Anyone been sleeved at UNC by Drs. Farrell or Overby?

[ajeeprider 94]

I am tentative next week if we hear from insurance by this Friday.

[SmilinNC 27]

I am tentatively on the schedule for Aug 14 with Dr. Overby. I have to call and confirm mid-July. How did things go for you?

[ajeeprider 94]

Hi there...I initially started out to see Overby. But due to scheduling conflicts ended up having Dr Farrell to do my surgery. Things went fine I really enjoyed working with their practice nurse Lisa. She was very helpful with my care at UNC Hospitals. The discharge did not go as smooth as I had hoped the coordination was a little slow but managable. The nurses on the floor were really great to work with. They assigned student nurses to work with me which was nice and they were very attentive. The surgical resident team assign to work with me were great. All women! I loved it! I only saw Dr Farrell a couple of times while I was in the hospital. My only issue with the practice is they do not provide enough nutritional follow up and support. I feel like I have to reach out to them for that information but they are very responsive when I call. Lisa the nurse practitioner usually calls back within hours or at least by the next day with instructions.

The follow up is good. I had really bad reflux after surgery anf they sent me for more testing.

All in all I have been pleased and will see Dr. Farrell in a few weeks for my next follow up. He is so sweet and gentle! I love his spirit!

[SmilinNC 27]

So good to hear. I originally requested Dr. Farrell (he comes with such high recommendation). But I was told by both Beverly (appt sec) & Lisa that Dr. Farrell was only doing bypass now. Dr. Overby is doing all of the sleeves. So Dr. Overby it is!

I agree about the nutritional end of it. I am already seeing that in the pre-op stage.

Is there a pre-op diet (like the 2 wk liquid you hear everyone talking about)? I can't seem to get a confirmation answer for the nutritionist.

Also, how long did you stay inpatient & how long post-op before you went back to work (if you do work away from home)? Just trying to juggle plans for home & work post-op.

[ajeeprider 94]

Wow....I hate he has stopped doing the sleeve. I wonder why.

I asked Dr. Farrell about the preop diet and he told me he would only request that if I had an extremely high BMI. I was at 40. I however started eating one low carb meal a day and for my other meals Protein shakes two weeks preop. That was to wean me off sugar and get me ready for new eating habits.

I was an impatient for two days. I couldn't pee post op....only cause I think they d/c'd my IV fluids too soon and my intake was not sufficient due to the dietary restriction. So they hooked me back up to fluids and I finally went.

I was home for 4 weeks but I have a job that they let me work from home for two of them. I have to admit....I needed that to adjust to the diet and manage my incision pain the first few weeks. I did well the first two weeks other than pain and the struggle to get the Protein and Fluid requirements in. In my 3rd week my reflux came back with vengeance. I had nausea and vomiting so they scoped me the 4th week but everything looked good. They doubled my reflux meds and I have been fine since.

I have lost 39 lbs and hit my first stall last week. I got sleeved on 4/24. It's not been to bad....but it is an adjustment!

Sent from my iPad: Sleeved 4/24/2013 by Dr. Farrell @ UNC Hospital---Started: 239lbs--Goal: 150lbs--Current: 200.9 lbs

[SmilinNC 27]

Thank you so much for answering my questions. You are a wealth of knowledge. Just by reading other posts, it sounds like you are right on track with the weight loss. I'm sure I will have lots of questions for you as my surgery date gets closer. Thank you again & please keep in touch. I would love to read about your journey

[ajeeprider 94]

You are so welcome. This forum has been great...I read it preop faithfully and asked a lot of questions. I felt very knowledgable before I went thru this process. Keep me updated as you progress!

Sent from my iPad: Sleeved 4/24/2013 by Dr. Farrell @ UNC Hospital---Started: 239lbs--Goal: 150lbs--Current: 200.9 lbs

[ajeeprider 94]

Thank you so much for answering my questions. You are a wealth of knowledge. Just by reading other posts' date=' it sounds like you are right on track with the weight loss. I'm sure I will have lots of questions for you as my surgery date gets closer. Thank you again & please keep in touch. I would love to read about your journey <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Checking in on your status........hope all is well.

Surgeon: Dr. Farrell UNC Hospital 4/24/2013:------ Preop: 239-----Current: 194.6

[SmilinNC 27]

Hey there! Tomorrow is pre-op appt with Dr.Overby. Surgery has been set for Aug 14. Is there anything special I need to know about pre-op appt?

