June.  The whole process went very smoothly and I have never once felt like a number.  I've only met with the bariatrician twice, but she seemed nice when I talked to her.  I usually meet with the nurse, Samantha, and if I ever have any questions, she literally calls me back in like 10 minutes or less.  She's been super helpful.  I'm so glad that I chose PNC to have my surgery done, and it definitely isn't close to home for me.