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Surgeon Testimonial Fernando Bonanni, M.D. I just love Dr. Bonanni! That being said: My first impression of Dr. Bonanni was that he was very competent, very straight forward, very caring, and most of all, I felt confident when I left his office that I made the right choice of surgeons for such a risky surgery. And all my first impressions hold true to this day. His office staff is incredible. They put up with people bugging them all the time about when, when, when!!!, yet they never lose patience or get short tempered etc. I love the way they all interact with each other. Sometimes I get the feeling that Dr. Bonanni might be too busy for pre-op or routine post- op office visits, but he probably is. He has patients he has to perform surgery on, post-op patients he has to see in the hospital, patients who have concerns who have to be seen in his office, patients who are worried whose bodies are doing weird things such as mine was while I was in the hospital etc. Seeing Dr. Bonanni for routine visits might be like seeing your PCP for routine visits. Sometime your PCP may have all the time in the world for you, sometime things can be hectic and the time may seem rushed. I get the same impression with Dr. Bonanni's routine office visits. I don't think that should detract from his competence or skill as a great surgeon. When I needed him for my surgery and my post-op care and concerns I know I had 100% of his time. I think patients should know that he's a competent, skilled surgeon who has their best interest at heart. I had open RNY, and a longer stay in the hosptial because of my own weird body, and he, his partner Dr. Coff, and the surgical residents at Abington Hospital always made me feel confident and secure in my care. After care is crucial to Dr. Bonanni's patients and his program. He has a great program in place with a fantastic (and sweet) dietician/nutritionist and post op visits with either him or his fantastic (and sweet) nurse practitioner. Dr. Bonanni answered all my questions about the risks of surgery. During one of the pre-op work groups you have to attend with his fantastic (and sweet) nurse bariatric coordinator, the procedure was gone over in detail, from catheters to possible ventilator use, central line use etc. Overall I would hope anyone who considers Dr. Bonanni to become part of their life forever (remember, this is a life time commitment, not a quick fix) has as great an experience with him as I have. I am very glad I chose him for my surgery. Both his surgical competence and his bedside manner are superier in my opinion, and exactly what I was looking for when I started my journey. Member Interests
Latest Surgery Support Comments
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Hello there! My name is Maggie.  I had gastric bypass surgery, Roux-En-Y, on October 22, 2007. To say I was scared is putting it mildly. I was petrified! I was even trying to talk myself into finding the courage to jump off the surgical table moments before my surgery began, but I was frozen with fear. On the other hand, I was petrified of my future as a severly morbidly obese woman. My story is not unique, but then again, it is unique. All of our stories are, whether you are, or have ever been, overweight or not. I am watching the pounds melt away, not without effort and determination on my part. I realize how furtunate I am to have had this surgery, and how furtunate I am to have the support of those who love me. I am so very happy and grateful I was too chicken to jump off that gurney before surgery! I hope those of you who read my profile for some sort of insight as to who I am, or how my journey began, or is going etc, will find what you are looking for.
My Story When I first started this journey, when I had decided that I couldn't go on being severely mordid obese anymore, I made an appointment with my PCP, Dr. Fissel. I wanted him to help me help myself. If I didn't get control of myself and work on changing things I knew I was headed for some major complications from being so heavy. At my first weigh in with Dr. Fissel, back in January of 2007, I weighed 299 pounds. We talked and decided on a diet, that I sincerely put my heart into, but it just wasn't enough. After realizing I couldn't do it, I just couldn't get my body to work with me anymore, I talked to Dr. Fissel about weight loss surgery. He doesn't personally know Dr. Bonanni, but he had heard good things about him. He gave me the number to Dr. B's office and I got the ball rolling. My first consult in May with Paula, the Bariatric Coordinator with Dr. Bonanni's office, I think I weighed close to 299, I'm not sure. I lost and gained and lost and gained pounds between January and May, I'm sure of that! After my consult with the nutritionist Ann, who is a part of Dr. Bonanni's pre and post surgical plan, I stayed as close as I could to the 1600 calorie diet she recommended. I wanted to be as healthy as I could going into surgery. Don't get me wrong, I binged and had more than one "last meal", but I would get right back on the diet the next day. I actually enjoyed dieting, knowing that this diet was a means to an end of all dieting! After several months of waiting, I was scheduled for surgery 10/22/2007. Dr. Bonanni has his patients go on a 5 day liquid diet prior to surgery, but for whatever reason I had it in my head that it was a ten day liquid diet, so that's what I did! Oh well, I didn't hurt anything! LOL! I don't know how much weight I lost and gained and lost between May and October 22nd, the day of my surgery, but I do know the morning of my surgery I weighed myself before I left for the hospital. I weighed 263 pounds. I have the best doctors in the world. Dr. Nepalitano, who suggested the surgery in the first place, 2 years earlier than I was ready. I thought he was nuts because I didn't think I could possibly be fat enough to warrant surgery! I still saw myself as thin ... I felt thin on the inside and my brain wasn't registering that I truly was severely morbid obese! Thank God he made me think about it and his words opened my eyes to where I was weight wise. Anyhoo, this has been my weight loss journey over the past few months: October 22 - 263 pounds
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Also, my size 14 capris literally fell off of me twice last week. Yesterday while shopping at the mall, I couldn't fit into a size 14 dress to save my life. What the???? 
, but the true "Wow!" was that I didn't have to worry about it holding my weight! It was then that it dawned on me that I'll never have to worry about a chair, ladder etc holding me up or withstanding my weight! I don't have to test things with my butt anymore before I sit down, nor do I have to stand because of the fear of humiliating myself because I sat on something and it fell apart due to my weight! Now I'm "just" normal! LOL!
I eat protein first, vegetables second, fruits last if there is any room, and there always is! My first meals were 2 oz at a time, now I am up to 4 oz or 1/2 cup at a time. I don't go over that amount and it really does seem like a lot of food to me at one time! I love the way I eat now! It's how I've wanted to eat for years, but never had the will power to.