VANDY Any one?

HI!  Im looking here in Tennesse to see if anyone is going to Vanderbilt Weightloss Clinic for pre op or post op. I kind of want to get an idea of what to expect from them, and maybe what others are going through with their program. I have been to their seminar and now have an appointment for the surgeon on May 8th. PLEASE post if you have been to VANDY... THANKS :)

Hi!  I'm a Vandy WLS patient.  I had my sugery with Willie Melvin on Dec. 30, 2005.  I am very partial, but I think it's the best hospital in Nashville. Everyone in the weightloss practice is fabulous!  I wish you all the best in your weightloss journey.  Please know; you are in GREAT hands.   Take care, Beth

Thank you so much for posting this.  I am currently in the program now.  I have completed my  nutrition appointments and had the EKG done yesterday.  So I am waiting for the final appointment with Dr. Melvin or whatever is next.  I am waiting to find out when to start the liquid diet (the carnation instant breakfast).  Does anyone have any advise on making it through the liquid diet?

Hi Janice, Just had my surgery last Wed. do'n great, the staff was terrific and very pleasant. I couldn't of asked for better after care, between them and my family and angels brigade  and support group what else did I need. It was wonderful. Between Dr. Richards and the many prayers I came through like the fast and the furies. With no complications. But I could not of done it without everyones input. If I had it to do again, no changes.....Hugs and prayers  with your journey Barb

Good Morning,  I agree with Barb, I had my surgery December 13, 07 adn am doinggreat.  Vandy was very good to me, but there are many good hospitals and drs here in tn.  Do what you feel is best for you and you will do great.  Any questions just ask.  Melissa

I am a Vandy patient. I had my surgery 06/06. I loved the surgeon and the after care program. I was a little thrown off by the pre stuff - insurance submittal..etc. They were fairly slow with that kind of stuff and I had to keep following up. But once I got approved and had surgery, I had no complaints. They used to have a very good after care program with the nutritionist and drs and nurses.  I know they have recently went through several changes and a lot of people I was familiar with are no longer there so I can not comment about all of the new changes. I can only say what it was like when I was going through it with the people who were there at that time. I actually have an appointment today to meet with the interim or new nurse that is now there. So, hopefully she is as good as the ones that left.  Good luck with your journey to weight loss!

I am a patient of Dr. William O. Richards at Vandy.  I've been submitted and am waiting approval from BC/BS so I can get my surgery date for Lap RNY.  I live 2 hours away in North Alabama and I CHOSE Vanderbilt because of:  1) the reputation of the hospital and the WLS surgeons there 2) their WLS track record 3) I know someone who had his WLS there and was very pleased  4) I've had some heart problems and feel safer being there 5) their aftercare program is said to be second to none So far everyone has been super nice and helpful. Dr. Richards was very pleasant and explained everything well when I had my consult with him. His nurses are very nice and helpful. They have had some recent support staff changes in the Weight Loss Center Office, but it seems to be smoothed out now.  Eric McWilliams is now handling the program. My nutritionist, Jennifer Angus, has been great.  I've had a couple of minor frustrations going through the process, but I think that is fairly normal everywhere. So far, I am very pleased with my overall experience at Vandy. Hope this is helpful.

Thanks everyone for responding!  Yeah!! for making it this far.....You all seem to be doing GREAT!   Im so thankful for OH and everyone here. There is no way I would be able to make this type of quality  contact any other way Huggs to ALL :) I am getting a little confused with all the preparations before being submitted to insurance. I am curious as to what I am suppose to be doing and At what time in the process. Can you please give me some input as to what you did (real experience as opposed to what is exactly on the sheet ) and At what time during the process, how long the process actually took before actually going into surgery. ------ Granted I know that I havnt been approved yet for anything, but I want to be as prepared as possible to get an early operating date. So far I have : ---spoken with my insurance group      even found out they pay for plastic surgery afterwards! --- I have gone to the seminar-- --Now I have made an appointment with Dr. Richards            May 8th **My question to my self was Ok well what now?      ---- so I went ahead and made the psych exam appointment to be taken BEFORE May 8th            Its April 20th (I guess I was suppose to do this??) ----- ****Should I go ahead and make the nutritional appointments before the May 8th appointment?    they require 3 post op and 3 pre op visits. Look forward to your responses Thanks!

I would call Eric McWilliams and discuss it with him.  They have had some staff changes since I started back in Oct. 2007 and Eric is now the Program Coordinator.   Since I live 2 hours away, I took the bull by the horns myself and got my PCP and my cardiologist to write letters supporting my having the surgery. I also got my psych evaluation from a local Dr. and had him send it to Eric.   In my opinion, whatever you can do to help gather the required info they need will help. Good luck!!

You did good going ahead andgetting the psh eval.  They should set up the nut appointments for you when you go to see Dr. Richards, at that time they will also let you know what else yo need.  Melissa