Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery Hospital

He is reall a great Doctor. He will give you all the information you want and is very caring. but my impression of him changed a few times but I stuck it out. And all turned out well. But some of the problems I was having with him was my own insucurities. He has a strict way of doing things. but that doesn't make him bad it makes him know his business. You can expect to be asked to lose a few lbs. Don't fight it. Its hard but if you want the surgery bad enough you will do it. Him and his staff are great very to the point with a touch of humor. you need to learn to ajust because he is Damn good at what he does.

I was put in ICU the first 2 nights between the moaning of other patients and the blare of the radios i couldnt sleep. The am nurse was a bitty. When given a 'sponge bath' all that was washed were my hands and legs!!! 2 patients per nurse and still couldnt get any help!! moved to regular room and it was better got more help with the 6/1 ratio on regular floor....ICU-HORRIBLE!!! floor was very good some great nurses there....

Dr. Sudan is very focused on the total health of the individual. I felt at first that he was detached, but once I had my consultation I knew that he was very interested in helping me. He was very direct, but gentle. My scheduled surgery had to be delayed, due to an abnormal reading on my EKG, and he did everything he could to get me re-scheduled as quickly as possible. The nutritionist is awesome. Even though she has no weight problem herself, she had an understanding for what I was battling. The surgery nurse, Charity, was kind, but seemed too busy. They now have a coordinator that has lifted some of Charity's load. Alyssa, the coordinator, is fantastic. She is friendly, and compassionate. Overall, other than the wait, which is the same no matter who you have, the experience was painless, and I mean painless.

My first impression of Dr. Sudan was extremely positive. I first met him in '98-'99 when I was trying to have this surgery before. When I had my consult with him on 8-22-03, he actually remembered my face and my name. Imagine that! I was very impressed with that. He is very informative. He goes over all the information in a seminar that he makes mandatory. He really cares about his patients.

They need valet parking - my mother has mobility issues and sometimes there wasn't a space left in the handicap parking area.

SOME OF THERE EQUIPMENT WAS HEAVY WEIGHT READY, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE THEY JUST STARTED USING THIS HOSPITAL FOR THE GASTRIC BYPASS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE EQUIPMENT WAS GOING TO BE UPGRADED BECAUSE THEY DO SO MANY RNY'S THERE NOW. THEY DID THERE BEST TO MAKE SURE I WAS COMFORTABLE ON THE STUFF THAT WASNT HEAVY READY.

