Any Suggestions?? I'm new here!!

I just recently went to an informational seminar at Theda Clarke in Neenah.  Does anyone out there have any recommendations for a particular surgeon and one type versus the other -- RNY versus lap band?  I have not made an appointment yet for a consultation, I am just looking for advice.  I have been reading all of the posts on this site -- can anyone give me any advice.

Hello! I am having the surgery performed by Dr. Wasco at Theda Clark.  Both Dr. Wasco and Georgen are great doctors. Some will tell you of a bad experience they may have encountered.. but I have heard 99% great things and 1% bad..and every doctor is going to have that.  I choose to have the RNY over the Lap Band.. because of several reasons.  1. If you are going to do it, why not just go all the way??  2.  I have heard a lot more problems with the band twisting around the stomache and having pain raising arms over your head.. and for months and months after surgery. With RNY your first 2 months have been hard.. but after you get through that you are good. Ask any RNY'er.. they will never regret their disicion... their only regret will be not doing it sooner!!  3. With the Lap Band you have to go in for fills to constantly have your band adjusted 4. With RNY you loose weight much faster 5.  I also needed the restrictions with sweets since I am a sweets eather. Because of the bypass your body will not tolerate the way you eat sweets any longer I was recently at a required pre op support group for Theda.. and there were 11 people there, 6 people were post op RNY, 4 were pre op RNY and one was pre op Lap Band.  The lap band felt a little out of place.. and the nurse that was running the meeting did say that Dr. Wasco and Dr. Georgen OFFER the lap band.. but most of the time they do the RNY. That was also a good point to me.. because it tells me that the Dr.s feel that is the best option for your weight loss tool as well.   Good luck on your journey! There is a lot of information to consider.  You may want to check out the RNY and Lap band forums to ask some of the grads how they feel.. or else just "lurk" and read the messages and make your decision based on what is best for you.

I went to my first seminar with the idea I would have the lap-band.  My primary physician wanted me to have the lap-band, and when I told her the surgeon wanted me to have the RNY, she told me to call him and tell him no!!  I decided to go with the RNY, and am sure it is better for me as I have so much weight to lose.  The surgeon did a liver biopsy when I had surgery (he does that routinely) and I have been told I have NASH--nonalcoholic steotahepatis (sp?) a serious liver disease.  the liver specialist i was sent to said not only do I have to lose a lot of weight, I must become a "normal" weight.  I never counted on that!!  I figured if i got down to 165 or so, great!  So, I guess the RNY is better since you lose more weight.

I would have to agree with you on your decsion to go with the RNY.  It bothers me that your PCP would tell you to call the surgeon and tell him NO that you want the lap band. It sounds like the Dr. was forcing their opinion on you rather than letting you make your own decision and supporting you. There are doctors that are for the surgery and there are still doctors that are against it... but this is how it is in life. You will have people support you and you will have those that don't understand it and disagree.

Hello Denise, Thank you for your information.  My research has shown that most people do go with the RNY.  You indicated that you were at a meeting and that the nurse said that they OFFER the lap band, but they do the RNY most of the time.  My research has shown that the lap band can be problematic, so I wonder why the lap band is still even offered?  I was originally interested in the lap band because it is less invasive.  Now, after reading about the complications with the lap band surgeries, I really don't know what to do.  Did they specify to you why the RNY is done more often than the lap band?

Honestly... I don't recall if she said one way or the other.  It would make sense to keep the lapband around becuase not everyoone has problems, and not everyone wants to have their body rewired.  I know people have had great success on the band but I also know 2 people personally that haven't lost a thing.  I definatey don't want to discourage your opinion on the lap band.. I'm only speaking from what nformation I have seen and read.  Again I would have to recommend checking out the lap band forum because only the lap band grads can accurately tell you what its all about. Good luck with your decision!!!

I did the RNY in 2006, would do it again.  My primary surgeon was Wasco but they have two doctors performing the surgery.  The day I did mine Georgen helped doctor Wasco.  Both came to see me in the hospital along with their nurse practioner Betsy. 

JWJ - Thank you for sending that information to me.  I am only a little over half way through it and it is absolutely unbelievable.   If I was not reading this first hand (meaning notes written by Dr Wasco himself, etc), I wouldn't believe it.  He contradicts himself constantly throughout the notes.  I love the entry where he states "I have explained to this patient that my partners and I are taking reduced fees to treat her because she is out of plan".  First of all, what kind of Dr makes a remark like that to a patient and secondly when you met with the Medical Director Of NHP in January of 2008 he explains to you that because HE wasn't a provider, and because they agreed to pay for this, that he actually received more than if he was a provider.  The chart that NWHP sent you shows that each time he billed them he got exactly what he billed for.  If he had been a provider, he would have gotten a substantially less payment.  Where is this guy coming from?  Then in October 2006 his notes state that he "already talked to someone at Network and they said this surgery (surgery you needed to find out what had gone wrong already) wouldn't be covered".  He tells you that on October 18, 2006 and their call logs you obtained show him NEVER calling into any department until after October 18, 2006.  He indicates you are a "Dr Shopper", yet every Doctor you saw you have obtained the referral letter that he wrote for you.  Did you ask him for these referrals or did he suggest it?  The best is a different physician notes in which he takes a call from Wasco and goes on to tell him your band had to be surgically removed and JOKES about it!  Even the other Dr suggests utter amazement at his lack of sensitivity in notes corresponding to Wasco's on that same date (in fact, Wasco has no note in his file about his discussion with your other physician on that day).  Your postings are not the first time I have heard bad things about him, but these notes are the icing on the cake. Thanks again for being an advocate for others that may fall victim to him.  I hope you are doing well.  It sounds like you are in much better hands now.