St Joes Nashua New Hampshire Info

Hello all, I am in the process of starting my WLS journey. I am looking to go with Dr. Brown and he is affiliated with St Joes in Nashua. Does anyone have any feedback on Dr. Brown and SJH for me? Thanks, Joshua

Joshua, ((we live in the same town )) I haven't heard about St. Joseph's program, but know it is new. My only suggestion about it is schedule a consult and see how it goes. I just had surgery at Saints in Lowell on 3/13. They have a great weight management program! Heres a list of questions you might want to keep in mind when you meet the doctor! I found it on the main boards when I was looking into WLS good luck How do I deal with the emotional rollercoaster of massive weight loss. How do I deal with the fact that I am rapidly losing weight but my joy turns to depression when I see my body still undesirable because of my loose, stretched out saggy, wrinkled skin. How do I deal with the envy and jealousy of my so called friends that can't deal with me becoming smaller and healthier while they remain entrenched in their obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. How do I can transition from a WLS patient to a person with a "normal" life? How many surgeries have you performed? Success rate? Mortality rate? What is the long term success rate of your patients who have had this particular kind of surgery? What is your most common complication? What is your complication rate? What is your infection rate? What danger signs/types of pain should I look for re gallstones, hernia or bowel obstruction? What is the most common problem that patients had after surgery? What physical complications can occur post op? What can I do to prepare myself for surgery to be successful with as easy recovery as possible? What are the long term studies on bypass other than 40% of patients regaining the weight? Do I need to eat a special diet before surgery? Should I take my thyroid medication the day of surgery? What type of R-N-Y (Proximal or Distal)? Have you ever started a WLS, but couldn't complete it, if so why? Will I have a central line? Will I have an "A" line? Will I have a Foley? If so, How long does it stay in? Will I have an "NG" tube? Do you transect the stomach or do you just put in a staple line? Do I meet the anesthesiologist ahead of time? How soon can surgery be scheduled? How many days will I be in the hospital? ICU? What kind of pain will I be in? What about pain medication? How many follow up appointments do I have to have after surgery? When do I start taking my vitamins? When should I start using protein supplements? What medications are off limits after? Do I have to take my current meds in liquid form or can I still take pills? Thyroid and DDAVP What kind of allergy medication is allowed? How will the incision be closed? Stitches, Steri- Strips, Glue or Staples? Why are a lot of people getting their gallbladder taken out? Can my gallbladder be taken? If not, will I be given meds to prevent gallstones? How much intestines can you bypass? What are my chances of getting an ulcer after surgery? Will you leave a surgical marker that will show the location of my unused stomach? Will I have a drainage tube in my stomach? When (after surgery) can I resume my normal activities? Do I have a limit on how much I can carry or lift? and For how long? How much should I lose? Do you have a list of drugs that I can and cannot take? Should I get a medic-alert bracelet? When will the staples be removed? Will I get shots of heparin to prevent blood clots? Will taking Zinc help to prevent hair loss? When can I return to work? Drive? When can I start to exercise? How many of your patients have lost their spleens? What are my odds of getting a hernia? Can I actually cause a hernia? How soon will I be able to shower after surgery? What are my odds of Adhesions? What are my odds of a staple line breakdown? How often will I need labs done? When will my appetite return?

Hi Joshua, welcome. I had surgery at UMass, so I am no help to you there, but I would invite you to post on the Men's board. I find it very useful as men are in the minority as WLS patients, and there are a great bunch of guys there and there is a wealth of information specifically geared to men there.