6/24/03: I have had my preop blood work and ABG's. I need to have an upper endoscopy due to many 'erosions' in my stomach in August of 2002. The upper endoscopy is scheduled for July 11th, Friday. Charity has asked that I have the results faxed to her right away and then tentatively we are looking at August 18th for surgery. 3/28/03: I saw Dr. Sudan March 25th. I thought the day would never get here!!! I don't have to have a sleep study, but they need to see if my stomach ulcers have healed. Charity said that may be the only thing that holds me back. Dr. White came in and reviewed my history and asked me all kinds of questions. I decided on the DS because I would like to eat some foods and I liked the fact that it had a good long-term outcome for weight loss. Dr. White discouraged me from having a DS and instead to try the ERY surgery. He was also very concerned because of my depression. Which has been under control. Dr. Sudan wasn't pleased with the fact that Dr. White tried to sway the procedure I wanted. So I told Dr. Sudan emphatically that I wanted the DS and would not change my mind. This is silly but I was so afraid they would not think I am overweight enough to have the procedure done but that never seemed to be an issue. Charity is sending in the letter to my insurance company and stated it could be up to 4 weeks. Charity acted very confident that I would be approved (I hope so!). Once the ok comes from the insurance company the next step is dietician and psych evaluation. I asked them for an estimate on the surgery date we could be looking at 3-4 months. I have physical therapy right now trying to work with me on the knee pain.
3/24/03:I was freaked out when we had a major snow storm that cancelled the orientation March 4th. Charity was good and called to reschedule the following Monday. It was good to have Dr. Sudan review everything that could happen and all the differnt surgical procedures. I still want the DS, I think it will work the best for me. I am hoping that I won't have any medical conditions that will keep me from having the surgery and I also hople that I will get approval for this surgery (keeping my fingers crossed). My BMI is 41.6%. I have had to go to PT because my knees and left hip pain me so much. They have been taping my knee caps so that they re-align and don't rub on the arthritic areas. The pain is much better. I have to see my PCP once a month for all my health problems.I need to make a list of my meds for Dr. Sudan. Tomorrow (March 25th) is my appointment with Dr. Sudan and I am very nervous.
I made a previous appointment in December but my psychiatrist talked me into trying Wellbutrin first. She supports my choice in this surgery. I had great difficulty contacting Dr. Sudan's office the second time to make an appointment the office coordinator (Michelle Fisher) never called me back. I called her twice in a 3 week period. I never did hear from her. As everyone knows on this web-site, Charity is the best. She scheduled me for the March orientation/education class so I have only had to wait 4 weeks. The class is March 4th. I have heard of Dr. Sudan and how good he is from a former student who has lost over 100 pounds and a friend's wife also had this done by Dr. Sudan. I will come back and update this information. I am a nurse (ER/ICU)so having a medical professional I can trust is very important to me.
08/15/03: I had my upper endoscopy and the erosions from last year are healed but I have some kind of varicosity in my stomach (called an A-V malformation). Dr. Sudan said he would cut it out if it is on the left side of my stomach. My preop EKG was abnormal. I have never had any chestpain or anything like that. I have a bundle-branch block, so I needed to get a Dobutamine Stress Test done in a weeks time. Luckily, a cardiologist group I am familiar with had time to squeeze it in. It wasn't exactly fun but I lived through it and my heart is fine for surgery. I sweated it through the endoscopy and I thought that was my only stumbling block. I had been on the phone with Alyssa and Charity (coordinator and nurse) to keep things moving. Selfishly I needed to have this done the week of August 18th between summer and fall school break so I wouldn't miss any work. I had my preop physical, blood work (CBC and BMP), and a repeat EKG per the request of the Anesthesiologist. I saw Dr. Sudan for the second time in my life. I have kept my weight stable since starting the adventure in February. I am a little uncomfortable because I had to stop my arthritis medication but I can handle this for a short time. Originally I was going to have an open DS but Dr. Sudan said he could do a Lap. The surgery takes all day (just about) and he needs an assistant, which he has changed. I will have surgery Monday and want to attend my first support group meeting Tuesday evening. That is my goal, I might not make it but then again I just might be able to do it. I am nervous but excited....if feels just like any diet when you have that hope that this will help you become more attractive and more healthy...the diets failed and so there is a tiny part of me that is scared that this will too. I have been working 12 hour days in the office to get my work all caught up so I can take this next week off.

This is the only hospital I have ever been in that still has 2 people per room. This room was SO tiny that the nurses had trouble getting in to see both patients. I had an episode of respiratory distress that required additional equipment and they had to move my roommate out of the room to have space!! Also, I had to walk down a long hall to take a shower. The bathroom in the room was a toliet and sink only!! I had to use a tiny community shower! I felt like I was in a hopsital for indigent care victims in a third world country. Never again.

We attended the required Educational Seminar on 8/6/03. We found Dr. Sudan very professional and the seminar very informative. He definitely presented the benefits and risks of the surgical procedures he performs. He also emphasized the fact that the patient is responsible for his/her part in order to achieve a successful outcome, and the expectations for post-operative compliance. Two members of his office staff, Charity and Alissa, were also in attendance. They were available after the presentation to answer questions that were more specific to us. We are waiting for appointments for consultations. Dr. Sudan made an excellent first impression.

The pre op staff was great. The ICU staff was excellent. However, when put in my room, the nursing staff was horrible!!! I sent my husband home the 2nd night to get some rest. What a mistake that was. At 2am I had to go to the restroom. I had just gotten out of ICU at 8pm that night and into my room. I called on the nurse call button at 15 min intervals for (1 hour)!! YES...1 HOUR. Each 15 min the person on the other end would say, someone will be there shortly. FINALLY....I absolutely had to go.. With My morphine drip, IV, Oxygen and till groggy from ICU, I managed to make it to the bathroom by myself. While in the bathroom, I also called the nursing station on the panic button to come help me. NO ONE EVER CAME. I somehow managed to get back to my bed!!!!! IT WAS HORRIBLE...Needless to say, I would not let my husband out of my sight until I was discharged!!!!!!