So excited. 1st Session Dec 15th. Anyone else?

Whooo Hoooo~!!!!!!!~ After waiting for so long I finally received my call to meet Dr. Beausoleil for the first time. I am so excited to say the least. Any tips on what questions to ask as I'm considering RNY surgery? Is anyone else out there meeting with Dr. B on Dec 15th?  My appt. is for 3:30ish. Hope the snow stays away for a safe trip up and back.  :)  Debbie from the Cape...

Too late for the snow here!!  I think that we will have 6 inches here in Fredericton before the days's over. It is so pretty. It looks like Christmas snow!
I see Dr B tomorrow for the consent signing!!
As for your appointment, I have to warn you, he is very easy on the eyes. He reminds me of a California surfer- the blond highlites in his hair etc...  Any way....a more serious warning, He appears to be either shy or an introvert because he does not make a lot of eye contact and he appeared to talk to my hubby instead of me.I have heard that from others too. It kind of put me off at my consult. I would have preferred to know that beforehand. If someone else is driving, bring a note book and as you think of questions, write then down, leaving space for the answers. If you are driving alone, start now. As for the choice of procedure, if you are 55 or older, he does not give you a choice. It's the band only. From your picture that does not appear to be an issue for you, but I mention it anyway because the only good thing about fat is that it puffs out the wrinkles!!! It can be difficult to peg age.
You are on your way!  Congratulations!

Thank you so much Charline and yes I am not over 45 so no worries there. I did hear Dr. B is nice eye candy and I look forward to that.....lol  I have so many questions and I like your suggestion about writing them down for I may forget them from excitement.  I am on my way to a new me. Lots of choices and decisions. :)  Looking forward to the session. :)

Wow!! Great news!  I sat beside a real RNY success story just yesterday!  She has lost a ton of weight...and looks great. 

So, write down anything you can think of.  You should know if you get the RNY if it is distal, medial or proximal...you should know this so you know how much you malabsorb.   You will also want to know how big your pouch will be and how long your common channel is going to be.

If these are totally new questions...have a look at the RNY forum...they are the things that RNYers want to know, especially down the road...more then at the time of surgery.  It helps in the long term understanding of your surgery to know which of the RNYs you have.  Then you will know what your vitamin needs are and why.  A distal RNY is almost like a DS as far as malabsorbing.  I dont think in Monctom it is distal...but I don't know which it is.

Have a great day!  This is fantastic news!
Catherine

this might shed some light

Stomach restriction in the RNY and Biliopancreatic Diversion

All surgeries balance how weight loss is maintained. One component of "portion control" is also known as "restriction."  Essentially, when the stomach is smaller, you cannot put in as many calories. 

	Proximal RNY	Distal RNY	Duodenal Switch
Stomach size	30 cc	30 cc	120-180 cc
Common channel	500 cm	100-400cm	100 cm
Common channel in inches	200 inches	40 to 160 inches	40 inches
Biliopancreatic limb length in cm (not including duodenum)	100 cm or less than 15% of the distance between the Ligament of Trietz and the colon	For some insurance purposes, anything longer than 100 cm bypassed is considered a distal bypass	400 cm or about 60% of the distance between the ligament of Trietz and the colon

Debbetic, I had my consult with Dr.B on Nov 20. Yup, he is easy on the eyes. I had wanted bypass surgery, either rny or gs and I discussed this with him. He said he'd rather do banding because it a shorter surgery and has a lot less complications than bypass. He or his nurse (can't remember which) said it would be a longer wait for bypass too. When I had my 8 hour info session I met his first bypass patient in NB and she had a LOT of complications. She said 2008 was the first year since her bypass surgery that she has not had to be hospitalized and have further surgery. She was done in 2005. By the way she looks great. On my first appointment day, I met a bandster and a 3 year post op bypass too. That was informative. Good luck with your appointment with Dr. B tomorrow. :)

Hi,

The Band is a shorter surgery, but if the Surgeon does both RNY and Band I find it strange he is pushing the band due to more complications. Unless of course you personally have a more complicated medical situation. 

Even then, if you have other complications...I would want to know which was going to solve my other conditions like diabiates, etc, the best.

I may be wrong...but I wonder if this is a question of hospital time and waiting lists, more then the best WLS surgery for the personal situation?

The nice thing in NB is that now everyone can get a second opinion if they wish.   And I sincerely hope that as obese adults who are looking for our own personal best solution.

You know folks...and I say this in the most caring way...not meant to hurt anyones feelings...but generally in the rest of the world...it is my impression that the Client's active participation in choosing their surgery choice is a key ingredent to the overall process.   Here when I read the above message...I worry that people are being led down a path without the truth be presented to them.

The RNy is longer surgery...but if the Dr. is not comfortable doing a malabsortion surgery...one should know this up front.  The best way to get a full opinion is to talk to a Dr. who feels comfortable with different surgery options..then can really look at the person in front of them to see which is the best fit.


I must say....it strikes me as really very strange that the Dr is no longer wanting to do RNY...it is the most popular in the world...  or is this just a specific personal case I wonder. 

and don't get me wrong..I am sure Dr. B is very good...I am just wondering out loud...what gives??   

Take Care,
C

I just got back from my first appt with Dr. B. It was very informative and it sure put alot of things into perspective. We discussed both Gastric Bypass and Band. My choice is Gastric Bypass for a few different reasons as we will be discussing in another appt (consult with surgeons).  Dr. B. said he is comfortable with both surgeries and did say the band is a shorter surgery with 20% less complications than Gastric and didn't elabarate much further on that, except its an easier surgery for him where this involves cutting and about 2.5 hrs of surgery time.  He did say both have the same outcome in regards to weigh loss and better life expectancy.  I am looking forward to my next session with his team  :)  He said this process is going to be quite fast from now on as I see him and his team 3 more times ,then surgery which he is anticipating to be around March '09 or earlier he said. They are all so nice and friendly and a wealth of knowledge. I felt very comfortable in the meeting.  I am very excited and nervous and alot of other feelings to  :)

Take care everyone and I wish you all the best of health.
Debbie

Congrats Debbie!  Well on your way - just think, you will be a different person this time next year!

Do you still want the bypass surgery or are you going with lapband?