My Visit today with Dr Ku, Thank you "Susans_journey"

Nana-

I am so pleased that your experience with Dr. Ku was successful in answering your questions and leading you to a sound conclusion.  He is a very good doctor and surgeon, and you are correct- he does take his time answering questions AND asking them to make the patient THINK about what he/she wants based on informed decision-making skills.  Also- their support staff is unparalleled in on-the-nose help.  Excellent nutritionists, before surgery "classes" which at first I thought were just plain stupid and a waste of time- but turned out to be very helpful and after care.  I am sure you will be returning to your own state for aftercare- but know that the care is there should you need it.   

I do hope and pray that your surgery goes well on Tuesday-keep us informed of your progress.  Here's to YOU, SUZIE and Dr. Ku!  (P.S. Great work on taking the extra effort to hold on to what you have that has served you so well!)

Susan

Thanks again Susan...Yes Dr Ku is definitely a winner, he took the time to go over all my options and listened to what I was saying as a patient and that was VERY important. He was not biased in any way of whether to keep the band, remove it or revise to the Sleeve, he just told me the FACTS and let me make my own mind up as a patient to decide which route I need to take.

I know there is a chance that things may go wrong, it could be worse that we anticipated, but I feel more comfortable with him than my previous surgeon, either way if the band stays or goes he will repair my hernia and that is the most important thing right now for me.

I agree, their entire bariatric program looks huge and very well organized and professional. I was very impressed by the programs they offer. They had this huge area that was dedicated for "exercise" and that was impressive to see and their offices were new and very nice with the state of the art equipment.

I tell ya if my hernia surgery goes well, and I am able to get my band back operational with fills, driving 2 hours will be worth it. Hubby and I will be heading out early tomorrow morning at 6am, I have to be at the hospital by 9am, I am a bit nervous but I am excited to get this over with.

First off Naomi I'd like to say Kudos to you on all the research hours/days/weeks/months that you have put into researching and planning for your hernia repair surgery.

No matter which WLS a person chooses, they must put in the time, before they go under the knife.

If it's possible,can you ask Dr KU a couple of questions for me PLEASE. His answers will provide me more information for my own LAGB research.

Nana, Please keep in mind that I am asking you these questions with respect and a genuine longing for this information.

1. What percentage of his LAGB patients is he actively following up with ?

2. What type of system(s) does he implement to actively follow these patients ?

3. How many of those 500 plus patients has he seen in his office in the last 24 months ?

4. When I had my 2nd band removed by a different surgeon, my original surgeon had no clue I had it removed until I actually told him ( about 12 months after the fact )

Does Dr. KU have a life long follow up program set in place that allows him to track all his LAGB patients, and if he does, what % of that program are actively still being followed ?

365 days in a year x 6 years = 2,190 days, divide that by 500 LAGB surgeries = 4.38 LAGB surgeries per day including weekends and holidays, but not accounting for pre op consults, post op check ups, fills and unfills, or any other types of surgeries and/or revisions he performs. when does he and/or his staff have the time to follow up with every single LAGB patient this surgeon has ever implanted with a band ?

5. Nana ask him how many of his patients have had slippages, and don't accept " not many " as an answer. Make him be specific Nana !

 Naomi, you are a research-a-holic just like I am. I know you want to keep your band, but first see if he can sensibly answer questions 1 through 5. Naomi make him prove this to you.

I am 100 % for you keeping your band, because I know this is what you want, I would like just once for someone ( anyone ) to hold their surgeons accountable for all these random numbers that they " Throw Out " there.

Naomi, you are one of the few people on this forum who has the balls to ask and receive the answers to these types of questions without getting blown off. 

I know you're already at peace with your choice in surgeons, but would you please,please,please pretty pretty PLEASE ask these questions and share his answers with us ?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

Lisa