Hi!

I want to revise to a sleeve. In Las Vegas it is Dr. Umbach. Here I talked to Sprunger, but he wants to do 2 surgeries, one to remove the band and another for the sleeve. 

I am scared about the sleeve not working due to my PCOS, Hypothroid, and Metobolic syndrome. In 2009, Dr. Schlesinger told me that was why the band never worked. 

I liked Dr. Ortiz and in 2007 I was SO hopeful, but now I get sadder everyday thinking that I will never get the revision or that I will be 350+lbs before I do. I was 140lbs in high school, 170lbs in my 20s, and I spent my 30s over 250lbs and I don't want to spend my 40s in the 300s.

Sorry to go on and on...

Michele

Hi Michele,

What are you revising to?  How was your experience with Dr. Ortiz?  I emailed Dr. Pleatman's office in MI yesterday about a VSG.  He seems to enjoy a good reputation, and his cash price is reasonable (11,200) , but by the time you add in airfare and hotel...it adds up.

I talked to Dr. Feng's office in Las Vegas today.    Do you know who you plan on going with?

 Based on several years of watching and following what has been going on in AZ with DS surgeons, I cannot overemphasize the multitudes of problems, poor outcomes, complaints, MAJOR complications, improperly done surgeries, infections and DEATHS that have occurred in AZ.  And of these, Schlesinger has been the surgeon or part of the practice many of the times. But this caution extends to Husted, Juarez and Simpson, if he is still doing them at all. Black stone may be more competent, but she doesn't have NEAR the experience I would require in a DS surgeon, and if she pro toed at all, if it was with any of the AZ surgeons, I would be even LESS inclined to be her guinea pig.  Juarez just killed - I mean, a patent of Juarez's just died after he decided to go ahead and attempt a band to DS Revision alone after Husted bailed out on being the lead surgeon in another of his flakey and dangerous and unethical elopements to another state. 

Specific complaints about Schlesinger that I recall having read over the years: he is not an adequately competent lap surgeon; he has "misled" (you know what word I'd rather use) people into thinking he was revising their RNY to a DS but then they woke up with ERNY; he gave one poor woman an ERNY revision with a 20 cm common channel and she was dying of malnutrition when another surgeon revised her and discovered the mess (after Schlesinger wouldn't help her anymore and blamed her for her problems); major problems (with a poorly installed lapband) were ignored and that patient had to seek help elsewhere as well and nearly died. 

Use the Yahoo advanced search function and see for yourself - search all the relevant boards including AZ, DS, revisions and the main boards.  Read TJ Woods' profile. 

Go to CA with Rabkin or Keshishian. Don't risk your life with ANY of the AZ "DS surgeons."

Why  are you  trusting others ? Have you gone and talked to him? 

go to his support group , meet some of his pts - make up your own mind , do your own homework .

Yes he is my surgeon, I trust him.  and I will be the first t tell you -- he is not the right surgeon for every  person, but you owe it to yourself to interview him ... ask him the questions you need answers to.
 

 I see you have Dr Blackstone  listed as your Dr ??   how is she working out for you ?