Dr. Robert Marvin, Houston TX

Anyone use Dr. Robert Marvin of Houston, TX?  Looking for some insights.

Yes, My friend and I had Dr. Marvin do our RNY's. He is a very good surgeon, I had  a revision from band to RNY 10 mo.s ago. He was able to remove the band and revise to RNY in the same surgery. We were in the hospital 24 hr.s and it was laproscopic went home with a pain pump. Neither of us has any surgical complications and are able to eat a wide varitity of food. The process was pretty smooth to be approved though you are your best advocate to do the leg work. After care is okay.  He doesn't have his own support group and I 've learned the most online and from others. I've seen him  twice the rest of the time is his PA.  He's located in the Medical Center Area down Holcombe close to the other hospitals. We had our surgery done at University General Hospital.

OMG!  I have so many questions, if you don't mind.

Did he make you do a pre-op diet?  If so what was it.
How was University General compared to other hospitals?
Does he have a online support groop that you are aware of or does he recommend one?
What was the wait time between when you decided to have surgery and the actual surgery date?
I have a enlarged liver and am so scared he is going to turn me down. 
Did he use drains after surgery?
What is the pain pump?
Thank you so much for your response!!!!!!!!!!!!

Liz

He  did not have me do a preop diet. I did see the nutrtionist  I think twice. I had had the band and was followed by that Dr. until I saw Dr. Marvin. If you have an enlarged liver it is safer and more to your benefit to do a protein sparing diet while you wait for surgery. I have heard of some bad outcomes from enlarged  livers.     I did do a preop clear liquid diet on my own to be prepared.  He says he doesn't go near the part of the intestines  like the DS so the stomach is empty where he does the surgery. You can go to doctormarvin.com for his website. I had no drains only 5 small5 incisions across my abdomen. The longest and most uncomfortable was where they took out the port from the band. University General Hospital was okay. I am a nurse so am more critical than the average patient. I would have someone stay overnite with you if possible. The pain pump is a bulb filled with pain medicine with a tube thats under the skin that gradually releases medication to the sites to help the pain. After 3 days it is toatally deflated and  you pull the tube out. You still need lortab liquid but it didn't help the port incision.Depends on how much of your nutrtion/sleep study/. psych eval you have done. I saw him first in March and had surgery the  first of Nov. It would be quicker if you have everything done. From the time we submitted it was only a month and that was because I had to arrange things and time off for work. My only regret is I waited 2 yr.s and didn't have the RNY first when my friend did. She kept after me but I was scared. It took her sucess and constant hounding to make me see the light.

I also used Dr. Marvin.  I had surgery 6-4-09.  I was required to do a 6-month diet by my insurance.  Nothing by him.  The day I was approved for surgery I was scheduled.  He could have done it a week later, but I am a teacher so I opted to wait until school was out, so it was a total of 2 weeks.  I have not had any problems at all.  I eat any and all foods without trouble.  I love his PA! I had my surgery at Park Plaza.  Will be happy to answer any and all questions as well. 

If you don't mind me asking, what type of insurance did you have.  I have blue cross and united health care.  Did you have any additional health problems prior to surgery.  diabetes, sleep apena, that kind of thing.  If you would rather me send you emails, please let me know.  The waiting game is killing me.  My insurance hasn't come back yet.  I just need a plan to work on.  Even if I have to wait 6 months I need to feel like I am moving toward something.

Thanks,

lbm

How did you like Park Plaza Hospital

Im am currently revising my band as well.  Dr. Garth did my Band, and now four years later I need a revision.  With BCBS of Tx They suggested a 6 month diet and I am a little frustrated and tired of the complications. Your post shows me that I am not alone.... it is just very frustrating.
Nisha from TX!!

Dr. Marvin hopefully will do my revision, or I may have to go back to dr. Garth.... again.

I am almost 20mo. post revision band to RNY by Dr. Marvin  in Houston and no surgical complications just from bad food choices. I had minimal pain from the revision  much less than when Dr. St Laurent put in the band. Amy is right  the 6 mo. diet is worth it. If you have been seeing your Dr. regularly and been weighed it is documented and you can get the letter from your Dr. to that affect. I had been seeing Dr. St. Laurent faithfully so just had to do nutrition and we did the revision in 6 mo. My only regret is I didn't listen the first time and gt the RNY first. As my friend  Patti kept drilling in my head maybe some of my health issues may not hav gotten worse if I had done the RNY first. I was scared but learned from watching others you can live a near normal life and be healthy and no complications. I was in the hospital only 24 hr.s and had a pain pump that helped but not the site on the left where the port was removed. The discomfort lasted about 2 weeks until the sutures dissolved. Hope you have a good outcome too. Keep us posted.

I have Blue Cross Blue shield and had no diet requirements, and I know others with BCBS who had 6 mo requirements.  It all depends on the specific plan you have with the insurance.  But even if you have to wait 6 mo, it is so worth it.  MissJean is right that a preop diet will help shrink your liver.  My doctor put me on a two week liquid diet.  If Dr. Marvin does turn you down, you might want to check with my doctor, Garth Davis.  He and his dad Rober Davis take alot of high-risk patients.  I loved him.  I'm friends with MissJean, so I know Dr. Marvin sounds like a really good doctor, but if that doesn't work out, Dr. Davis is really good too.  I didn't need a pain pump with my RYN.  It was very easy with very little pain at all, very little swelling, and no bruising.  I did have one with my LBL which was very painful even with drugs and a pain pump. The pain pump had the effect kind of like getting a shot at the dentist, but since I was out when it was put in, I never felt the stick. Good luck in getting all this together.