Re: DR. SIFERS IN KANSAS DOES NOT DO DUODENAL SWITCH!!!!!

[Guest guest]

,

This has to be very devastating. However, aren't you glad you educated

yourself and caught this. I am so glad you kept questioning him! I remember

asking you after your first consult if he left the pyloric valve in tact and

functioning and you had asked him and he said he did. Now it sound like

maybe he leaves in tact but arranges things such that you don't use it!!! I

am not sure he was listening to you. I hope everything works out for you.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

,

This has to be very devastating. However, aren't you glad you educated

yourself and caught this. I am so glad you kept questioning him! I remember

asking you after your first consult if he left the pyloric valve in tact and

functioning and you had asked him and he said he did. Now it sound like

maybe he leaves in tact but arranges things such that you don't use it!!! I

am not sure he was listening to you. I hope everything works out for you.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Dr. Sifers had no problem with refunding my check. He did have a problem

with the fact that I wanted my $200 back that I paid for my consultation. We

disagreed about that. He said several times he would not return that, but,

by the end of our conversation, he said he will give me the $200 back and

that he never wants me to call his office again. (he called me tonight after

I talked to his nurse and she called me back and said he didn't want to do

the actual BPD/DS) Apparently he's never actually done a BPD/DS yet. He

says he feels strongly that there are too many risk factors with that surgery

and he has had nothing but good luck with the surgery he's doing now. He has

only been doing the surgery he's doing now since the end of August. mmmmmmm

He says he did not purposely misrepresent the surgery to me and the

others... oh yes, by the way, he did a surgery recently, and I have talked to

that patient and she was under the impression that she had DS surgery because

that is what he was calling it! It was quite a suprise to her. I believe

there is a lot of good things to be said for the surgery he is doing, it's

just that that is not the procedure I want. I want DS surgery. That's what

his info says on it, Duodenal Switch. He says he called it that because in

his mind he is doing a DS. He says the doctors on the web sites have turned

the pyloric valve into a " God " to convince people it is more important than

it is and so that that they can charge much larger fees. As long as he keeps

his word to me and gives me back both my check and my $200 consult fee, I

will drop it. There are a lot of patients who want and need the surgery he

is doing. I just want my money back. I am self pay and got a bank loan so I

could have the surgery. Even if I take all the money back to the bank, I am

still out of pocket for processing fees and finance charges for the days

since I got the loan. That's the reason I want the $200 back, along with the

fact that he said he did a DS, but now he's saying it is in his mind but he

won't call it that anymore.

I believe things happen to me for a reason. I believe I am one of the

luckiest people I know. I believe my higher power watches out for me big

time. If this was meant to be it would have happened, so he has his reasons

for this not happening on Jan 2 and he has something else in mind for me.

I just wish I knew how to speak Spanish (I understand Dr. Baltastar is fluent

in English, but when I'm traveling I can't count on other people knowing

English and it's a hard thing to think about doing when you know you're not

gonna be feeling your best). I'ts not too late for me to learn Spanish.

I've been wanting to learn it anyway. There is a large influx of Mexican

people in my area in the last few years and I would like to be able to speak

to them and help the ones who don't know English very well.

But, that's another subject.

Thanks to all of you for your input. I hope to have your continuing support,

as I am not willing to give up the surgery yet, I'm just gonna have to put it

off. I will continue to be a part of this web.

T. in Kansas

[Guest guest]

Dr. Sifers had no problem with refunding my check. He did have a problem

with the fact that I wanted my $200 back that I paid for my consultation. We

disagreed about that. He said several times he would not return that, but,

by the end of our conversation, he said he will give me the $200 back and

that he never wants me to call his office again. (he called me tonight after

I talked to his nurse and she called me back and said he didn't want to do

the actual BPD/DS) Apparently he's never actually done a BPD/DS yet. He

says he feels strongly that there are too many risk factors with that surgery

and he has had nothing but good luck with the surgery he's doing now. He has

only been doing the surgery he's doing now since the end of August. mmmmmmm

He says he did not purposely misrepresent the surgery to me and the

others... oh yes, by the way, he did a surgery recently, and I have talked to

that patient and she was under the impression that she had DS surgery because

that is what he was calling it! It was quite a suprise to her. I believe

there is a lot of good things to be said for the surgery he is doing, it's

just that that is not the procedure I want. I want DS surgery. That's what

his info says on it, Duodenal Switch. He says he called it that because in

his mind he is doing a DS. He says the doctors on the web sites have turned

the pyloric valve into a " God " to convince people it is more important than

it is and so that that they can charge much larger fees. As long as he keeps

his word to me and gives me back both my check and my $200 consult fee, I

will drop it. There are a lot of patients who want and need the surgery he

is doing. I just want my money back. I am self pay and got a bank loan so I

could have the surgery. Even if I take all the money back to the bank, I am

still out of pocket for processing fees and finance charges for the days

since I got the loan. That's the reason I want the $200 back, along with the

fact that he said he did a DS, but now he's saying it is in his mind but he

won't call it that anymore.

