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Surgeon Testimonial

Robert G. Martindale, M.D., Ph.D.


12/02/05
I recently emailed Dr. Martindale to see how he's doing. He was so nice as always. This man is amazing. I can't even imagine someone so thoughtful and passionate about a field like this, but he his truly devoted to helping those people like myself who have lost all hope of living anymore. I just hope he know's what a difference he's made in so many people's lives.




4/15/2005
I went to see Dr. Martindale for the last time before he leaves for his new job in Oregon. I will miss him so much. I gave him a heart shaped box filled with Hersey kisses. I told him at this point I had lost 250 pounds. I had counted out the kisses and give him one for each pound I had lost. This man is amazing. He's been such an inspiration in all that he does for other. He took on my case when no one else would do it and for that I can't thank him enough. He's saved my life and my husbands. I can't ever repay someone for doing something so special for me. Dr. Martindale will be grately missed at MCG. What a shame to lose such a special surgeon.



2/16/2004

I will have to tell you. I've been to now going on my fourth surgeon. Up to this point I was not 100% impressed with the ones that I had gone to. There was something about each one of them that held me back from wanting them to do surgery. I feel extremely BLESSED to have Dr. Martindale as my soon to be surgeon. This man is HIGHLY educated in this field. When we came in to meet me he was very friendly and kind. I felt like he was concerned about me. You could tell from the way that he talked about this that it was a passion for him to help people. He gave time for me to ask questions and did so very wonderfully. He made me feel very good knowing he deals with many patients that are over 500 pounds and has a true concern for those super obese. There are NOT many in this field that will even do surgery on someone these sizes, yet he takes the chance and helps us. What a man! Just to tell you some pluses. He takes the gallbladder out during surgery, he said it only take 3 minutes while your there. I said what about insurance, he said he doesn't charge them for it. He's done over 500 bariatric surgeries dealing with mostly high risk patients. He said to keep in mind he also does other surgeries such as hernia repairs, and other gastrointestinal surgeries, as well as be a professor, and he goes to other countries donating his time to help the less fortunate. He's done maybe 50 patients under 500 pounds the rest where over 500 pounds. He said the average BMI is 60, whereas most are around 45. I felt a huge relief that he's so experienced with high weights. The highest weight he did was over 900 pounds. I asked him about deaths. He has not had a patient die on the OR table. He has however lost 7 patients and he went into full details of each one, he said that patients had died anywhere between 8weeks to a year for various reason. He's only had 3 leaks. I asked him about certain patients and he remembered each one of them. That said a lot. Anyway I spent an hour and a half with him. He also knows and understands about my lymphedema. He felt that I would lose a good bit of weight from therapy. I could tell how he spoke that this was a passion. He said he does this surgery to save people's lives and give them life back. I fell in love with him. While he was talking to me I could see a glow around him. It was the most amazing experience, when we left I KNEW it was right and had major relief. I fully trust him and would put my life in his hands.



8-18-2003
I orginally went to Dr. Gooden in Augusta. He said that he didn't have an OR table big enough for me. Dr. Goodens staff was fine, I just wish someone there would have asked prior about my weight instead of waisting my time and the surgeons time. I was disappointed. This is just my opinion I would not recommend some to go to this surgeon. I was not impressed with his office or how his program was set up for the obese. I am now going to see Dr Burrowes in Atlanta on the 29th of October.



10-7-2003
I went to a Siminar for Dr. Duncan. I will say that I was quite impressed with this man. He is very smart, and had great dry humor! I would recommend him to anyone. His program is very well set up and he took the time after the siminar to talk with me personally. He only now does the Lap RNY. He does however have associates that do the open percedure too. I sent my packet to them and I'm suppose to go see him on November 20th. Provided I pick him to do the surgery.



