Dr. Abkin??

If you don't receive a call from the site call them yourself.  They are very good about returning calls. Their seminars are held once a month.  At the seminar you will be able to make your psych, nut and initial consultation appointment if you want to.  Liquids pre-op is usually one day.  There are cases where they will have a patient do a two week liquid diet but it is my understanding that is on a case to case basis (i.e a patient who gains significant weight between their consultation and the pre-op class may be required to do a liquid diet).  Post op it is about 3 days on clear liquids and then about 7 for other liquids.  I have not been hungry so it has not been difficult at all.

hi stacey dr abkin gets rave reviews on this board and i have not seen a negative word about him or his practice  i did not like my first choice surgeon -- changed surgeons and i swear by the surgical team i chose -- but it all depends on where you live -- i'm in south jersey and went to philly  please don't ever compare your weight loss to someone elses weight loss -- there are too many factors to take into consideration -- but there are some main rules -- the heavier you are the faster you will lose weight -- a 400 lb person can lose 100 lbs in 6 months where as a 250 person may lose that same 100 lbs in a year -- how much exercise does a person do? what are they eating and how often do they eat? the more you exercise the more you have to eat in order to stay healthy -- how many calories come from liquid and how many come from solids -- solids will stay in your system longer and you will absorb more -- males and females lose weight differently -- what is your metabolism like -- what other medications is a person on -- so much goes into a person's weight loss  remember that you will lose weight for 18 months -- that is what they call the honeymoon period -- you do not have to lose all your weight in 3 months -- that is also just unrealistic -- the human body will take care of itself and regulate itself -- if it is losing too fast it will slow itself down  basic rules are that you will need protein in your eating habits -- protein helps with healing the human body and your hair and nails are made up of protein -- so -- not enough protein and one side effect is that you will lose some hair -- you will take vitamins for the rest of your life -- you will always have malabsorption issues -- so vitamins are important -- not enough and your organs may break down over time and your muscle structure will break down over time -- neither is a good thing -- fluids are important -- you must stay hydrated -- the human body requires hydration -- caffiene will dehydrate you -- it will also make you hungry --that is why they say no caffiene --some caffiene will not kill you -- but pay attention to it -- after surgery you are on a liquid diet so that your stomach can heal -- not to lose weight  -- you just rerouted your intestines and they were cut and sewn back together -- they need to heal -- don't rush your food stages -- there is plenty of time to eat after your stomach heals  follow your insurance guidelines -- there are no shortcuts -- if they want a 6 month dr supervised diet then do it -- or else they will deny you on that fact -- we all know the insurance company can be a pain in the butt -- just play their games and do what they want and you shouldn't have any problem at all for an approval -- ya know like Nike -- just do it -- just play the game -- it will be over before you know it  good luck to you :)  roberta

Stacey,your post from Roberta was excellent,she covered each and everything,There were things I  had forgotten.It is so great to have great folk like that  on this board .Thanks Roberta and Stacey you hang in there and keep in touch.Marilyn

Roberta,made a mistake,meant to send post to Stacey,Please excuse me.Marilyn

Stacey, Roberta pretty much summed it all up.  I was gonna say the same.  Just make sure you do your research - and then research some more!  There is NEVER enough knowledge going into this. If you are interested: "Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies" "The Real Skinny on Weight Loss Surgery" "The Emotional First Aid Kit"  Are all great books on the subject, especially the first two. "Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery" is a cookbook that is also pretty good. Ask away! I am 8 weeks out lap rny.  I have lost 27 pounds since surgery, 43 total (pre op diet).  I feel great. I have trouble sometimes eating to fast out of habit but otherwise no difficulties.  My recovery was fine.  I had surg on Tues was driving by Sat but was tired for awhile there after. NEVER compare your weight loss to anyone.  BIG mistake!!  Protein and fluids are your priority. I chose rny over band only because I didn't want to be able to eat things I shouldn't after surgery - there is a potential of getting sick w/ sugar and fat after rny not lap band and I wanted that fear.  So far it's working.  People further out, especially when hunger returns, say that's when the fear disappears and it becomes a will power game.  But if you used your time during recovery to start good behaviors, it's not as hard. Best of luck! Pam

