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UNC or Duke for surgery?



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Both hospital programs are very close by to me, trying to decide which to use. Attended UNC info session, seemed pretty straightforward....duke info session is next week.

How were your experiences if you used one of these programs? Is one more comprehensive than the other in terms of support and follow up post-surgery? I definitely want to have solid support groups available to me post-surgery, when the real work kicks in.

Any info or opinions you can provide on your experience at Duke or UNC would be so appreciated!

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Find out who knows how to deal with complications, difficult patients and ask to talk to people who have stayed with their after care for 3 years or longer.

You want to know how they deal with problems. Any one can deal with things when they go well, its the capability to deal with issues that shows who is going to be in your corner, if things go wrong. I learned that lesson well from what happened to me and others.

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Ask if either is a "center of excellence" in bariatric surgery. These facilities meet a very high standard to obtain this designation.

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My NC relatives praise Duke Medical to the high heavens.

Over the years they've had anything from back surgeries, knee replacements, intestine resectioning, to cancer related surgeries.

The care they received was done by some of the top surgeons in their field.

Duke is a special place.

Nothing agains UNC, but I know where I'd most likely go if given the choice.

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They're both Centers of Excellence, but I am looking forward to my Duke info session so I can get a sense of their care and post-op support.

Dub, your comment really struck a chord with me, thx for the info.

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I have my RNY surgery scheduled at Duke on 6/1. So far during the preop period, everyone in their Office has been great. I dropped off my FMLA paperwork at 10a and they called me at 12n to say it was done and ready to be picked up. The WLS Support classes each month are well attended and the topics have been interesting. My Surgeon has responded to any email I've sent him promptly. I've been happy so far.

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Thanks Lemm61! That sounds like the kind of program that offers the support I want/need to learn a new way of living.

Who is doing your surgery?

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@@gina171 Hey, there is a WLS support group meeting this Tuesday at Duke WLS. It starts at 6p. It's free. You can signup online. People who are"veterans of WLS" are going to talk about their experience and take questions.

Edited by Lemm61

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Thanks Lemm61, I am already signed up! Looking forward to it! Are you going to be there?

Your surgery date is so close, you must be thrilled!

Once your insurance requirement was met, how long did it take to get your surgery date? Is there a long wait at Duke?

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Dr. Yoo is doing my surgery. I liked that he did my endoscopy as well so he's seen the inside as well as the outside!

Hey! He's doing my sleeve on 6/15! Howdy there surgery buddy!

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Dr. Yoo is doing my surgery. I liked that he did my endoscopy as well so he's seen the inside as well as the outside!

Hey! He's doing my sleeve on 6/15! Howdy there surgery buddy!

becomingmandykaye, do you mind me asking you how far out your surgery was scheduled after your indurance requirements were approved. Just trying to get an idea on how far out the Duke program schedules, how long the wait might be?

I don't think my insurance is going to give me a wait period, so wondering just how long the Duke Office waiting period typically is?

THANKS!

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do you mind me asking you how far out your surgery was scheduled after your indurance requirements were approved. Just trying to get an idea on how far out the Duke program schedules, how long the wait might be?

I don't think my insurance is going to give me a wait period, so wondering just how long the Duke Office waiting period typically is?

THANKS!

Well here's the scary part.

I'm not approved yet.

They won't submit it to insurance until after I have the endoscopy (required by the doctor, not my insurance). I pushed them for a surgery date because I really wanted my surgery in June (it's easier to take time off work then, rather than later in the summer).

Here's my timeline so far:

April 28 - surgery consultation

May 2 - NUT and psych consultations (and that's the end of my insurance requirements).

May 3 - called to find out what the timeline would be since I completed insurance reqs, they scheduled my endoscopy for June 6 (Dr. Yoo only performs these one Monday per month).

May 6 - called back because I hadn't heard anything about a surgery date - that's when they told me they wouldn't schedule it until after the endoscopy.

May 10 - they called to ask why I was pushing for a June date, concerned it was an issue with my insurance changing. I assured them it wasn't, it was just my preference and I had discussed it with Dr. Yoo (even though he didn't remember it)

May 16 - They called and gave me my pre-op and surgery dates.

Upcoming:

June 6 - endoscopy

***this is where I get twitchy - they told my my insurance has a 48 hour turnaround, so I'm trusting them***

June 9 - Pre-op

June 15 - surgery

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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