Just beginning...Highland Hosp. group Rochester, NY

I am at the VERY beginning of this journey in Rochester NY and would love to have some feedback from anyone who has had good/bad experience with the Highland Group.  Just signing up for my informational seminar and not even sure if WLS is for me or what type.  I'm 61 and not sure about the age part...also have had bouts of atrial fibrillation in the past and worried about that with electrolyte imbalance/fluid loss.  Any feedback would be much appreciated!!

Hi and welcome! My dr moved to Rochester a couple of months ago and I thought I would give his name to you. He heads up the surgery over at Rochester general. is name is Dr. Dibenedetto and I think he is WONDERFUL! Good luck with your search! Hugs, Chris

Oops...sorry Chris, I responded in the wrong spot...new to all of this.  Thanks again for the info....Sherrie

I also used the Highland Group (O'Malley) and I had nothing but a positive experience with them. Went to my seminar in April and had surgery the end of October. I found the seminar very informative and was totally impressed with O'Malley. Which Dr.'s seminar are you going to? Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have - Good Luck on your journey - everything was so worth it!!

Good to hear of a positive experience!  I'm gonna sign up for Dr. O'Malley's seminar...I think he's been here the longest.  What kind of surgery did you have?  I'm 61 and worried about the age thing.  I do see there's a forum for those over 50...haven't checked it out yet.  At the moment I'm thinking....I can't even succeed on WW diet, how in the heck am I ever gonna comply with the dietary restrictions of WLS?  Have a friend who's started the process with Dr. O'Malley and has started me thinking.  In the past, though, when I've dropped fluid weight quickly, I've had trouble with the a-fib and am nervous about that.  Guess that's all the kind of stuff that needs to be discussed with the doctor. Thanks for your input and would love to hear if you were scared/nervous in the beginning about the whole thing.  I haven't even mentioned to family/friends that I'm even considering such an undertaking...just feeling really hopeless about getting this weight off and as I get older it's really becoming a life or death choice....not gonna live to see my grandchildren grow up if I don't get this weight off.

I felt the same way about not succeeding on WW and other diets.  My PCP was very sympathetic about my situation and told not to beat myself about that.  I am 58 and had my RNY with Dr. O'Malley on December 11.  I am feeling great.  I have to admit that I do not have the a-fib problem that you have (although it seems to run in my family).  I started the process at the end of March.  I might have had surgery sooner, but there were a few bumps in the road with insurance issues.   The doctors at the Highland group are very experienced.  My PCP said that I had made a smart choice by picking them.  I'm sure that they have had other patients with your condition and will advise you of the risks. You may find that you will have the longest wait with Dr. O'Malley because he is so busy with WLS as well as general surgery. Good luck on your journey, Ann A.

Thanks, Chris...I appreciate the information.  You certainly have done well in a year!  You must feel great!  This whole process is very scary to me...not sure I'm gonna be able to go through with it.

I had Laproscoptic RNY on 10/30/07 and I would wait for O'Malley - he's worth it. I was also nervous about how I would be able to handle all the restictions on eating after surgery as I have no will power and hate dieting as I always felt that I was depriving myself. But I can honestly say that it's been a complete breeze. I don't know how they do it but I have not had any of the cravings for sugary fattening foods since the surgery. I am completely satisfied with the small healthy portions that I eat now. I was a HUGE soda drinker (and not even the diet kind) before surgery and I was unable to give it up before surgery (drank it right up until the date) but since surgery I have not had a drop and more importantly I don't even want any!! I consider that a miracle!! The surgery itself was super easy for me also - never needed any pain meds of any kind - which was kind of scary considering all the rearranging they do of your insides I thought for sure that I should have felt some pain inside. I had surgery at 3pm and by 11pm I was up walking laps around the hospital floor - just a slight discomfort from the staples pulling. The best thing that you bring to this surgery is a super postive, can-do attitude. Just keep telling yourself that you can do it and that will help you get thru any bump in the road because trust me it is so worth it in the end!! I hope your experience is just as easy as mine was - just remember think positive - you CAN do this!!

Thank you so much for your encouragement!  It sounds like you're doing really well and I'm so happy for you.  This is a big decision (no pun intended) and I plan on getting all the information I can to make an informed choice.  These boards are wonderful...learning soooo much.  Thank you all for your responses. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and happy, HEALTHY New Year!!  Continue in your success.  For now I'm gonna sign up for the informational seminar and get back on track with WW while I am doing all of this.  (In the back of my mind, I'm still of the belief that I can do this on my own).  Ha Ha....look where that's gotten me 61 years later!!  I'm going to keep reading these boards and look into the different types of surgeries and discuss with all involved.  I have a very good friend who is also in the midst of this process and she is very positive about the whole thing. Thank you all for your input.  This is such a HUGE decision!!         Sherrie

Though I didn't use them, when I was researching for a DS doc in NY (there are very few bariatric surgeons who perform the DS), O'Malley DID make it to my short list as I've heard some very good things about him and his program.  For me, it just boiled down to distance, which ended up cutting him out of my final list. Best of luck to you.