10-29-2003
Dr. Burrowes was a very informative, and smart man. The longer I sat and spoke to him the more I understood that he does this surgery for the soul reason to give someone their life back. His office was very nice. You can park on the 3rd level in the parking garage and go across the cross walk into the office building. Take the elevators to the 5th floor. It's not very far to walk. His office had chair with and with out arms. As a very comfortable couch. His staff was very kind and took their time with me. Once I got in the office I didn't wait to long. I was then taken back to get weighed and also they take your picture with some measurements. They had no problems with my husband accompanying me back there. We then watched a couple of videos. Dr. Burrowes is a huge fan of the Fobi pouch, which was designed by a surgeon in California (Mathias A. L. Fobi). (http://www.cstobesity.com) I knew going in that he was liked this percedure over the others. If you want to have that done you will have to pay out of pocket $4500. I told him that I could not get the funding for that and would prefer just the RNY without the Fobi. He had NO PROBLEM doing that. Infact he does SIX percedures. RNY, VBG, LAP-BAND, D/S DUODENAL SWITCH, and FOBI POUCH. He said that most insurance will only pay or allow the VBG and RNY. Any other would be out of pocket expense involved. My overall view of Dr. Burrowes was very impressed. He's definately on the HIGH end of the scale. His death rate is very low and he had done over 1000 of this surgery. He took the time to answer all my questions. He doesn't want an answer that day. He told me again all the risks involved. I got a very thick aftercare booklet that explained what I will be able to eat, things to expect, a long list of potential problems that can be resolved by the patient to cut down on calls to his office. It listed ideas for meals. I was extremely impressed. It also described what to expect 1-4 days. I guess what I most impressed about is how he does the percedure. He does it open with an incision of 2-3 inches long!! I know that he is a very skilled surgeon and feel this will be the one for me.



11-20-2003
Well, I decided to go see Dr. Duncan today. Just wanted to feel him out too. I was very disappointed. I knew before I went that he doesn't want you to gain weight, but he wants you to do that for 90 days supervised BEFORE he will do surgery. I understand him wanting to shink the liver, but when I've been trying to diet since May this made me somewhat upset. I've been doing all I can. Not to meantion I was told on the phone that Dr. Duncan would be there. NOPE! He had an associate take a look at all of us. I was told one on one and I'm very upset that I went 150 miles to not ever see the surgeon. Total waste of my time. The staff is friendly, but people need to be told before hand the truth.


Amy Williams's Journey

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Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
It's been a very hard time all my life. It started from the day I was in 1st grade. I was always a tall child. I was picked on from then until the day I graduated high school. The kids were so cruel and it was very hard for me to get thru somethings. I wanted to kill my self. I was not happy with my self. I didn't seem to have many friends. The friends that I did have they are not around anymore. Most of then have not even attempted to talk to me. It had been very hard to deal with no friends. I didn't start feeling better about my self until I met my husband. He was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Sharon Johnson on 10/16/07 12:19 pm
    HI Amy-All I can say is wow. I have been overweight all of my life and I started this journey almost a year ago. I didn't see your first episode on MTV but I have been reading your posts for the past 5 months since I have been a member of OH. You and Kenneth are such great people, I wish you nothing happiness and good health. Sincerely, Sharon Johnson
  • Comment by karaoke Nadine on 10/13/07 9:25 pm
    Hey Amy....just checked out the updated MTV video. You and Kenneth look awesome and I still can't tell you enough what an inspiration you both are. I also wanted to say a Happy belated Birthday to you. Hope you had a great one!!! Sending you lots of Love, Nadine!
Click here for the surgery support page
THE JOURNEY TO THE NEW ME!
This is the story of my life's journey of winning the battle against Obesity!


