Mr D'onofrio

Hi . I was banded just over 5 years ago with D'onofrio in Adelaide.
Never had any touble with band, lost nearly all my weight, bar 9 kg to goal, then 2 weeks ago was flown emergency via RFDS to Royal Adelaide for emergency surgery to remove band. It had slipped and was causing damage to my stomache.
I was devastated to say the least. My band was part of my life. I respected it, loved it.
I spent 8 days in hospital in absoloute misery.
The head of Bariatrics at the RAH had his team try and contact Donofrio to let him know what had happened to me. On two occasions during the 8 days, his secretary informed the team that Donofrio would not visit or consult with me in hospital because I was a public patient in a hospital he does not deal with.
I am disgusted, and deeply hurt.
I remortgaged my house to pay the 12k it cost 5 years ago to get banded. Im still paying it off. I had no private insurance.
Now I have no band, and cant afford to get one replaced.
I will balloon in weight as I am a compulsive eater, and my depression is spiraling out of control, but what hurts the most is that he didn't even care about one of his patients, not even a 5 minute call to see how I was doing.
Thank God the Head of Bariatrics came in to do my emergency surgery, and all that as a public patient......

Thanks for that lin1970 Can u also tell me if dr d told u how many calories u should have a day. Do you count your calories and if so how many u have. Im finding that my diet varies between 800-1200 higher end when i work hard at getting more protein in

Cheers :)

I lost over 11kg 1st mth, about 4-5 2nd mth. Had a plateua after about 4mths I think for about 3-4 weeks. I have lost 1kg since early Jan. I am having to look at my eating. Struggling all round and exercise isn't happening.

Lol i see him in 2 weeks and ive lost nothing for 2 weeks. Do u remember the mushy high protein stage lin and if u stalled a couple weeks after surgery.

I see him for a checkup soon. Bit worried as weightloss has stalled. He is excellent though and the nurses are scared of him maybe because his patients are very important to him. He wasn't im[ressed with the room I was in and had me moved.

dr d'onofrio of North Adelaide did my band in 2009, the removal of my band in 2012 and my sleeve ferbruary 2013. he is a great surgeon. my recovery for all was great and his work is tidy. i was referred to him my my GP after going to one of his seminars. i agree that he doesnt send you to dieticians and probably should but otherwise i would highly recommend him

tracey his prices are great! once you pay the gap to him, from memory $2500 you never have to pay that again. you then get surgeries from him in the future for free, for life, other than your hospital gap of course.

although the nurses fear him LOL he does have excellent bedside manner to his patients. he also makes you feel comfy and makes sure you are ok while you lay on the table right up til you go to sleep.

He is strict but this is what i needed :)

Hi all just wanted to share my story with dr d'onofrio. Couldnt ask for a better surgon. .. I have been seeing him for almost 3yrs I had a sleeve done by him and have jyst been converted to an omega loop bypass. His bed side manner is great his prices are amazing especially compaired to others only thing I found is other surgons make you see dietitians etc ehich he didnt d. I thought I was doing all the right things till I joined gastric sleevers australia on face book then realised I needed help so I started seeing a dietitian at Ashford. I would recomend dr d'onofrio to anyone considering wls. He will inform u on all posible procedures and takes the time to answer all your questions :) if anyone wants to ask anything feel free to email me tracey.brice@hotmail.com. I dont come on here ofter so wont see messages :)

Hi Kitycat

I just had my GP refer me onto Dr D'Onofrio, although he did know of him anyway and would have suggested him off his own back. As a surgeon he has a great reputation and his bedside manner has also been good.

Does Mr D'Onofrio have his own GP for referals please?

Thanks Ginka, that's encouraging and helpful. Friday looks like a good day then! I think I will go to see Mr D later this year (don't come up for health insurance until early next year).

best wishes and please keep in touch,

Nel

Met with Mr D'Onofrio today. He was lovely, warm and professional and spent time explaining both pros and cons of the band and sleeve to me. Knowing that I had already decided on the Sleeve, he supported me in this decision. I feel extremely comfortable with him as my surgeon. His fees are $2000. U can choose to have surgery on a Monday or a Friday, however the anaesthesiologist fees vary on these days. The person he uses on Friday's has no gap, whereas on Monday's it can be as much as $1400!

Thanks for this discussion. I am a doctor myself and took out PHI to be able to have a sleeve next year. Mr D has been a reliable and thorough correspondent by email. I was originally considering a lap band, but Mr D insisted that a sleeve would be much better for me. I was a little taken aback, but now am glad he was direct as I feel the sleeve is a much better option for me. I look forward to meeting him and appreciate all the feedback here. I am in Central Australia, so can choose anywhere in the country to travel really. Obviously you want a surgeon who is competent, someone who is gentle and kind is important too.
Appreciate all the work you all put into this forum. It's an important source of learning and support.
Nel

a friend of mine who is a nurse went with dr D, as I trust her I have decided to use him, have yet to have my meeting. she has nothing but good words about him

cheers

Hi

Just wondering if there were any recent experiences with Mr D'Onofrio that can be shared, from initial appointment to Post Op?

He seems to have received possitive feedback in the past. I am meeting him in early March and hope he can sleeve me without waiting too long. I would love to get a current overview on him.

thank you

i had my surgery with Dr Kuvinkovas 4 days ago and he was fantastic. Visited me everyday to make sure i was feeling good. I have a follow up with him in 2 weeks. Very patient, very kind and gentle. Highly reccomend him.

Angelwithlovehandles, how did your appointment with Dr D'Onofrio and Dr Nancarrow go?

Pandakate, thats interesting about the no charge for the anaesthetist on a Friday. Must keep that in mind!

Hi
Just thought I would add my 2 cents worth.

