East End of Long Island - Changed My Mind

Hi Everyone,  I was scheduled for Lap-Band in Nov 2007 and then again in Feb 2008.  Both times the surgeries had to be cancelled.  Each time this happened I felt farther away from getting the band.  I needed to just take a break from researching.  Now I'm BACK...  I'm fairly well versed in the Band "rules" and pre and post op diets.  (I did the liquid diet twice).  But, now I'm feeing RNY may be a better choice for me.  The thing that really turned me off about the Band was the "experimental" eating and subsequent "vomiting".  Does this happen with Gastric bypass?  I realize the stoma is smaller, but is there "stuck" episodes?  What is the difference between distal and proximal?  Also, any Suffolk County doctors that anyone can recommend?  Any comments on Dr. Ahmad or Dr. Cooperstone?  I originally scheduled Lap Band with Dr. Fielding at NYU - he is TOP NOTCH and I loved him, but realistically, going into NYC from the East End is not viable for me for post op.  Any responses would be appreciated!!  Thanks you guys! Maria

Well if you want to head to Western Suffolk, my surgeon Dr. Cussatti is GREAT!! His office is in West Islip and he does his surgery out of Good Samaritan Hospital. He gives a lecture on WLS once a month and if you call the hospital 376-4444 they can tell you the date of his next lecture and you can meet him.

I'm from Southampton- I ended up going to New Hyde Park- BUT I know of surgeons who are good -there's one in Patchogue they call "Pinky" her patients LOVE her- Dr Ahmad-in SH right? Have only been told to be "very afraid and run the other way" so no help for you here about him-I also do tend to run the other way anytime it's important and Southampton comes up, though. You are more than welcome to PM me if you want to chat or hear whatever else I have heard.

Hi Swojo,

I think the lady in Patchogue is Dr. Mehta, my friend had her and likes her very much (she got the Band).  Dr. Ahmad is not in Southampton - I think you are thinking of Dr. Ali.  I would not have electrive baraiatric surgery at Southampton Hospital, I was thinking maybe at Stonybrook.  Does Dr. Holover work with Dr. Garber?

 

Maria

Yes Drs Garber and Holover are at the New York Bariatric Group- their website is stopobesity4life.com. Liked them alot FOR THE SURGERY, not so much for the aftercare-seems like  I get a little rushed in and out because they are so big and usually I only get to see the PA who is lovely and all but not the Doc. And it IS a hike. StonyBrook has a good program, I hear there is a Doc, I think it's Dr Geiss out of Syosset whose patients LOVE him and he works out of North Shore. It all depends on how far you are willing to travel.

Hi, With the RNY you have what is called the dumping syndrome.  You can vomit from that.  If your new GI tract doesn't tolerate the food you eat, you can vomit from that.  If you don't chew your food well enough you can vomit from that.  My leader told us that if you do not chew your food well enough, there is only one way it can come back up....induce vomitting.  This is the beauty of the tool though.  It forces you to chew chew chew chew and not to eat foods that don't agree with you.   I initially was going to have the Lapband myself, but was advised by the Dr. and his staff that RNY would be better for me as I have a lot to lose.  I debated for a long time which one I wanted to have.  It's a very personal decision and no one can tell you what to do.  You will know what is right for you.  I found that each surgery had it's pros and cons and that made it difficult for me to decide which one I wanted to have.  I have a peace about my decision to have RNY.  I thought a lot about it, searched the web and even visited my PCP to talk to her about it.  Good luck with your decision.  Keep us posted.   Oh....Proximal is closer to the body or whatever object you are talking about and Distal is away from the body or whatever object you are talking about.  Tammy :-)

Thanks for your response runningagain!

I had my surgery in Southampton Hospital with Dr. Medhat Allam- I highly recommend him.  Why would you not want your surgery there?  I know several people who had their surgery there with Dr. Allam and everything was great.  Remember you will require aftercare that would be very convenient with a Great Dr. right in Southampton.

He has a support group the third Tuesday of each month at the library in Hampton Bays.

 

He does both the Lapband and the RNY

Hi L.I. Mom,

I know someone who had Dr. Allam and is doing great too!  I just didn't want to go to Southampton because it is not a Bariatric Center of Excellence, that's all.  Yes, aftercare that is conveniently located is a PLUS, especially if you have a complication.

 

Thanks for your reply!

 

Maria

Hi...just want to chime in here and say that, 1.  Dumping syndrome is NOT experienced by everyone.  I do not dump, and I can eat virtually everything, MOST of the time.  I have only thrown up a handful of times, and then it was due to my eating too fast/not chewing enough. 2.  I was revised from the band to RNY approx. 1 year ago.  The band was great at first, but due to my anatomy, NOT any fault of the band, I was unable to keep any food down, as each fill would eventually close up.   I know people who have been successful with both surgeries...it's really a personal choice.  They are both tools, unfortunately the docs do not operate on our brains, just our stomachs!   I will tell you that if you are a big sweet eater...my personal suggestion would be the RNY.  It is very east to "cheat" the band with sweets...they slide right through. Feel free to PM me if you like,