[ajeeprider 94]

My preop appointment I met Lisa the nurse clinician and Zdr Farrell and one of the residence ( who did the bulk of my health assessment). Dr Farrell was very throural explaining the risks of both lapband, VSG and bypass...along with advantages and disadvantages. He went through anatomy of what would happen...discussed the assessment the resident collected. Then he told me what post op would look like for me and how my lifestyle will change and must change ( he was serious about my diet and exercise). After we finished our 15 minute conversation and he said I was an excellent candidate, he answered my questions.....we tentatively scheduled my surgery. He left the room and Lisa and I talked about insurance stuff. I think I was a low risk patient so I believe the team was not as intense with me as maybe a person who has major health issues requiring the surgery.

They sent me across the hall for preop labs, and EKG, consenting and preop instructions. I think I was there 3 hours total.

Although I believe the nutritional support and monitoring could be better, post op they do respond quickly if I email with a problem. That I appreciate and have no complaints.

My second post op visit was last week and my labs look good although my b1 is low and I now take a b1 tablet with my multi vit, Calcium with vit d and magnesium. I feel great can eat a little more and lose about 1-1.5 lbs every week. I still don't exercise....I still struggle getting anymore than 60 gms of Protein a day and I struggle getting more than 40 oz of Water each day. I have to eat or drink all the time and I still don't have an appetite. Not complaining....but it is a challenge. My reflux is better but still uncomfortable after I eat even being treated with meds...so dr. Farrell wants me to see a GI doc for additional FU.....he believes this will resolve on its own with time....but I could benefit from a GI doc checking out my medications to treat the reflux.

I am glad I had the surgery...I have enjoyed the UNC team....let me know how it goes after surgery!

Surgeon: Dr. Farrell UNC Hospital 4/24/2013:------ Preop: 239-----Current: 194.6

[SmilinNC 27]

Well made it thru my pre-op just fine. Everything went smooth. I absolutely LOVE Dr. Overby!! Pre-Care was fine as well. I am a pediatric nurse & was so surprised that there was no bowel prep required or even a special pre-op diet. That just seems so odd to me. Of course I have already been preparing doing low carb, absolutely no caffeine and no sweets diet for about 2 months now. I have lost about 4 pounds since my initial appt back in June. I'm exercising at the gym at least 5 days /wk just to keep the discipline going.

Did you have a single room or a double while in the hospital? I'm really hoping for a private room!

[ajeeprider 94]

I am glad you like Dr Overby! You should have a private room. I too though there should be more preop prep...but there isn't. Things went well without it. I did the low carb before surgery and did only one meal a day to prep for post op. I think it helped me prep my body so I would not have sugar withdrawal post op. I started trying different Protein supplements to find what I would like. So one meal a day and the rest Protein drinks. It really helped my transition. Keep me posted on your progress!

Surgeon: Dr. Farrell UNC Hospital 4/24/2013:------ Preop: 239-----Current: 194.6

[SmilinNC 27]

Great idea about the 1 meal per day & Protein Shakes otherwise! I think I will shoot for that my final 5-7 days prior to surgery. Will definitely keep you posted :-)

[SmilinNC 27]

Well now I am on the other side. Sleeved yest 8/14. Surgery actually went smooth. Had a fairly good day yest until about 1am. My stomach started having muscle spams & shooting pain in my left shoulder. I had them take away the PCA pump causing it was just causing the nausea to be worse. Did swallow test while still in awful pain. As the day has progressed I have gotten better esp with walking & burping. What a relief to get that urine catheter out!!!! Started my 1oz liquid per hour about 1:30pm. Plans are to go home tomorrow evening

[ajeeprider 94]

Well now I am on the other side. Sleeved yest 8/14. Surgery actually went smooth. Had a fairly good day yest until about 1am. My stomach started having muscle spams & shooting pain in my left shoulder. I had them take away the PCA pump causing it was just causing the nausea to be worse. Did swallow test while still in awful pain. As the day has progressed I have gotten better esp with walking & burping. What a relief to get that urine catheter out!!!! Started my 1oz liquid per hour about 1:30pm. Plans are to go home tomorrow evening <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Hi there, just saw your message Ihave been traveling and not on the site much. Welcome to another great chapter in your life! I am hoping recovery is going well! Glad to know you were on an up swing before discharge.

Surgeon: Dr. Farrell UNC Hospital 4/24/2013:------ Preop: 239-----Current: 194.6