A requirement of Vanderbilt

I know you have to see the Nutrionist at Vanderbilt 3 timesmy question is  do they have to be a month apart each or can you schedule them closer in ? TIA

That I can't tell you as I didn't have my surgery there nor would I.  Who is your Dr.?  Dr. Wright only does open gastric bypass.  That takes longer to heal, and several that have had him have had major complications.  I have to deal with Vandy Dr.'s at the VA medical Center, and can't stand none of them.  Even when they did my tummy tuck and thigh reduction at the VA, it was Vandy Dr.'s.  Both times I had complications.  Before you make a final decision, check out Centennial.  They have great surgeons and a great facility.  I've heard great reviews from other patients.  I wish you the best.  You may have to see the nutrionist 2x before surgery then once afterwards.  I had to see mine once before and once afterwards.

May God be traveling with you on this journey.
Merry Christmas,
Kathy

Hi Raggedy,

  It has been awhile since I was preop so I don't remember exactly how the program schedule progresses, and some of it has changed since I was preop but I am pretty sure you can schedule the nutritionist visits closer than monthly intervals if the scheduling availability permits. 

  So glad to hear that things are progressing for you...  It won't be long now... and you will be a Vanderbilt Valuable...

  Dr. Richard's is one of the finest surgeons in the country.  On my two year surgery date I had lost over 165 pounds and could not be more pleased with my surgery choice or my choice of surgeon.

  The staff at Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss are top notch and I am sure that Jaime would be happy to answer any of your nutritional questions, rather those questions be for scheduling or for nutrition information.

                                          

I don't remember mine being a month apart, but they could have been.  When I started at Vandy, it was only two before surgery, and one after, too.   Do you have to do all three before surgery now?

 I think it depends on your insurance requirements.  

I had 3 real appointments then one more last week to discuss the pre-op diet.  and then I have one more 4 weeks after the surgery.  Mine were actually about 3 weeks apart from each other, truth be told.    I just had to have one each month.  

hope that helps.

 I don't think they have to be a month apart.  It might take that long simply due to their full schedules or the hoops you may have to jump through for insurance.

The first one is a group class where a dietician will give you a packet of info on specific dietary guidelines for your specific surgery.  She will go over everything and you can ask questions about what to expect.   When that class was over, I scheduled my one on one meeting with Jessica.  This one was to come up with a plan to lose the weight I have to in order to get insurance approval.

I have one more to go, but that one won't be scheduled until I get the last 6-ish pounds off, submit to insurance and get approved.  The last pre-op meeting is to discuss the liquid diet prior to surgery and will likely be about 2 weeks prior to the surgery date.

Depending on your insurance (does yours make you lose any weight first?) and their schedule, they could go much faster than 1 month apart.  

I'm doing well in that I'm not gaining any weight right now, but I will be glad when the holiday eating is over and I can get focused on a normal diet again.  

Have you got your group dietician meeting scheduled yet?

Good luck with it!
Denise

p.s.  If you print these posts, you can count them toward your support group requirement!  

I had 2 group then 1 personal. But that was with Jaimie Albritten, she has been promoted to another prosition. So now I see the other Jamie. , But I remember having even a couple of nut. classes after the surgery. I am sure that  things have changed and too, it is according to your insurance. But I wouldn't change a thing, my yr is com'n up in 3 mos. wow it has gone fast. I am down 133 lbs. Unbelievable, if someone would of told me last Christmas that I would be in a size 12-13 this Christmas I know that my brain would not understand and still most of the time it does relate. I started out in a size 30 W. If you have any questions they are there just e-mail them.  I have never had any problems what so ever getting answers from them. They are a #1 Team in my book. KUDOS TO TEAM VANDY!!!! And also to all other WLSURGICAL TEAMS  HATS OFF!!!!! I THANK THEY ARE DO'N AN AWESOME JOB!!!!! BARB

Holy cow, Barb--you are AMAZING!!! 

133 pounds in 9 months???  You are doing it RIGHT and I am so impressed with your committment to yourself!!!  Congratulations and happy 9 month surgiversary!  Wow!!!

So have you had any issues since your RNY?  I'm opting for the band, but RNY would likely be better for my co-morbidities.  I'm not as concerned about dumping, but I've heard of a lot of people having reactive hypoglycemia.  I think that in general (not always), that's a problem based on one's food choices.  But that is the biggest factor keeping me from getting RNY over the band.  And Jennifer (at the diabetes clinic) said that it is slightly more likely to happen in those with diabetes.

Anyway, I agree that Team Vandy has been great so far!  We just need to get people with names that don't start with a J!   My nurse is Jennifer, my dietician is Jessica, my diabetes dietician is Jennifer--they're all starting to turn into the same person!  But they're all great and I have no complaints.

Again, congrats on your amazing success!!!
Denise

Personally I think Vanderbilt has one of the best comprehensive programs around. Instead of doing surgery on un-prepared patients they have a program. 
They require 3 Nut appointments, before and 3 Nut appointment after. As well as participating in 3 Support Groups. 
 They want to see you once a year for the rest of your life.
They provide and continue to enlarge their program in order to give you the tools that will make you successful.
I personally think they are tops in their field!
By following their protocol I was at goal weight in 5 months, with my diabetes in total remission and off all other med's as well as no more CPAP machine. All my blood work has come back normal for the first time in years.
I've had no pain or problems other then a stricture early on. Dr. Richards and staff are tops in my book.
C'ya Bob