October 29 2003
on October 29, 2003 12:00 am
I'm so excited. My wait has been hard, but worth it. I went and saw Dr. Burrowes today and I was very impressed. He's got a very well stuctured program. His office was great and obese friendly. I finally got an accurate weight. I'm 573. He took his time an answered all my questions, had not problem with hubby being in there with me. In the end of the consult he told me it take about a month to a month and a half to get a surgery date. HOWEVER little did he realize I've got all the insurance requirements DONE. HEHE His insurance lady came in and talked to me about what all I needed to complete the process. As she was going over the list, I was like here you go, here, here... Needless to say she was shocked. She said "Wow, in all the years I've been working here no one has ever had all we needed in the first visit." I told her I did my homework and knew what I needed. She said that approval should not take long at all. She was VERY optimistic about a quick response. They are going to go thru my paperwork, get the surgeons letter and I should hear from this by next week or sooner for submission.
I was very impressed that Dr. Burrowes does the open RNY with just a 2-3 inch incision. He said it's not often that the incision has to be made any bigger. I had never heard of a surgeon that could do this. It's very interesting.
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October 28 2003
on October 28, 2003 12:00 am
Last night I got to thinking and I looked at my self in the mirror and said "WHAT AM I DOING?" With my consult just sooooo close I can't believe the reality of this situation. Anyhow last night I was talking with hubby. I told him my fears. I told him I didn't know if this was the right thing to do. You know one of those talks. I went to sleep praying that a sign would come somehow. It's absolutely amazing!!! I woke up today and my sign was in my email box!!! That's right I checked my email and my sign was there.
Every since I started this journey for surgery back in April of 2002 I have been following someone whom I am so inspired by. Well guess who's coming to our small little support meeting!!! That's right...my inspiration. None other than Lissa Reed from obesityhelp.com! I just want to cry. I'm actually going to have the chance to meet someone who has touched my life and now made me feel relief that I know this is the right thing for me to be doing. I'm still in shock. Those that don't know her, she's lost over 450+ pounds and started at 686 pounds. This is such an honor for me. I just had to share my little bit of good new with all of you.
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October 24 2003
on October 24, 2003 12:00 am
Well, hubby went to the doctor today. He got the 35 staples taken out of his foot!!! OUCH!!! I don't even know how he handled that. They had to give him a shot. They had to use a needle to measure how much the meat has grown back underneath the cadaver skin. He goes back Tueday for another follow up. They will then tell him when he is coming back in for the surgery. Which consist of removing the cadaver skin and doing a skin graph. The surgeon said that he's healing very fast from the test he did. This week is going to be so hectic! I have Kenneth's checkup on Tuesday, Wednesday is consult! Thurdays is my other sleep study to get my c-pap regulated. I will try to keep you all informed. It's weird I actually feel like I'm starting to get a life. I have even been able to walk around the house better. Oh best part is I have found a job that I can do from home. I should be getting a call Monday about it. Wish me luck cause we sure need the money. It's an at home computer related job, what I've been looking for. Thanks for all the prayers and concern.
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October 20 2003
on October 20, 2003 12:00 am
Today was my husband's surgery for his foot ulcer. Everything went great. He's suppose to get out of the hospital tomorrow. When they went in to do the surgery, it ended up having to be deeper because staph had set in. He's now suppose to have another surgery either end of this week or next for a skin graph. That will consist of taking skin from another part of his leg and graphing it over the part they just replaced with cadaver skin. I really hope this finally gets him to feeling better. It started back in June of this year. Started small and now it's really got big. Thank goodness it's actually on the arch of the foot and not the bottom. I now understand why he was in so much pain all this time. The ulcer was deeper than we all thought. He has for the past few weeks had very bad shooting pain in the foot. I'm not sure what they have to do for the veins. I just hope that he is able to start living again. This has taken almost 5 months away from him. I'm so thankful to all the people that have prayed for him. It has meant so much to me and him. It's not much longer now before it's my time with Dr. Burrowes. This is it. It's got me more nervous than ever. What a tough choice this might be for me. If Dr. Burrowes is as good as Dr. Duncan I'm in for a VERY HARD choice. Only time and God will tell though.
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October 15 2003
on October 15, 2003 12:00 am
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October 14 2003
on October 14, 2003 12:00 am
I just got some very bad news about my husband. As some of you know I rely on my husband to help me get around. He's had a ulcer that developed on his foot back in June. He's doesn't have diabetes or anything like that, but it's simply will not heal. Today he went to the wound care specialist again, and didn't get very good news. They want to do surgery on his foot. They are talking about a skin graph. Going to take skin from his leg and cut out the ulcer on his foot. Right now I am very upset. I don't have friends here and my parents are both unable to help me. He's going to be out of work for atleast 3 months according to the dr. I don't honestly know how I'm going to get surgery or survive. I feel like I'm on the verge of a nervous break down. They had to put my husband in a cast today too. Please pray for my husband. He's in so much pain and fears losing his foot. This is a lot for me to deal with. I don't want to sound insensitive, but I worry now about even getting surgery.
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October 6 2003
on October 6, 2003 12:00 am
Well, here I am sitting, and wondering what life will be like for me this time next year. I have so many dreams and goals for my self. Being just 27 years old I still have time to have a family. My husband and I have been married for almost 9 years. The background I was raised in talks so much about family. I want to have children one day. I know that in my current state I could not take care of a child. I feel like I have missed out in so much that others enjoy everyday. Just to be able to go outside and not be ashamed at the staring from others. I want to enjoy the world, the sites, the sounds, and all of the beautiful world that God has given me. It's amazing to me how the little things to me would mean so much. This time next year I want to be able to go outside and enjoy life. Just to celebrate my 28th birthday with all the wonderful things God has given to me. I thank God everyday that I am still alive and he's given me this chance to change my life for the better. My predictions are to have a much better life next year and all the ones after that. This surgery is my first step.
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