new member - just getting started

hi, Last night I went the MGH for an introductory meeting. I learned a lot. I went there thinking that I wanted a Lap Band and left knowing that I definitely wanted RNY. The thought of no longer having type II diabetes is amazing! I was very impressed with the center. Three of the surgeons were there. There were three former sugery patients there last night. One of them has gone through the process without using artificial sweeteners. I was hoping this was possible as I've found that aspartame gives me migraines. I'm not really comfortable with the other sweeteners. either. Tomorrow night my husband and I are going to Emerson Hospital's introductory meeting. Has anyone else compared those two programs? Emerson is very close to home. I can walk to MGH from work.

I went through the Lowell General Hospital program, it is sort of the sister program to Emerson.  Same surgeons, different staff.  The surgeons are wonderful and their program is very thorough.  I have heard wonderful things about the emerson staff and program as well. Shana

I don't have info on either the Emerson or MGH program but....I wanted to say welcome to the board!

Hello,  I went through the Emerson program, as Shana mentioned it is the same surgical team as Lowell General.  In fact Shana's surgeon was the attending surgeon in my surgery, which was done by Rebecca Shore.  Emerson recently attained the Center of Excellence title and the main offices have been moved to a beautiful complex over on Baker Street. I was initially interested in both NWH and Emerson.  Ultimately I chose Emerson because I live in Groton and work right on Route 2 in Devens and I knew it would be reasonable for me to get to all the support meetings, which I think are essential to a healthy recovery.  I had also had three surgeries in the past at Emerson and have never been unhappy with the services they provide.   The Emerson/Lowell Team of surgeons are all conservative and cautious which was important for me.  The Nutritionist, Psych and Nurse are terrific, get on well and provide excellent before and after care. 

I know absolutely nothing about the MGH porgram.

Welcome to OH and all the best in gathering your information and having your questions answered!

Julie

Last night I went to the Emerson's introductory program with my husband. I had very positive feeling about the MGH program. I liked the program, I can walk to it from my job. My husband sees several doctors there and stressed that it is a world class hospital. I have several doctors asscociated with the Emerson. I had a three day stay there five years ago when they did a lot of testing. I left there with cellulitits. I still like Emerson - I just had one bad technician experience. I was very impressed with Emerson's program. There major difference that I saw was that Emerson expects you to lose 5% of your body weight prior to surgery. MGH stated that when they looked at the big picture long term, requiring pre-surgery weight loss was not important. I liked how Emerson gave you all the forms right there. I felt welcome. they encourage you to call your insurance the following day then to call them right away to set up an appointment. I have an appointment with my PCP next week. I see her every three months for my diabetes. During our last visit she asked if we had ever discussed weight loss surgery before. I told her I had no interest in it. Since then, my son's-in-law mother has been hospitalized for her diabetes. She is in dreadful shape. It really scared me. I am five years from retirement and thought do I want to be sick when I retire? I want to have fun! I am tired all the time. My feet hurt. I get every cold that comes around. I started looking into WLS. It was a week before I mentioned it to my husband. My BMI is 45. I think my PCP will be thrilled next week. I'll ask her opinion about the two programs. I am leaning towards Emerson - that's where I felt the "warm fuzzies".  

I can't help with Emerson, but I did have my surgery at MGH Weight Center.  Dr. Hutter was my surgeon and I had such a wonderful experience! 

I had an appointment with my PCP today. I told her that I was intesested in WLS. She was very supportive. She said many positive things about the Emerson program. As soon as I got home I called the Emerson program and made an appointment. It is in mid-January. I feel wonderful about this.

