Quest: Information

Thank you! I appreciate not only your feedback on the lap surgery, but on Dr. White as well. (Not to mention the well wishes for my mom!) Congrats to you and your hubby for so much success!! That, in itself, speaks volumes. Thanks again! Jennifer

I just wanted to take a moment to say Thank you!!!! The support on this site is incredible. Thanks so much to everyone! I am so glad I found it! You have all made this so much easier for me to deal with. I love my mother very much and was completely freaking out at the thought of her adding another surgery into the mix. I want so much for her to be healthy and OUT OF PAIN, but the more I read, the more I see that this may very well be one of the best things to happen to, and for, her.  THANK YOU! And congrats to all who are sitting on the "losers bench" and good luck to all those who are hoping to be there soon! I am sure I, as well as my mom, will have a lot more questions as we go and it means alot to know this site, and the awesome people that make up the community, are available. Thank you. PS: I am trying to get her set up to use the computer so she can communicate with all of you directly....but, I hope it's OK if I continue to ask my own questions as well. Jennifer

Hi Jennifer!  Like Michelle, I'm one of Dr. Anthones patients and am totally happy I chose the DS.  I sent you a PM!!! Best wishes to your Mom!!!

Hi Jennifer,               I have just recently decided to have WLS and have chosen the DS as my surgery of choice with Dr. Anthone as my surgeon. I have done extensive research and chose the surgery that is best for ME. I just thought I could share with you some information that I obtained from the WLS seminar that Dr. Anthone held on Feb. 7th. Lap Band - the most MINIMALLY invasive of all WLS but also has the slowest and lowest percentage of excessive weight(EW) loss, can be reversed(though should be considered permanent) or revised. In a nut shell - lowest risk but also lowest effect VSG (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) removes approx. 85% of the stomach- restriction only, removes 85% of the Ghrelin (hunger hormone) - the VSG is the first step of the DS - non reversible, is revisable, most high BMI patients are not able to achieve a BMI lower than 35 and usually need a revision to have a BMI below 35, second lowest risk but also second lowest effect RNY- creates pouch and bypasses intestines for restriction and malabsorption. Must chew food to mush, sugar and complex starches causes dumping syndrome, can lose large amount of weight quickly mostly during honeymoon period (first 18 months)- some patients gain approx. 50% of their weight back because of pouch stretching...higher risk than both WLSs above but also higher effect DS - removes 85% of stomach, reduces the ghrelin which reduces hunger feeling, and bypasses intestines while leaving the pylorus valve intact. has highest amount of EW loss with little to no regain, also has higher risk during surgery (Dr. Anthone only does this surgery OPEN, other surgeons perform it LAP- tho there are only a handfull of surgeons who perform this surgery) Has the highest risk but highest effect as well Other things I learned are: *Men have the greatest risk because they are apple shaped and women are pear shaped *Patients have less risk if they are able to walk shortly after surgery (within 24 hours I think) decreases risk of clots *the more co-morbidities the more risk Research all surgeries so she can know which surgery is for her. Look at the good and bad in each surgery.... DEFINITELY choose the surgery BEFORE choosing a surgeon. Not all surgeons perform the same surgeries, and they don't perform them in the same way. Like I said, I'm new at this too... I just wanted to share what I learned.