I believe things happen to me for a reason. I believe I am one of the

luckiest people I know. I believe my higher power watches out for me big

time. If this was meant to be it would have happened, so he has his reasons

for this not happening on Jan 2 and he has something else in mind for me.

I just wish I knew how to speak Spanish (I understand Dr. Baltastar is fluent

in English, but when I'm traveling I can't count on other people knowing

English and it's a hard thing to think about doing when you know you're not

gonna be feeling your best). I'ts not too late for me to learn Spanish.

I've been wanting to learn it anyway. There is a large influx of Mexican

people in my area in the last few years and I would like to be able to speak

to them and help the ones who don't know English very well.

But, that's another subject.

Thanks to all of you for your input. I hope to have your continuing support,

as I am not willing to give up the surgery yet, I'm just gonna have to put it

off. I will continue to be a part of this web.

T. in Kansas

[Guest guest]

> Dr. Sifers has conceeded that he is not actually doing

Duodenal

> Switch surgery and instead has been doing a version of BPD. He is

going to

> take the words Duodenal Switch off of his packet that he has been

handing out

> to patients and let his staff know not to call it that anymore.

......... ann and I both had even already paid them and the

> hospital and we are self pay. Doesn't look good. He is supposed to

call us

> tonight.

karen T: I would definately get a REFUND. You could sue for false

advertising, you know. That is ridiculous! He better change his

wording because that is very dangerous. I am so, so, so GLAD you did

not get the surgery that you didn't want performed. It is not that

the BPD is a terrible surgery, but if you want the BPD/DS, you should

be getting the BPD/DS!!!!!

I would contact Walter -- he's an advocate -- or at least threaten Dr.

Sifers that you have a lawyer lined up -- and get that money returned

to you pronto. Perhaps one letter from Walter would do the trick!

:)

I am not sure how much his fees are, but you and ann *could*

possibly look into it together. And, the surgeon should refund these

fees to you, too -- you should not have to pay a DIME -- ney, a RED

CENT for false advertising and BLATENT misinformation!

I'm sure he's being very nicey nicey about it now and perhaps he did

really have a misunderstanding about what a BPD/DS really IS (and that

is really, really frightening for all the other prospective patients

of surgeons who are doing the BPD/DS -- are they really doing it

correctly???). Either way, he should know that he could get a strong

lawsuit against him.

God, I hope there aren't other patients out there who had the surgery

performed, thinking it was a BPD/DS.. but it is a modified BPD! There

are other health issues involved and they should be educated about

this. ALL OF HIS FORMER PATIENTS should be contacted and told about

this surgery, what the aftercare should be like, etc.

Let us know how it goes -- I know you will be able to get the surgery

you want. You do not have to go to Spain - there are other doctors in

the US. Research and see what is most viable for you! :)

All the best,

laparoscopic BPD/DS with gallbladder removal

Dr. Gagner, Mt. Sin

[Guest guest]

Maybe it would be worthwhile to send Dr Sifers in Kansas a copy of the

article:

Marceau, P., S. Biron, et al. (1993).

" BILIOPANCREATIC DIVERSION WITH A NEW TYPE OF GASTRECTOMY. "

Obes Surg 3: 29-35.

Available at:

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Procedure/93Marceau/93marceau.html

In an attempt to improve the results of biliopancreatic diversion in the

treatment of morbid obesity, two aspects of the procedure performed at Laval

Hospital were modified to reduce adverse physiological consequences. The

distal gastrectomy was replaced by a parietal gastrectomy which preserves

vagal continuity along with the lesser curvature, and leaves intact the

antro-pyloro-duodenal pump. The duodenum was stapled shut and nutrients were

diverted through a duodeno-ileal anastomosis. The biliopancreatic diverting

intestinal limb was anastomosed to the nutrient ileal limb 100 cm proximal

to the ileocecal valve instead of 50 cm proximal to it, thus doubling the

length of the common ileal absorptive segment. Weight loss after either

operation was greater thjan 70% of the inital excess weight. Following the

new operation, there was a lesser prevalence of side effects, especially

loose stools and malodorous gas, a lesser degree of hypocalcemia and no

hypoalbuminemia. The duodeum recanalized at the staple line in 20% of

patients who had the new operation. When data from these patients was

excluded, weight loss following the new operation was greater than that seen

after theold one. The prevalence of side effects and the degree of calcium

and protein malabsorption remained significantly lower. Weight loss remained

satisfactory with a common limb measuring 100 cm. The parietal gastrectomy

was not restrictive as shown by the failure to lose further weight when the

duodenal staple diversion failed. Weight loss was thus mainly a function of

biliopancreatic diversion, but increased weight loss in the new procedure

despite a doubling of the common ileal limb suggests that parietal

gastrectomy contributed to the weight loss. Because duodenal recanalization

can be corrected surgically and now prevented, the modified biliopancreatic

bypass is preferred.