I had my first meeting - the long one - at Emerson yesterday. Everyone was very nice. My lab tests are in two weeks, then I go back to see the dietician and Dr. Shore. I need to lose 14 pounds prior to surgery. I started dieting today. I am so excited about this new phase in my life. I said good-bye to some favorite foods yesterday. That is no longer what my life is about. I want to be healthy now and when I retire. I will be at the Emerson support group tomorrow night. Jayne

Hi, and welcome to OH. I am fairly new here. I had my surgery at Newton Wellesley Hospital with Dr Pablo Gazmuri on Jan 3rd this year. I loved his bedside manner, and his calm approach.  I see you have decided on Emerson. I never entered Emerson but my husband did for pneumonia and heart issues!  We had lived in Maynard for 14 years, and he was often there. He also left Emerson to go into Mass General to have stents put in his coronary arteries. He speaks highly of the doctors and nurses in Emerson, and MGH. In fact, he had occupied the same bed in the same room on four occassions at Emerson...536! Since he has had the stents put in, he gets the full workup in their emergency room.  Our program  at NWH did not require weight loss before surgery. I had been on a diet. It started when the doctor told me I should go to a nutritionist. I did not go, but tried dieting losing about 20 to 30 pounds. I did not want to regain weight, but knew I was still vulnerable to doing that.  It was shown that I was pre-diabetic in May 07, and my PCP scheduled me with a nurse practioner. Unbeknownst to me, when I went  to that appointment I had started seeing a nutritionist. She would spend about half an hour with me, and give me a few hints. She always started the visit with the question; What are you doing to lose weight? And then, what is your plan. I kept thinking, and thinking on this as I have an Express Mail route that takes me from Framingham to Lincoln, Concord, Carlisle, Maynard, Stow, and Sherborn post offices. I  have so much time to think in the van by myself. I also take a long time to formulate plans. I like to do things one at a time. First complete this, then go on to the next project.  Well, the project was me. I was wearing huge pants at work. I felt uncomfortable walking and every trip I took involved lots of walking. I was going to walk all around Philadelphia and Washington DC with my daughter, her son, and my other grandson. I went to see an orthopedic doctor. She told me to take an over the counter drug combination and schedule an appointment with the specialist in knees. Oh, no, I thought I had done that. I had to wait three months to see this man, and he said my knees are so bad that I need total knee replacement. He also said I needed to lose weight in order to have a successful outcome. I have a problem in my lower legs where the blood pools and does not return to my heart. He said it could cause an infection, and that in turn could cause a knee infection. He gave me cortisone in my knees. In August, I saw him, and I saw the nutrionist the next week. I told the nutritionist what my plan was and she gave me some hints. My plan was to drink a protein powder supplement in the morning, to replace either a non-existent breakfast or a high calorie breakfast. I also had heard from my daughter the good results she was having with the alli pills. (Today, I gave her the rest of my second supply of pills.) So, I lost a lot of weight since August. In all, I have lost nearly one hundred pounds. At two weeks out, I have lost seventeen pounds since surgery. I have a lot to still lose. I am finding encouragement on OH, and I hope you will also. I pray that this will be the solution to your weight problems. I am encouraged that you found this web site. I know you will continue to research this operation.  We have a small green notebook that we had to bring for support meetings. I dreaded not having it! I needed to get a signature to show that I had attended. I did attend more than the number required. I love the support meetings at NWH. I learned a lot. One was a lecture with pictures of  plastic surgery following weight loss and discussion of requirements, and costs. I also spent quite a bit of time on Youtube where there are many people who document their weight loss journey. My husband says it is far too much time. Of course, I would be on it and my bedtime would pass. I would be so interested, I kep****ching or reading. I found a Youtube RNY operation that lasted 45 minutes. I sent it to my husband, my sister, my cousin, and my mom. Not one of them would view it! Well, this has been a long post. You reminded me of so much that once I started I kept going. I am sure you have more to tell of your journey, Jayne. My cousin's name is Jayne, by the way.

Hello Jayne, I have a 22 year old daughter named Jane.  I love the name. Anyway, I digress... I had the surgery at Emerson and my surgeon was Dr. Shore.  She was great!  I was very happy that I ended up with her and would highly recommend her.  I was also asked to lose about 14 pounds.  It was easier then I had expected.   If you have any questions or anything, please feel free to ask.  Are you going to the meeting tomorrow night?  Maybe I will see you there... My name is Julie and I I will have on a multicolored fuzzy sweater.... All the best to you! Julie