I had Dr D'Onofrio and he was great. The first appointment is $129, he chargers $1800 for the surgery and if you book on a Friday the anesthetist is no charge. All follow up appointments are bulk bill to medicare. I also had a $200 excess on my hospital cover so all up it cost me $2129.

Take care
Kate

Hi Kaz,
First appointment with D'Onofrio on the 23rd November.
First appointment with Dr Nancarrow on 1st December and then with Michael France on 9th December.
Yikes....it's coming up so soon!
xxoo

I need to keep better records!
I have in my notebook that Dr France's out of pocket payment was $3000, and thats including an approx cost of $400-550 for the anaesthetist. Theres a $50 gap payment for the initial consult with both Dr Nancarrow and Dr France.
$1800 for Mr D'Onofrio. No mention of anaesthetists fees when I rang, but I also forgot to ask.
$2000 for Dr Leong. Also no mention of anaesthetists fees.

Perhaps Choney or notproud can offer more relevent fee information.

At this stage, I guess all I was looking for were approx costs anyway. Once I book my initial consult early next year, I'll find out more specifics.
Im not sure yet what other specialists I will see, I guess it will depend alot on what the surgeon recommends.

When are your appointments with Dr France and Mr D'Onofrio?

Do you mind me asking how much Mr. D'Onofrio charges for the sleeve? Was there an extra charge for the anaesthetist? Are you going to be doing your own follow up with a dietitian or exercise physiologist?
When I booked in to see Dr. Michael France I asked about the cost of the sleeve with him. It's $2000, and then approx $200 for the anaesthetist. I then have a $200 hospital excess to pay for the private health insurance. So all up approx $2400.
I am trying to work out how much more to budget for allied health professionals such as dietitians etc.
Cheers,
Angel.

Ive had 3 c/s all of them planned tho so didnt have hours of labouring beforehand.

I consider my c/s all great recoveries.

My sleeve was way easier then my c/s. Lot less pain. I had no internal pain my incisions where sore but thats it!

It sounds like you both had ideal recoveries :) That has put my mind at ease. Esp having the kids, I didnt want to not be able to do things with them, and not be able to keep up with the housework, etc, and be a burden on my husband. You have reassured me that I may only be out of action for a week or so :)

notproud, how did the sleeve op compare to having a c section? Thats my measuring stick. Ive had 2 c's, and figure if the aftermath is anything like that, I will cope fine!

Choney, Europe next year, cool :) What a fantastic goal to have in your mind as the kgs drop.
I keep imagining how much more I will be able to do with the kids when I lose the weight....holidays (fitting comfortably in an airplane seat!!), running around at the park, geez even really simple things like sitting on the floor playing a game without being uncomfortable, getting a dead leg, and struggling to get up afterwards! Normal things :) I worry about how much I am depriving my family by not being able to do certain things, and feeling more like an observer in their lives :(

Another question I thought of re Mr D'Onofrio - how many follow up visits do you have with him after the op?

I was the same, planned mine for the last day of term, kids went to school (aged 7, 10 & 12) hubby took me to the hospital and then back in time to get kids from school. They hung out with me over the weekend when they could ( One & a half hours away) and I cam home Monday morning.
Tummy was a tad sore at each site but did not even need pain killers once out of anesthetic - they kept asking felt like they were druggies trying to sign me up LOL. Found first couple of days a bit dicey to sleep but I like to sleep on my tummy so that made it a bit hard. A few muscles pains when I went to get up or down to a seat. It was school holiday though so it meant I could sleep in in the morning and take it easy for a few days no drama.
Started back to work on the next Monday as a volunteer (10days post op) only to find my boss had quit and I had to step in and run with everything which I did and haven't looked back - was so busy didn't have a chance. I tried to milk it at home for as long as possible with loads of washing etc, but hey I have a 12 year old and it was school holidays so we all got by.
Am still struggling with "how much" to eat - was only today that I really wanted some home comfort food, mashed potato, gravy that sort of real heavy thing - hubby laughed at me coz that's the brain talking and the stomach wouldn't of even made it 4 teaspoons in. Have overstepped twice I think, want physically sick but oh boy did I feel crap - and it wasn't from being a pig I stopped but apparently then the food was still traveling to my tummy and ran out of room so felt really bloated etc, 2nd time we were out and the people we were with didn't know I had had my op, as I was still embarressed by needing it. Now I am quite upfront about it coz i realise it is due to this aid that I might finally conquer this debilitating illness/addiction/greed that is my relationship with food
Was scared I would never drink a diet soft drink again ( they are sort of my weakness), but after about 6 weeks I braved a well shook soft drink and was fine - Dr D said I shouldn't drink them because they can make my pouch stretch but I have read around and am not sure I believe him in what other people have said etc - although I dont push it and maybe have one or two over the weekend as treats but drink them slowly and allow them to defizz a bit before I go for it
Have even started exercising now - without feeling like a side show freak, we are hoping to go to Europe next year with the kids and rest of the family - something I could of considered without my operation, as my butt wouldn't fit into the airplane chair

I coped cant say I didnt miss them terribly but I am glad they didnt even know I was in hospital.

I came home and told the girls that I hurt my tummy so they didnt jump on me. I picked and carried my baby from the minute I got home no problems :)

My husband took the week off so tomorrow he heads back to work. But I am fine. I didnt get or havent got the tiredness that people talk about on here??!! but maybe being a mum to 3 little ones I just dont feel the tiredness anymore LOL

I have been driving no problems. My doc didnt tell me not too so just like after my c/s I just have with no problems.

That sounds wonderful notproud!
I just re-read your diary. How was it being away from your kids? Are you restricted now in that you cant pick them up, etc, while you are recovering?
I have a 4 and 2 yr old...its worrying me how much this operation may impact on them.