Stacey, I had a cousin who swore by Dr. Abkin and if I had lived closer, based on her assessment, as well as the many reviews about him I read on their website, I would have chosen him.  But, to be fair, I must tell you that each person pretty much loves their surgeon, so do your homework with regard to poking around online and seeing what the reviews say.  I got lucky and had one of their former associates, Dr. Pupkova (Dr. Abkin and Bertha), did my surgery and she was awesome and also had wonderful things to say about Dr. Abkin when I mentioned him to her.  I wanted someone close to me which is why I chose the way I did and I am very glad I did.  Good luck. Take care,

Dr. Abkin did my lap band this Tuesday.  It went well.  I like him and his office staff. Eileen

Hi Stacey: I used Dr. Bertha about 18 months ago and am down 140 lb ... my sister is a Physician in Morristown area and highly recommended Bertha or Abkin who work together ... they are both nice and have done as many surgeries of this type as any other surgeons in the NJ area. Morristown Hospital just received "Prestigious Accreditation" from the American College of Surgeons's for their Bariatric Surgery Center, which is the highest level of accreditation achievable for a Bariatric Center. Good Luck with your decision and please feel free to join in our local group Ocean County Weight Loss Support Group which meets the first friday of the month at Community Memorial Hospital in Toms River and then on the 3rd Monday of the month in Lakewood at Kimball's center for healthy living (house on west end of parking lot). Michael Rosen

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and wealth of information. ..currently Im reading Weight Loss Surgery by Barbara Thompson it is an excellent book...it is very informative and honest..our children's Nanny mother gave me her copy to borrow..she had Lap RNY in 2004 and is an absolute believer in it... she believe that the gastric bypass saved her life...she had an Uncle who had the band and ate so much that he actually ended up breaking it. There is a definite divide amongst  the people that I know that have had WLS...I have an Aunt that just had the lap band done at the end of September..that thinks very badly about the bypass...and believe basically that you are maiming your body by doing it...but she still  its what I consider to be not the best food choices...bacon...parmigiana...etc..She felt restriction for th efirst week or two then needed a fill...because she was back to the same hunger..I am absolutely afraid of this happening to me.. On the other hand I have a co-worker that had the bypass 5 years ago and has gained about 20-30 ounds of her 100 lost back and actually told me not to do it. She believes that there is not enough research out there long term to the effects it has on the body...she also last year was hospitalized fo rthree weeks because o fcolon and intestinal problems. I also know 3 or 4 more people who have had it and have had wonderful experiences..thought that it has saved their lives...minimal to no complications or difficulties and nothing but good things to tell.. Most of my  family at this point supports me..at first they did not...did not understand why I would want to do this to myself..my husband thinks I should just eat healthy and hop on the treadmill and its just that easy...first let me say hes a chef..second he is 175 pounds soaking wet..he has no idea what it is like to be this heavy..at first he was against surgery period..threatended to not speak to me again if I did it he was not serious but I think so upset..finally he is beginning to understand..I try to explain it to him...this is a disease..NOT a CHOICE..no one would chose to be like this..he now supports me and believes that the bypass is the best option now..a permanent tool for weight loss...I have actually been thinking about this for a few years but wanted to have my last child before I had it done and I gave birth to our princess in March of this year.. and I only gained a pound or two during the pregnancy and that was at the end..I was actually losing at one point..so the weight I have on now has nothing to do with "baby" weight. I appreciate everyone's advice etc..also let me just mention as a side note..that I was only asking about everyone's weight loss and timeframe for information only not to compare..each case is completely different... Stacey

I went to see Dr. Abkin four years ago when I looked into having bypass surgery. He seemed very nice. I couldn't get approved by insurance and I gave up. Afterwards, my mother knew many people who used Dr. Abkin and wound up with serious complications. I can't say that they would not have had complications with other doctors, but back then (I don't know if it's changed), Dr. Abkin did not perform the high pressure scan during surgery to check for leaks. The doctor I used this time around was Dr. Demesvar Jean-Baptiste out of Muhlenberg Hospital. He was amazing!!! He does do the high pressure scan during surgery.