surgery date August 25th

Congrats on your surgery, and wishing you  both an easy and problem free recovery.  :) 

How were you each treated at your chosen hospitals?  Would you recommend surgery where you had yours?

Lisa,

Good luck on your operation. Know I am saving you a seat on the loser's bench, in the winner's circle !!

Know we're here for you (and check the NJ board too).

tom,
THank you so much I can't wait to start losing weight :) 

i had my surgery done at saint barnabas and yes i would recommend getting the surgery there. The only problem I had was the volunteer who wheeled me to the car was rude and mean which i was shocked cause everyone else was soo nice and helpful and considerate.  But nurses and doctors are so awesome

Wow.  I'm sorry that volunteer treated you so poorly.  Makes you wonder why someone with an attitude would be a volunteer at a hopital!  Glad to read that the nurse and doctors were awesome though :)  Thanks for posting your experience.

Hi there.  I had my surgery on Monday Aug 24th.  I would like to share experiences. 

Bev

Hi Bev
I'd love to hear more about your surgery experience :)

I am a nurse and have previously worked at St. Barnabas. I was planning on having my surgery there. But, from my understanding, he has more surgery dates at Morristown and I ended up having mine there. It was a very pleasant experience from the moment I stepped out of the car to the moment I stepped back in my car. My surgery was scheduled for 9:30am, so I was there at 7:30am to register. They have valet parking (which I never use, anywhere) and it was nice that we could just drive up and go inside with my husband together. Someone even escorted us to the elevator. After I was registered, my pre-op nurse name was Connie and she was awesome. And, she admitted me in about 20 minutes and brought my husband in the pre-op room, which is a big room by the nursing station desk with curtains between all the patients. They pulled out a little TV on a moveable arm and that was a great distraction right before the surgery. Of course, the OR schedule was a little behind, I went to the OR about 11am. Everyone in the OR was so welcoming to me, put my nerves at ease. Next thing I knew, I woke up and they were telling me it was over. I remember waking up so happy! My recovery room nurse was Manny and he stayed by my side the entire time and asked me what I needed before I even had the chance to ask. I was in there for about 45 minutes, and then went to a step-down recovery room, in which I sat up in a comfy lounge chair and munched on ice and later ambulated to the bathroom. My husband was allowed to be in there with me. The Bariatric Nurse came to see me before I left, and I was discharged home at 3:30pm. I am very happy with my experience at Morristown Memorial Hospital and it couldn't have been any better!

Thanks for all that info!  My childbirth experience at MMH 8 yrs ago was horrendous, and I had some same day surgery for female issues at both St. B's Women's Center across the street from the hosp, as well as at MM in the past few years.  In my experience, St B's nurses were the *best*, and I don't think there are kinder more compassionate nursing care anywhere. .  It's based on those experiences that I was leaning towards St B's.  I'm not sure where my insurance will cover, so I'll be limited to whatever they approve...when I'm done w/ my 6 month wait.

Do you think you got some preferential treatment because you are a nurse?  Also, just wondering how you decided on Dr. N as your surgeon. 

Thanks :) 

No, I absolutely don't believe I received different care than anyone else. I had even read posts on the wall before surgery from patients about their nurses, and some of them were my nurses, as well. It was all positive.

I contacted a number I found on the internet with St. Barnabas regarding bariatric surgery. She emailed me a website with all the doctor's names, their credentials and experience - and from that I chose Dr. Nusbaum. And, I am so happy that I made that choice. He and his staff are beyond excellent.

You can contact your insurance company now to inquire about insurance coverages for hospitals. You don't have to wait till your 6 months are up.

I was told he only does surgery at St. Barnbas once a month, so that day gets booked really quick with St. Barnabas employees.