introduction

hey everyone Im Jennifer from spartanburg.. Ive met dawn at the preop group for dr bour. so glad shes doing better! my surgery is june 20th!!! im so excited (sorry punctuation im typing w/ one hand holding my sleeping 10 mth old) looking forward to getting to know everyone Jen

Hey Jennifer!! I am from Spartanburg as well. I am still in the researching stage of surgery but I am considering Dr. Bour as well. What made you decide to go with RNY instead of lap band. I was set on lap band but I am thinking different now that I read about the success of RNY. Please share your experience with me. Why did you decide to go with Dr. Bour instead of Dr. Ross at Regional?

I actually went to one of the first information sessions with Dr Ross in Spbg a couple of yrs ago.. I was trying to get my dad to go but he wouldnt at the time. I heard a couple of horror stories about ross but I am not one to say soooo I heard about Dr Bour and called to see if they could do my dad.. Alot of people turn away people if you are over 500 lbs like my dad and lacey said "we dont descriminate girl! we take all sizes AND self pay" we were turned away from Dr Champion because of dads size and Dr Rowits because Anmed wouldnt take self pay.. Soo we found Dr Bour and I actually got my dad in the group meeting which was a miracle because he has refused group meetings for 3 yrs now. Well i wanted lapband at first then Dr bour said there was a 50% failure rate with them, people cheat easily, dont get their fills right, and eat what they want(no dumping syndrome and no malabsorption which slows the weight loss) . He said the complications sort of outweigh each other, with RNY the complications are usually within 2-4 weeks after surgery , with lapband its usually years later with a slippage and needed surgery to fix it. I said "do you think i should do rny or lapband?" he said "If i thought you should have lapband i would of talked you into it by now" so that answered my question. I like the rapid loss and good probability of keeping off the weight with rny.. I was worried with complications but I believe Dr Bour does everything possible to prevent them. He is a GREAT physician and makes sure he does everything by the book. He has only had 2 leaks in 750 patients, I think thats pretty darn good. His diet after surgery has a lot to do with that as well. He is real big on following the program and being healthy in the long run.. Good luck with your decision, I finally feel that i have made the right one for me and am very excited about it! Jen

Thanks so much for this information. I went to the information session with Dr. Ross at Regional as well (a year ago) but wan't real impressed. He seemed a little negative about everything. Anyway...also my sister in law is a surgical tech at Palmetto Richland in Columbia and said that Dr. Bour trained down there with one of the best surgeons around. The surgeon that he trained with did my gallbladder surgery and he was great!!! She thinks Dr. Bour is wonderful and has worked with him in the OR as he was training. She thinks he is really competent!! Thanks for the information. I'm attending the information session for Dr. Bour on 6/8/06. My husband is not going to be able to attend but my best friend is going with me. I will have to see what happens. Let's stay in touch!!

Welcome Jennifer, Welcome!!! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. I'm excited for you!!! June 20th will be here before you know it...and then it's full steam ahead We have a support group that is meeting next Thursday ...we would love to have you join us. We're a fun loving, sharing, laughing, caring, supportive, understanding, non-judging bunch. Can you tell I like our group I'm going to add you to our SC Weight Loss and Upcoming Surgery List...there's always room for one more If you would rather I not please let me know, and I will remove your name ASAP!! I'm a hugger so, HUGS, Tonya

Hi Jennifer! Please come to our Upstate Support Group meeting! We have so much fun and we would love to meet you! June 20th is soooo close! It will be here before you know it! Kathy

Hi Jennifer!!! So glad to see you on the board!!!!!!! We are all excited for you about your upcoming surgery. I am 6 weeks out and would do it again a million times over!!!!!! Hope to see at our meeting Thursday. Maybe you and Rachel can get together and ride together!!!! Welcome......Welcome.... You will be glad you joined in. There is so much love and support here. Melissa

Hey Jen Glad to see someone else from the Upstate!! And your surgery is right around the corner!! I hope that you can make it next Thursday to our support group get together....we have a blast...the more the merrier!! WLS is major surgery and a big lifestyle change....and the first step is being comfortable with your doctor. I'm very happy that you have found that with Dr. Bour. But for anybody out there that may be reading this....I just feel the need to give my thoughts about Dr. Ross. He did my surgery on January 30. He is very competent, caring, compassionate and a Christian man.....he is doing this to help people live....he is just awesome. I couldn't have asked for better care and treatment...before during and after surgery. The Spartanburg Regional Weight Loss Center has come a long way in a short period of time. Ok....I'm stepping off my soapbox now. I really hope to see you soon at one of our Upstate meetings!!! Hugs, Dianne

Let me clarify a little bit.. LOL. Dr James and Dr Rhinehart (who are in same practice with dr ross) Did my gallbladder and then my appendectomy while pregnant and were both WONDERFUL.. The WLS co-ordinator was wonderful i think her name was Diane? The MAIN reason we chose dr bour is because he has experience with super obese over 500 lbs and i had heard that ross did not do those people and i heard a couple of bad stories.. reason for not ellaborating is because i do not know how true or untrue these are and do not want to talk bad about dr ross since i have had great results with his partners(or previous surgical partners) LOL Sorry if you took it wrong and im so glad that it worked out for you great! My dad is the main reason for going with Dr Bour, nothing against SRHS or dr ross .. hugs, Jennifer

Welcome Jen! My surgery date is June 19th! I am still waiting on my approval...praying hard for it!! Hope to get to know you better! ~Elizabeth