My Non Surgical Weight Loss before Surgery...

[JackieOnLine]

so glad you are feeling better and can do things, that's so great. hope you get the surgery you need.

 

[Munchkin]

I have been waiting to hear but nothing yet.

 

[Denis Korb]

Okay I am Home, So I have a lot of good news to report...1st I lost another 14 pounds so I'm now at 536* down from 596 so officially 60 pounds lost Minus 2 for clothes = 534 but Ill be good and accept the 536. Dr. Petrick had a great matter of fact way about him. He spoke intelligently and concisely about what he can do and what he is willing to do. He would not give a lap band to someone with a high BMI as he feels it would be a wasted surgery. Doctor Petrick continued with an explanation that he dose not do the SADI, And while most of his experience is in the RnY he explained that the DS due to is proven track record concerning Diabetes will be done more and more at Geisinger due to its success in Europe.

Doctor Anthony Petrick
Geisinger Health Systems
Danville PA

Do you do the BPD/DS Surgery? Yes.

Could you draw me a picture of what your going to do? I was handed a picture of the sleeve with the dangling limb around 150cm from the end of the small intestine. I explained that I understood it should be 100, he explained to me that there is no scientific studies that prove that the 50cm difference would change the results and it could be anywhere within the last 175cm roughly.

Doctor Petrick does the operation in a 1 stage procedure, he doesn't see any benefit in making it a 2 stage process, but he would if that's what the customer wanted.

Doctor Petrick does have a support group that is headed up by Doctor Still and a team of Physicians at the weight management center in Wyoming valley PA

How many DS's have you preformed? 24 Laporascopically
with over 3000 Bariatric surgeries and 5000 General Surgeries

Do you offer the DS for any patient who meets the NHI criteria for bariatric surgery? Not for any patient, Doctor Petrick will do patients with higher BMI's or if the patient has Diabetes regardless of BMI.

Do you preform the DS Laporascopically? ---- Laparoscopic surgeries are his main specialty

Do you have self pay for patients with limited or no health insurance? Yes

Do you do Revisions of other bariatric surgeries? Yes, he does all of them.

Yes, he has only done 24 DS's but he has done 8000 surgeries, having spoken to him, and to his assistant Doctor chin, I'm very confident in putting my life in his hands. Here's that Jackpot, my Surgery date is May 22nd...My birthday is May 20th, My Anniversary is May 21st, and now my Surgery date(aka Rebirth) will be the 22nd.

 

[DianaCox]

This sounds mostly pretty good. My thoughts:

• 24 DSs would not be enough for me, but if it's enough for you, go for it (I would have more options, financially - and I understand that's likely not possible for you.)
• He may say he does "all revisions" but I wouldn't let him touch me for an RNY to DS revision with a 10 foot pole. That is pure arrogance to think he could do one after only 24 DSs.
• I would fight him for a 100 cm common channel. I'm dead serious about that. Ask Keshishian about his opinion on that one.
• Does he take out the appendix and gall bladder too? I sure hope so.

May 22 will be here any minute!

 

[Denis Korb]

This sounds mostly pretty good. My thoughts:

• 24 DSs would not be enough for me, but if it's enough for you, go for it (I would have more options, financially - and I understand that's likely not possible for you.)
• He may say he does "all revisions" but I wouldn't let him touch me for an RNY to DS revision with a 10 foot pole. That is pure arrogance to think he could do one after only 24 DSs.
• I would fight him for a 100 cm common channel. I'm dead serious about that. Ask Keshishian about his opinion on that one.
• Does he take out the appendix and gall bladder too? I sure hope so.

May 22 will be here any minute!

Yes, he did see some gall stones in my gall bladder, if its easily gotten to he intends to remove it. He didn't mention the appendix at all.

 

[Larra]

Denis, I'm very happy for you both for your weight loss and improved quality of life, and also because the DS is within your grasp.

However, I think, given how much weight you hope to lose and need to lose, you should fight for the shorter common channel - not excessively short, of course, but 100 cm is very reasonable and commonly performed. Yes, there are some DS surgeons who routinely make a 150 cm cc, but you are not a routine patient, and your care should be individualized.

 

[Denis Korb]

Has there been a study or some kind of scientific proof that I can present to Doctor Petrick to support the argument? His argument against it was seeking to avoid restriction or tautness...but it seemed a plausible argument. He said he would fall somewhere between the 100 and 150 cm mark though.

 

[star0210]

Sounds like a very successful meeting. I'm very glad for you it turned out this way and that he didn't try to talk you into the RNY.
I'm also so happy your surgery date is so soon.
I hope you plan to stick around and share your journey with us.

 

[Denis Korb]

of course I will Star

 

[JackieOnLine]

congratulations! it's going to be here fast.

 

[Munchkin]

Best of luck! It will be done before you know it! And I would go for the shortest CC he is willing to do.

 

[Denis Korb]

Okay, I have to be honest, this 2 week pre op liquid only diet...I'm really struggling...my wife went out and bought me tomato soup, sugar free pudding, sugar free ice pops, Sugar free JELLO, I'm still drinking my 3 protein shakes, and my 1.5 liters of water...but not eating my steak and salad, and no tuna fish during the day is causing me to struggle. All of a sudden the last few days I have gotten super hungry. How important is this pre-op liquid diet and can I cheat a little without affecting the results their seeking? going from 2300 calories a day to 500 seems way off to me

 

[newanatomy]

I would never encourage anyone to cheat on their pre-op diet. I know that I did not follow the surgeon's recommended diet exactly though I did go very low carb and as low calorie as I could manage. The last week I tried even harder and the last two days to the letter. I wish you great success!

 

[Denis Korb]

That's actually my question newanatomy? Is there a real reason to do a full liquid diet before the surgery...does it really need to be 2 full weeks? In my mind they need me to do this in order to clear my bowels before the surgery...but if my bowels only take roughly 53-57 hours to completely evacuate why do they ask you to do a 2 full weeks on 3 protein shakes a day and clear liquids pre surgery? I ask this because on my other diet I have been consistently losing between 4-5 pounds a week, and I was satisfied, if they absolutely need me to do this I will do this, I'm simply questioning why, and of course complaining because "I'M HUNGRY"

 

[star0210]

That's actually my question newanatomy? Is there a real reason to do a full liquid diet before the surgery...does it really need to be 2 full weeks? In my mind they need me to do this in order to clear my bowels before the surgery...but if my bowels only take roughly 53-57 hours to completely evacuate why do they ask you to do a 2 full weeks on 3 protein shakes a day and clear liquids pre surgery? I ask this because on my other diet I have been consistently losing between 4-5 pounds a week, and I was satisfied, if they absolutely need me to do this I will do this, I'm simply questioning why, and of course complaining because "I'M HUNGRY"

Nah, it's not your bowels they are concerned with...it's about ridding the surface of your liver of the excess fatty slime that makes it all slippery and large and hard to maneuver. They have to move it or lift it or whatever they do to work in the area they need to work on.
I had to do 5 day liquid diet....and it sucked. But that's a distant memory now...one thing I will say is that while there is a lot of controversy over whether it's truly necessary for that long of a period or not, I'm pretty sure no one has ever died from doing it.
Hated it, yes. Miserable because of it, yes. But everyone survives.
While I wouldn't tell you to cheat on it...I will say that I've seen other people suggest that if you just feel you HAVE to have something, make it something very lean and low fat.