Dr. DiCicco performs all bariatric surgeries at Memorial Hospital, which is across the street from…read morehis new office building on Swann. (He no longer performs lap band surgery due to its stats on future complications.) Memorial Hospital's 2nd floor post surgical unit is excellent. The one night stay is easy & discharge is fast. Every nurse was phenomenal, & an administrator checked in before discharge to ask if there were any complaints or suggestions. In quality, this post surgical unit is rated approximately #43 of the 150+ hospitals in the network. I would not hesitate to have another surgery performed at Memorial.
All necessary post surgical medications are prescribed prior to surgery. The pre op appt normally takes place two weeks prior to surgery, although (due to a scheduling conflict) I was allowed to be seen just two days prior. For me, just five hours post surgery, I requested my final narcotic to relieve pain. I felt ready to go home. Three days post surgery I was driving, walking, & feeling almost back to normal, w/ the exception of minor gas pain-- burping. Six days post surgery I was washing windows, pulling weeds, organizing a walk-in closet, joining a friend for lunch (I had water), & going to my first post op appointment. Easiest surgery I've ever had.
The uncomfortable part: the two week full Liquid Diet prior to surgery involves protein shakes & nothing else; they can be purchased online or in Walmart & health food stores. This is perhaps the most difficult part of the entire process.
Sleeve surgery requires six horizontal incisions. One is larger than the others; the stomach (75% -80%) is removed through it. Post surgery, the diet consists of the following: Week 1- Clear Liquids (bouillon, sugar free popsicles, sugar free jello, lots of water, etc). Week 2 & 3: Liquids-- same as week 1, but add low fat yogurt, certain soups, & sugar free puddings & smoothies. Week 4-6: Soft Diet-- boiled chicken, ground turkey, flakey fish, soft cheeses, hot cereal, soup, well cooked veggies, egg & tuna salad, mashed potatoes, plus lots of water. Week 7: Normal Foods, but never more than a 4 oz serving. That is the largest amount the new stomach can handle & should ever handle.
The only complaints I have about Dr. DiCicco, the medical center, & the procedure is that he is not a warm & fuzzy person. I doubt he could ever recall my name, he spends just minutes w/ each patient, & he could care less about a patient's history of dieting or eating. I was simply a patient number in a long line of people. But he's solid--I picked him because he's one of the best bariatric surgeons in the state w/ regard to numbers & successes. He's tops at his craft, so I tolerated the assembly line feel of the process. If you require great bedside manner, you should select another doctor. His male partner in the practice (Dr. Taggar) should be considered-- very friendly guy & easy on the eyes:) Due to possible vitamin deficiency after surgery, be prepared to take bariatric vitamins for life, & almost no insurance companies w/ the exception of BCBS cover their cost even though they are "medically necessary." You'll need to buy a multivitamin, calcium, iron, B12, & possibly vitamin D. They will cost you $50+ monthly. Thankfully, the cost will be offset by the money you'll save on food, eating out, & alcohol (if you drink).
The insurance-required 4 monthly appointments leading up to surgery were quick & painless: you'll decide which procedure you want, weigh in upon each visit, get a psych exam, have an endoscopy, & visit a nutritionalist. It's that easy-- providing you lose at least one pound by the end of the fourth month (for the insurance companies to allow you to set a surgery date & for them to cover the surgery).
Contrary to popular opinion, 70% or more of these surgeries are very successful long term. Many of the remaining 30% (patients) gain back just some of the weight they lost post surgery. With all factors considered, the overall success rate on bariatric surgery is excellent. The surgery removes the hormone ghrelin, which is responsible for food cravings. In order to regain weight, it takes great effort. One must eat repeatedly until s/he is physically ill, leading to stomach stretching.
NO foods are off limits after bariatric surgery, but high protein/low carb foods are a must. (You will eat sugar free for the first 3-4 wks post surgery.) Stock up on coconut flour & almond flour cookbooks, buy 4 oz freezer containers, stay hydrated all day long, exercise (my love-- I can exercise one month post surgery), & watch the added weight disappear & stay gone. Here's to weight loss surgery, regaining ones good health, looking physically great, & taking on the world.
