Opinions Please!

I want to know people's opinion's of Dr. Schlesinger (Tempe St. Lukes) and Dr. Sprunger (Tempe St. Lukes).  They do the surgery differently as well, open RNY vs. Lap RNY.  I know that ultimately the decision is mine, but I was hoping for some insight. :)

Dr. Sprunger did my surgery - Lap RNY - 1 year ago - at Scottsdale.  I loved his personality,  how he treated me and my family, his bedside manner, and professionalism. 

Good luck in your endeavor!

Tried to reply by pm but it's not working for some reason......

I don't know Dr. Sprunger personally but have heard good things about him.

I wouldn't send ANYONE to Dr. Schlesinger.  My personal experience was the worst of the worst and I ended up having to go to CA to have major surgery with a Revision specialist to save my life.  The same specialist (Dr. Ara Keshishian) has fixed other "Schlesinger" patients as well.

Keep doing your research and check into other programs & surgeons.  The informational seminars are free and the more you know the better your chances for success will be!

Have you looked into a DS?  Check out www.dsfacts.com

Good luck with your journey!  Thin & Healthy totally rocks!!!

(btw...I'm on a 4 week roadtrip so I apologize to others I haven't been able to answer.....I'm not on the puter much while I'm having my adventure!!!)

Thank you, Joyce!  To be honest, I felt more comfortable with Dr. Sprunger from the beginning.  I guess I should follow my gut.   I have not done much research about DS.  I will.  I've been overweight for 15 years and I'm ready to make the change!  Thanks for your support.

Rebecca

Please do yourself a favor and research ALL of the WLS options out there. RNY and DS are great procedures IF you want/need malabsorbtion and the risks/benefits/added issues that come along with malabsorbtion.
For me having a procedure with malabsorbtion was not something I was willing to do so I chose to have the vertical sleeve. It has success rates very similar to the RNY with no malabsorbtion.
I hear you about being ready to make the change, that is for sure where I was 26 months ago when I had my surgery.
I had mine done about 26 months ago. Lost 135 lbs in 10 mos and have easily maintained that loss since.
I you need/want more info on the sleeve please check out the sleeve board and/or I am happy to answer any questions you have. Also check out the DS board. Please check out each of the boards for each of the procedures and see what folks that have "been there done that" with each of the procedures have to say.

 
~~ wouldn't send ANYONE to Dr. Schlesinger.~~

Bleh....

LessieBelle,

Thanks to you, too!  Hearing other people used (and liked) Dr. Sprunger just reinforces my own feelings.  Glad to hear your experience was a good one!

Rebecca

liveinphx-
We must have posted at just about the same time because I hadn't seen your post when I submitted. :)  Thanks for the advice.  Actually this past week was the first time I've heard more about VGS.  Dr. Sprunger did a info meeting on it.  I found it very interesting.  I do worry about the malnutrition (especially hairloss). 

BTW, you look great!  Congrats on your success. 

Thanks again!

Rebecca

Sadly the hairloss thing can happen with any of the procedures. Mine thinned but not horribly so but I have really thick hair to start with so it was not a bad thing for me.
The thing about malabsorbtion that I did not want is the absolute need to take large doses of vitamins and supplements diligently or risk very serious medical complications. This is more true with the DS than with RNY but both are at risk for major medical issues secondary to not taking supplements and vitamins several times per day every day. Some folks need iron infusions and I hate needles. That having been said DS is touted as being top notch for maintaining weight loss and a cure for diabetes etc.
With the RNY the malabsorbtion of the calories goes away after a year or two but malabsorbtion of vitamins and supplements goes on forever.
Many folks feel regain is more likely with the sleeve because there is NO malabsorbtion, that has NOT been my experience at least so far.
Please check out all of the boards for each of the surgeries and research all of the procedures carefully and know that all of us are passionate about our own procedures and we may be more biased towards what has worked for us.

NOT Schlesinger!  Not if you value your health.  I don't know much about Sprunger.