Consult with Dr. Roslin

Can you PM me some of those concerns?

I don't have to PM it.  I will be candid right here because I have nothing to say that is slanderous and I have nothing to hide.

Roslin is a brilliant man and a brilliant surgeon.  I absolutely would trust him with my life...or any of my family member's lives.  I've seen him literally save the lives of 2 close friends.  If someone told me I was dying and needed to pick a surgeon, I would pick him without hesitation. The man is a brain and he's skilled.  Definitely not disputing that.  But he is sometimes too much of a know-it-all and can be very dismissive of you unless you are having threatening complications that warrant you being in the hospital.  When I started having issues with abdominal pain, while he was responsive, I felt rebuffed.  He essentially told me I had a problem with my colon and referred me to a colo-rectal specialist.  I went, had a colonoscopy, and had another test.  It was only after the colo-rectal guy said I didn't have any problem with my colon that Roslin began to take me seriously.  That really and truly pissed me off.  I was miserable for months, needlessly.  In my personal experience, it almost felt like he didn't want to be bothered by me if I had a problem that didn't have a clear-cut cause like a stricture or a leak or something.  He is very good with the cut and dry but when it gets foggy and unclear, he's no longer my favorite.  Does that make sense?  If I had had a complication free process, I could probably say better.  And my view is perhaps a bit skewed since I have not had the typical DS experience.  Sometimes I wish I had gone to another surgeon, but I see how exceedingly well so many of his patients are doing and then I realize that I just got unlucky.  But that still doesn't justify being dismissive of a patient's concerns, as if to say he is flawless and never makes a mistake.  His confidence and self assured-ness can be incredibly comforting, especially if you're a new post op if your problems aren't "real problems" but rather apprehensions.  But when the reassurance wears off, you're still left with symptoms you can't explain, and he has no explanations either....well...you feel pretty despondent.

My other beef with him is that he is very reluctant to prescribe medication; a methodology I can appreciate and respect, but don't always agree with 100% of the time. 

Thank you Melody, from my 2 visits with him, I really can see what you're talking about.  I appreciate his honesty in telling me that he's never done as complicated a revision as mine, but I felt down because he basically told me in so many words that I would be more appealing if I were near death or something.  The fact that I walk, talk and am relatively healthy (I use that term loosely as I really do have extenuating issues such as a clotting disorder).

Thanks for your take on him...I can totally see everything you said.

I love Dr. Roslin and trust him as a surgeon but if he doesnt think he should do it, you should get it done elsewhere. I wouldnt want a surgeon operating on me who wasnt 100% into it and it sounds like you have a really complicated revision.

Greenbaum would be the closest to you since he is in NJ but good luck with that. He has been turning away revision patients left and right.

If I were you I would fly out to CA.

I am a bit surprised that Roslin would say something like that since weve discussed the high failure rate with bands and I know he is doing quite a few rny to ds revisions and he is a big DS fan. Why do you think your band surgeon talked him out of it? What did your band surgeon say about all this?

There is no reason for you to have to struggle like this. I know all about metabolic nightmares and they suck! Please consult with one of the CA revision docs.

BTW: Are you self pay or are you going to try and process the revision through insurance. I am not sure what insurance policy you have but if you use Empire, I believe Dr. K is listed as one of the blue card options (at least he was when I looked up DS surgeons a few months ago).

I would get a second opinion. I say this with the utmost respect for Dr. Roslin. It does sound like your revision will be complex, and the risks are real, but your health is also at risk at your present weight. You don't have a risk-free option.
    In addition to the guys here in CA, you could contact Dr. Gagner in Montreal. He is well known for doing revisions to the DS. It is also possible that you would be one of those people who has to be done in 2 stages, depending on how bad things are inside - first, getting rid of the band and converting your stomach to a sleeve, later doing the intestinal portion of the DS. Sometimes there is no perfect solution, but there are solutions, and the most important thing at this point is not to give up.

Larra

Hey there sweet friend!  I just wanted you to know that I'm cheering for you!  You KNOW I was in that same "lost" state just a year ago and can hardly believe that I made it to where I am now!  Going out of state for Dr. Keshishian was an adventure that I didn't think I had in me; nor did I think we could afford.  We got creative with the money, just committed to it and made it work out.  Recovering in a hotel isn't the best scenario.....nor is traveling when you feel every single little bit of movement!  BUT....like the many who had bit the bullet who had gone before me with great sacrifice for health.....I did it!  You CAN do it to friend!  Don't give up!  Contact Dr. K, or Dr. Rabkin or Dr. Gagner and just GO for it!!!!  Sure there's obstacles but just sail over them with conviction!!!!

Let me know if I can help you!  I'm headed to CA for my 6 month appt with Dr. K in November.  I would LOVE to be a support pal for you for your surgery then!!!!

Big hugggzzzz!

Hi Joyce!!  I'm glad you chimed in here!  The finances you touched on are very real for me especially if I have to go all across the country.  What if I am here and have a problem?  I've been reading about redundant colon and that is freaking me out!!!  I know you understand simply because you had 3 surgeries just as I am proposing the same thing.  I am feeling tired and the visit with Roslin just kind of knocked the wind out of my sails.

What can you do?  I don't know, but I know you'll come up with just the right thing!  I actually contacted Dr. K last year when I was sitting on the fence...I hope I didn't just get back on fence again...

Sue

Sue!
Get off the dang fence!  Health and skinnier on one side.....more of the same as you've got going on...on the other side. 

Money?  ....so it's 4K up front with Dr. K, plus your travel would be around $400-$500 and then hotels for about a week so another $500....5K?  ......OR...find someone who will donate miles with their Am Express card and hotel points to knock off the thousand.  That's part of what we did.  I canvassed family!  LOL!

About the same or a little more for Dr. Rabkin.  How about Dr. Gagner in Canada?  Will your insurance stretch past borders?

And..though I'm in AZ which is much closer to Dr. K than you would be; it's really just the same when an emergency hits or for labs.  He is available 27/7 by phone and tells you to go to the E.R. right away where he then coaches the E.R. team on what to do.  He calls in an order to your local lab for your draw and then he gets the results as well as your local pcp or local surgeon.  It's not that big of a deal.

I took out my own feeding tubes cuz my pcp was sheepish.  I could have rounded up another doctor or my bossat the time (plastic surgeon) but honestly, it just seemed simple (wouldn't recommend it to anyone but it was my giant step to independence!  LOL!)

Ask your questions on this forum .   The peeps here have embraced me totally; in spite of my history of double Rny's!!! 

Did I already tell you about the private hospital rooms at the Glendale facility (Dr. K's hospital)?  ...There are 2 beds and one is left available for your support person to stay with you the entire hospital stay!!!!  My hubby actually set up his lap top and just did telecommuting for his job while at the hospital.  The nursing staff was amazing!!!  So, no hotel is needed during the 5 days in the hospital.

Don't give up!  Life can be so much better for you!

edit note:  27/7 = 24/7 !!!  :)

But what about that redundant colon?  When I saw pics of that I nearly fell off of the stinkin fence.Actually I think I'm looking at the negatives and wondering if I have the strength to go forward.  Then I think of you with all the issues you've had and you have truly perservered...can I do this and get away with it one more time....