Michael Adolph Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

I initially met with the professionals at BTC (now Barix) in September of 2003. I was very anxious to get this process going. I had messed around with insurance stuff since March of 2003.

I met with a few people before Dr. Adolph. The patient counselor had had the surgery and was upfront/honest about what was to occur. But of course in the back of my mind was....I'm tough I can handle it. LOL--more about that later.

Then Dr. Adolph came in. I felt he was very friendly and professional. I could sense right away that I would be in good hands. Being in the medical field myself, we had a bit of a chat about my life in his hands, so to speak. He asked many things to see if I was serious about the surgery and to get a feel about me in general.

He went over the "speech" and I listened to what he had to say. Then came the onslaught of questions. =) He sat back in his chair and answered all of these without hesitation:
How many surgeries have you done?
Why do you do this surgery vs. general surgery?
How many ppl have you lost?
Why did you lose that one person?
What kind of complications/risks might I encounter?
What should I do if I need assistance and I'm in Cleveland and you're in Columbus?
etc etc etc.
He spent over an hour discussing this whole thing with me.
Yes, I went through the onslaught of testing preop....which did irritate me in the long run. Remember I was anxious to get this done and all the tests, even though in my best interest, were just holding me up!
If I had a question during this waiting period...I'd call Wanda and bug the crap out of her. I'd get responses. One thing I had to remember was that she has to ask Dr. Adolph for an answer then get back to me. Again had to relax a bit and quit being too anxious!


The DAY OF SURGERY.............
Basically went like they said it would. I got to the center and not long after I was taken upstairs to the pre-op. The staff showed my family where they would be waiting on Dr. Adolph for the post op news. They treated my family with much respect and seemed to put them at ease as well.
Tell you the truth, I wanted to crawl right off that pre op table and go home! I was only there maybe 15-20 minutes before Dr. Adolph came in to review my chart and give the final OK to proceed. I noticed at that time the pre op nurse put something in my IV, right about the time I wanted to get dressed and go home. Next thing I remember was waking up in my room with my family around me. Here I was ready to run out of the building then waking up finished!


POST OP........
Everything seemed to be going well until I had to get up and walk. My shoulder was throbbing through the pain meds. Yes I had the good stomach spasms just as you would think after having it all ripped apart and put back together. =)
When Dr. Adolph came by the next morning he told me that I had a complication...during the surgery my spleen had torn. Basically my spleen was adhered to my stomach, when moving the "old" stomach, the spleen tore. Which set off a dominoe effec throughout my system.
BUT, when I went to Cleveland to recover...long drive, I got home and had such horrible spasms/shoulder pain that I called Dr. Adolph in tears. He needs to order me some meds....it's Sunday PM at 7. Not many pharmacies opened. I give him a phone number for a store. He calls back 5 minutes later. That one is closed....I need another pharmacy. My sister-in-law gives him another number. He calls back in 5 more minutes...THAT one is closed also. OOOOhhhh he's gonna be mad...NOPE. Ok give me another number....I had a winner!
Later that Sunday PM, the pain meds just weren't helping the spasms and the shoulder pain. I once again call Dr. Adolph in tears. Now it's about 11:00 on a Sunday evening. Go to the ER he tells me...give me a number to reach that ER. (I'm going to send him a north eastern Ohio phone book!)
I get to the ER...they take me right away...your surgeon called and we need to do this, this and this. I went through tests to rule out different things....Dr. Adolph calls at 4 am to find out how I'm doing in the ER!! The tests are all ok...just the spleen thing acting up. I went home with some pain meds and anti biotics at 5:30 am.
Phone rings at 10 am....Dr. Adolph calling to check up on me....does this man ever sleep?
Dr. Adolph called me about every other day. When he went on vacation....it seemed that his partners knew who I was and what I was facing. Trust me, I eventually had to talk to each one throughout the following few months.
Whenever I would go back for post op check ups, Dr. Adolph never seemed put out by the constant medical attention I had to have. He even co-ordinated my care with 4 other physicians in my home town of Canton.


