Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary, and my wonderful husband has just given me a cheque to have the surgery! (This is a joint birthday and anniversary present - for about the next 30 yrs !!!)

So I have to finally make the choice between the 2 surgeons we saw.

So.. .advice please....

Surgeon A

Done over 700 ops with only 1 death due to patient being highly morbidly obese and having post op complications

Uses size 34 bougie

does 2 lines of staples with sutures

Surgeon B

Done over 170 ops with no deaths

Uses size 32 bougie

Does 3 lines of staples with sutures

Apart from that they are on a par. Both seem very good and I got on well with both of them, travel wise the B surgeon is only an hour away, the other is 1hr 45, so not much in it really.

Does the amount of staple lines make a difference??

So excited and yet nervous too!!!

Kathy

Congratulations. Going just by stats, I would say A has more experience & should be the #1 choice.

But, what does your gut tell you? Did you feel more comfortable and confident with one versus the other? Are they going to be providing your aftercare or will your PCP closer to home?

Yay!

Decisions,decisions.

I am going with a surgeon who has done less than 10 sleeves.

I went in to speak to him about a bypass, but he was really

enthusiastic about the results wth the sleeve.

He specializes in bariatric surgeries, and has been doing all of

them including the gastric bypass, mini gastric, and lap-band surgeries

for over 16 years, and I feel confident in his abilities.

Good luck and keep us posted with a date!

Congratulations. Going just by stats, I would say A has more experience & should be the #1 choice.

But, what does your gut tell you? Did you feel more comfortable and confident with one versus the other? Are they going to be providing your aftercare or will your PCP closer to home?

HI Mini me

I could go with either if it was my gut reaction....they both came across very well.

A is more used to the procedure having pioneered it here in Spain, and actually probably taught B....

B has the top class facility with ICU on the spot, should anything go wrong.

Aftercare can be ok with either - A is used to dealing with it via the net as he has patients world wide. B can either see me in the office (at a price) or via email with results etc.Both require labs every 3 months.

A does leak tests on the table and while in hosp then you do them yourself for a week (with drains in)

B does 3 leak tests (on table and then before discharge).

I have had contact with previous patients of both surgeons and they all say go with the one they went to..... so at this moment its more like flipping a coin, unless anyone can give another side I haven't thought about.

Congrats on your date Morgandobes..... hopefully I'll be able to report back soon with one.... although whichever I pick I think it'll be June onwards as we have a wedding to go to at the end of May so think it would just be easier to wait until then, and thats only 6 weeks away so not really that long in the scheme of things.

HI Mini me

I could go with either if it was my gut reaction....they both came across very well.

A is more used to the procedure having pioneered it here in Spain, and actually probably taught B....

B has the top class facility with ICU on the spot, should anything go wrong.

Aftercare can be ok with either - A is used to dealing with it via the net as he has patients world wide. B can either see me in the office (at a price) or via email with results etc.Both require labs every 3 months.

A does leak tests on the table and while in hosp then you do them yourself for a week (with drains in)

B does 3 leak tests (on table and then before discharge).

I have had contact with previous patients of both surgeons and they all say go with the one they went to..... so at this moment its more like flipping a coin, unless anyone can give another side I haven't thought about.

It sounds like you've really done your homework. Fortunately for me, I didn't have 2 surgeons that so closely compared to one another - my choice was very easy.

No one can tell you what to do, but A being a pioneer & having so much experience would be tempting to me. It doesn't sound like you would go wrong with either choice. Maybe you should just flip that coin??? :thumbup1:

Congratulations!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!

Thanks!

We talked about it last night and I think we will end up going for B - the 3 lines of staples is just pushing him into the lead for us.

Thanks!

We talked about it last night and I think we will end up going for B - the 3 lines of staples is just pushing him into the lead for us.

So glad you were able to make a decision. Good for you! Now, all you have to do is get the date & start looking forward to your new life. Yahoo!!!

Thanks Mini Me - just waiting now for date info.....So early June here we come, after our trip to the UK!

Many congrats on getting the go ahead ! ! ! You'll love the sleeve.

Thanks Tiff - June 10th it is!!! The countdown is on.

June 10th it is!!! The countdown is on.

Congrats on your date!

I was gonna suggest going for the cutest doctor. Might as well have a nice looking man to wake up to! Well, in addition to your hubby that is! : )

i agree doc 1 # would be my choice also .. good luck ..

Thanks Jack.

It was a hard decision but in the end I went with the one who does the 3 rows, feeling it would be safer - I had problems with a seroma (build up of fluid like an internal blister) on a previous surgery, so know only too well about complications and the emotional turmoil they can cause so wanted to try and ensure as much as possible that all goes well.

At the end of the day its an elective surgery, and I am fully aware of the risks.

Thanks for the wishes.