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Goals

learn to rollerblade

13 People
 in progress, 
2 People
 achieved this

learn to run

1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this
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Surgeon Testimonial

Steven C. Poplawski, M.D., F.A.C.S.
I wouldn't have trusted my life with anyone else other than Dr. Poplaswki! I first met Dr. Poplawski at a Barix seminar that he held in Windsor. I was very impressed with this man. Having previously been a transplant surgeon, I have complete faith in his surgical abilities. He was professional and yet funny during the seminar and I liked his manner about him. My husband said that he feels really good about Dr. Pop, and that he feels that I would be safe in his hands. Dr. Pop stressed the importance of the fact that this surgery is what you make of it, and whatever lead you to overeat in the first place will still be there once surgery is done. He is extremely realistic and expects you to know your facts before the surgery about aftercare. It is not a magic pill and Dr. Pop stressed that you need to deal with whatever has caused you to overeat in the first place. He doesn't fluff off things. He knows what it takes to be successful post op.

One thing when researching this surgery that I was really looking for was that the surgeon do the leak test/ultrasound the day after surgery. My biggest concern is a leak especially since where I live will be a good distance from where the surgery will take place. The other groups that I'd enquired about, Cori and Livlite, do NOT automatically do this test post surgery. Dr Pop does. I feel very safe with this extra preventative measure. The other thing that I really think is great about Barix is that the post-op appointments are covered by OHIP in the agreement with Barix. That means no big out of pocket expenses post surgery. That's a great extra that no one else seems to provide.

I want to also mention that Dr. Pop recently came out to our Barix support group in Windsor. I don't know how many other surgeons would do this for such a small group of post ops. I commend him for showing his dedication to his patients. I highly recommend him to anyone - he is a top notch surgeon!

I do hope that Barix would start putting more work into helping patients dealing with the psychological aspects of surgery which by far are more challenging than any physical restrictions of the surgery.
Member Interests

Diminishing Dawn's Journey

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Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
I was raised in a bit of a food dysfunctional family. I had a mother who didn't like to cook, a father who had a lot of food intolerances and lived off a lot of processed foods. No one ate together at the table. Fruits and vegetables were barely ever found in our house. I didn't even try half of the vegetables in the world until I was in my 20s. Corn and potatoes were the only veggies that we ever ate regularly. My mother was large but never ate regular meals and my father always teased both of us for our weight. All the women on my mother's side of the family were obese. My Grandmother scolded me incessantly not to end up like her or my mother. I consider myself to be fairly knowledgable about nutrition and diet. I am the Queen of information and...
Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by jackie_h1 on 3/7/07 1:46 pm
    Hello Dawn!! Congrats on making the decision to persue WLS with Barix Clinics! I hope all has gone well thus far? All the Barix Staff are wonderful, caring, and can run circles around any other hospital staff. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me. Also, If you would like to join an online, email support group just for Barix patients, please let me know via email. It really is a good support group and helps when you have questions or concerns and wonder if you can get an answer or feedback at any hour of the day. Anyways, if you're interested just let me know and I'll set you up with all the info. I wish you all the best my friend! Hugs and Blessings from your WLS Sister!!
  • Comment by Janet Pratt on 7/29/06 3:53 am
    Dawn - you are an angel to all of us at OH. Thanks for all your experiences in words - as it is invaluable to us. Best of luck on your losing journey. - Janet
Click here for the surgery support page
Diminishing Dawn
Diminishing Dawn

*sigh*
posted on 8/1/08 2:38 pm
I talk about it all the time - about how we need to get our heads into this surgery. Lately it seems that it is more and more prevalent - people having surgery that have no intention of changing their ways.  They are headed only for failure even after giving this wonderful chance to change their lives.

There's a lady who I know and met once who has had this surgery. She was quite large as well - probably 350 lbs if I were to guess before surgery and when I met her the first time, I kind of had the feeling that she didn't seem to be in the know about the surgery. I didn't say anything of course because I have to have some understanding that not every one is as fact-oriented and as analytical as myself, right? 

Well sure enough talking to a friend of hers, I hear that she is pretty much just ignoring the rules after surgery completely. One friend ran into her shopping and her cart was loaded with sugar crap, snacky foods and the like.  She is not doing well and she is less than 6 months out.  That's really scary to me.  I've invited her out to the Windsor support group meeting and she has yet to come.

Today while reading the boards, I also came across a post from a 3 week post op who decided to binge last night and ate popcorn, fruit loops and an ice cream sandwich within the course of a half an hour - and is questioning "Gee, how come I don't dump?", "Did I stretch my pouch?". etc.  Okay, I am TRYING to be understanding as I can but I mean REALLY what the HELL is she thinking? 

We are talking THREE WEEKS OUT.

She doesn't seem to have a clue about the permanent damage she could do to herself. There is the story of course about the lady who cheated and had steak and killed herself a few days out of surgery (Theoretically it could be not much more than an urban legend...but I suspect that it is also a possiblity that one could easily stretch out and burst the pouch very early out). I mean I was TERRIFIED to even eat and drink early out and here is someone who is ready not only to undo everything but to possibly kill herself in the process. I'm horrified for her. I'm appalled at her. I'm trying not to judge but it is very, very difficult because this action is beyond stupid to me. 

Again, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR HEAD IS IN THIS SURGERY.

Dawn


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