6 MONTHS POST OP............
My stomach is healed, my spleen is fine, my lung cavity is about 90% healed and I've lost over 90 pounds.
Guess you can say that I'm a bit happy! Even with the complications, I'd do it over again....only if Dr. Adolph was the one reviewing my chart in the beginning and the one taking care of me post op.
I can't say enough good things of Mike Adolph! I absolutely adore this man. He so unselfishly changed my life. He has become a very good friend of mine in this long haul. He's spent many many hours researching my problems and helping me heal! I don't even need to rate this Dr., I'm sure my responses tell how I feel about his medical knowledge and his personality!


Sorry to say though he's leaving Barix Treatment Center. I'm hoping he stays in Ohio...might end up being a long road trip for my 1 year check up. =)
Thank you Dr. Adolph!!

My first impression of Dr. Adolph was that he is very young. He is very warm and sincere. I felt very comfortable with him. I asked him old he was and he laughed and told me.

He puts a lot of value on aftercare. I had my 2 year follow up appointment in May and he is still very warm and sincere.

I really like Dr. Adolph. I can't emphasize how much I felt comfortable with him. Matter of fact, when I had to have my hernia surgery I went back to him even though he was out of network!

I would give him an "A" rating. His surgival competence and bedside manner are both great.

P.S. Ladies he is cute;-)

The original date of my initial consult was April 28th, 2002. I arrived at the office just a few minutes before I was due there. I had taken the afternoon off, as had my sister, who accompanied me. We waited for about 45 minutes to an hour, before we were told that Dr. Adolph had been called away on an emergency. My sister was quite upset, but my attitude was "If I were the emergency I would want him to do the same thing." The receptionist told us that I would have to re-contact the head office in Ypsilanti, Michigan to set up another appointment. I was prepared to do that, but figured I would have to wait at least another month for another appointment. At 7:00 the following morning, Dr. Adolph, himself, called me to apopogize, and to set up another appointment for the following week. He had my attention, as well as my respect, from then on. I went back the following week and he sold me on the surgery. I waited seven months and one day for my surgery. I know that may seem like a while but BTC is very thorough with pre-testing. I had complications following the surgery, but I do not feel that any of them were directly related to the surgery. I was in a lot poorer health than I realized, plus I fell six days before my surgery and hurt my ribs, and did not tell him. I now realize what a stupid move that was! I can truly say tht Dr. Adolph was there for me every step of the way. I spent 12 days at BTC, before he made arrangements to have me transferred to another hospital. He would have done it sooner, but I kept asking him not to transfer me. He finally made the arrangements and then came and told me what he had done, and why he had decided to do it. He explained that they did not have the staff and technology there to address my problems and that I needed to be in a hospital where they would be able to address my problems. He promised tht he would continue to take an active part in my care at the other hospital. I have to say that he came in there every day that he was on duty to check on me. This was AFTER his regular day at BTC. With each passing day my impression of Dr. Adolph only got better. I can honestly say that he is the MOST caring doctor that I have ever come in contact with. I will tell you that between BTC and the regular hospital, I spent a total of seven weeks in the hospital. It wasn't fun, but it was necessary. I continue to see Dr. Adolph regularly...more often than the average patient. He is truly concerned about me and how I am progressing since he released me from the hospital. He sees me every one to two months and has called me on several occasions to see how I am doing. He is the GREATEST!!! Even though I had complications, I was aware of the risks the very first time I met with him. He explained that is was a major surgery, and that as with any major surgery, there are risks. He also explained in great detail the surgical procedure, which I was really thankful for. He answered any questions that my sister and I had, and the asked if I thought that it would be something I would be interested in. Even with all the complications I had, I would do it again in a heartbeat! His followup is absolutely great. He makes one feel like the whole process is a team effort. I think that I have said this before, but I will say it again, I think Dr. Michael D. Adolph is the greatest doctor in the world. I absolutely adore him!!! He is extremely intelligent and well trained in the Roux EN Y procedure, but I would feel confident letting him do any kind of general surgery on me. Not only is he an excellent doctor, but he has a very caring bedside manner...AND he is easy on the eyes, as well as funny and sweet. I love him to death, and if you decide to use him, I hope you will find him as wonderful as I did. He is certainly a great one to have on your side!!! I would also like to say that the office and hospital staff at BTC are the greatest. Sone of the most compassionate people in the world work at the Bariatric Care Center in Groveport, Ohio. The nurses as well as the assistants were wonderful. The people from the lab and the ones in x-ray were also very nice and considerate. The food service workers and the cleaning staff are alsoexceptional. My experience at BTC in Groveport was a very positive one. I really do not have anything bac to say about any of it, other than I hate needles, and they were always coming in to take blood or put in a new IV. But that is a personal problem. By the way, my surgery date was December 6th, 2002.