Re: Re: DR. SIFERS IN KANSAS DOES NOT DO DUODENAL

SWITCH!!!!!

> Dr. Sifers had no problem with refunding my check. He did have a problem

> with the fact that I wanted my $200 back that I paid for my consultation.

We

> disagreed about that. He said several times he would not return that,

but,

> by the end of our conversation, he said he will give me the $200 back and

> that he never wants me to call his office again. (he called me tonight

after

> I talked to his nurse and she called me back and said he didn't want to do

> the actual BPD/DS) Apparently he's never actually done a BPD/DS yet. He

> says he feels strongly that there are too many risk factors with that

surgery

> and he has had nothing but good luck with the surgery he's doing now. He

has

> only been doing the surgery he's doing now since the end of August.

mmmmmmm

> He says he did not purposely misrepresent the surgery to me and the

> others... oh yes, by the way, he did a surgery recently, and I have talked

to

> that patient and she was under the impression that she had DS surgery

because

> that is what he was calling it! It was quite a suprise to her. I believe

> there is a lot of good things to be said for the surgery he is doing, it's

> just that that is not the procedure I want. I want DS surgery. That's

what

> his info says on it, Duodenal Switch. He says he called it that because

in

> his mind he is doing a DS. He says the doctors on the web sites have

turned

> the pyloric valve into a " God " to convince people it is more important

than

> it is and so that that they can charge much larger fees. As long as he

keeps

> his word to me and gives me back both my check and my $200 consult fee, I

> will drop it. There are a lot of patients who want and need the surgery

he

> is doing. I just want my money back. I am self pay and got a bank loan

so I

> could have the surgery. Even if I take all the money back to the bank, I

am

> still out of pocket for processing fees and finance charges for the days

> since I got the loan. That's the reason I want the $200 back, along with

the

> fact that he said he did a DS, but now he's saying it is in his mind but

he

> won't call it that anymore.

> I believe things happen to me for a reason. I believe I am one of the

> luckiest people I know. I believe my higher power watches out for me big

> time. If this was meant to be it would have happened, so he has his

reasons

> for this not happening on Jan 2 and he has something else in mind for me.

> I just wish I knew how to speak Spanish (I understand Dr. Baltastar is

fluent

> in English, but when I'm traveling I can't count on other people knowing

> English and it's a hard thing to think about doing when you know you're

not

> gonna be feeling your best). I'ts not too late for me to learn Spanish.

> I've been wanting to learn it anyway. There is a large influx of Mexican

> people in my area in the last few years and I would like to be able to

speak

> to them and help the ones who don't know English very well.

> But, that's another subject.

> Thanks to all of you for your input. I hope to have your continuing

support,

> as I am not willing to give up the surgery yet, I'm just gonna have to put

it

> off. I will continue to be a part of this web.

> T. in Kansas

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Thank God you found out in time. If your really thinking of Spain,

a few words, my husband is Greek and we have traveled to Greece alot

over the years. Everyone speaks english in europe. Especially

service oriented people, not the best but enough to get along with

the tourists. English is the most sought after second language and

most europeans speak more than one language, sometimes several. The

world is growing smaller and smaller and my greek stinks but I got by

traveling across Europe. Even my kids who have traveled to see their

grandparents alone from 12 years old do wonderful <they do speak some

greek> Don't worry about the language barrier.. worry about the

plane trip home..!LOL

ibdebi

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Thank God you found out in time. If your really thinking of Spain,

a few words, my husband is Greek and we have traveled to Greece alot

over the years. Everyone speaks english in europe. Especially

service oriented people, not the best but enough to get along with

the tourists. English is the most sought after second language and

most europeans speak more than one language, sometimes several. The

world is growing smaller and smaller and my greek stinks but I got by

traveling across Europe. Even my kids who have traveled to see their

grandparents alone from 12 years old do wonderful <they do speak some

greek> Don't worry about the language barrier.. worry about the

plane trip home..!LOL

ibdebi