"Laura is rather a "dry" personality and sometimes it is hard to know how concerned she really is with you. I had a lot of difficulty getting a phone consultation completed with her. She did not return my calls very promptly, especially when my messages were very specific regarding when the best times and places to reach me were."
"It was noisy at night and I was right by the nurse's station. Getting a nurse or aide to answer a call button while hooked up on IVs was frustrating at times. The staff was friendly and helpful on the whole and I would recommend this hospital to anyone."
"Dr. Anez was just as others on this board have already said, quiet, calm and reserved. He was very self-assured which was comforting and proceeded to explain the surgery to me in great detail. He has a booklet that he gives you with all the information that you will need for pre- and post-op. He told me to read it many times and become "friends" with it. The session with him was not very long, but I felt comfortable with the procedure because of all I had read on the board, etc.
The office staff was very nice and supportive. They are quite busy, but that is something I can relate to.
While in my consultation with Dr. Anez, I got a little emotional at the end as I explained that my daughter's wedding was coming up soon and I didn't want to do surgery before that. I said I was disappointed that I would be so large for the wedding, but he reassured me that there would be other weddings and that sent me into tears as I agreed. He was very sensitive and reached over and took my hand and said,"Everything will be all right." I agreed and left.
He told me that aftercare was "for life" and what the schedule of visits with him would be for the rest of my life. That was good I thought. He also has a support group that meets in a couple of locations and encouraged me to get involved in that.
Dr. Anez did go over the risks of surgery with me and what would be the procedures taken if any of those things might happen. He also has this listed in his booklet with the percentages of it occurring with each.
I think Dr. Anez is a good doctor and surgeon. He has done so many of these surgeries and my primary physician approves of him highly. She has had several patients that are doing quite well following WLS.
Rating surgical competence and bedside manner, well . . . we will have to wait for that. I have already experienced good bedside manner in the initial consultation, so I am hopeful that will continue to be the case in the days and months and years to come.
So far this has been a very positive experience and I am hoping that my insurance will act quickly. I would like to have this done sometime this summer after my daughter's wedding. "