I was please with the initial consultation with Dr. Adolph. As others have stated, he appeared somewhat bored with the presentation concerning the surgery and its risks. However, I was not put off by this as I understand he has made this same presentation hundreds of times. I came to the consultation with all of my medical records, had done considerable research on the surgery and on Dr. Adolph, and had prepared a list of questions for him concerning the surgery and how certain possible complications would be addressed. He was very willing to answer each question and became more animated and involved when he realized I was serious about the procedure.

At the initial consultation he said he wanted me to have a consultaion with a cardiologist and to have a stress test prior to the surgery. I had the consultation and the cardiologist cleared me for the surgery after doing an ekg and saying I didn't need the stress test. I just received a call from Dr. Adolph. He told me he had called the cardiologist to explain why he would not do the surgery without the stress test and then he called me to explain that the test would be required. While I was unhappy that surgery would be postponed until the results of the test were received, I do appreciate that Dr. Adolph has my best interests at heart (no pun intended) and that he is concerned that I am in the best shape I can be to undergo this major procedure. (I just hope nothing is found in the test that will delay the surgery any longer.)

Dr Adolph was very thorough, gave me all the risks as well as benefits. His office staff were extremely nice. He has a structured aftercare - they give you a thick notebook of your do's and don'ts - recipes, etc. Overall, I would rate him an 8.

I really like this doc!! He seems well educated, and still has a good "Bedside manner"....He had me going for a load of referrals, though! (a pain in the butt, but he is very thorough).
Very good in going through the surgical procedure, the risks and benefits and what things will be like afterwards.
I am a ER RN, and am very tough about what i want in a doctor.....and even i liked what i saw....
The BTC waiting area was great! HUGE chairs that made me feel svelte!!!!! the wait wasn't awful, and things seemed to flow pretty smoothly.....seems alot of the office staff have had the surgery too, which made me feel better about things...
Well, a year and a half post op, and I STILL love this doc!! He is absolutely wonderful. I cannot tell you enough good things about him, and about this center.
The staff are all fantastic, especially the dieticians (even after multiple arguments about my protein drinks).
The entire BTC program is so awesome. You don't walk into this ignorant, you know about diet, you know about the surgery, you know about post op care, follow ups, a thousand questions answered before you ever ask them.

i liked Dr. Adolph from the start. to be very knowledgeble in his field. he's supportive, and has an excellent bedside manner. he's very "matter of fact" and won't let you make excuses. he's very animate in keeping up in your excercise and stresses the importance of sticking to your new lifestyle. i strongly recommend him... he's a very nice man. :) Thank you Doc!

I thought Dr. Adolph was very personable and informational. He answered all of our questions, he didn't make us feel rushed or like our questions were silly. He was patient with my husband and his questions, addressing each of his concerns. He listened and heard what we were saying. To top it off he was nice to my kid and answered all her questions about his computer. The entire staff was very pleasant.

Hi everyone.
I've done my research with the Bariatric Center in Groveport Ohio. My first meeting was with Dr. M. Adolph, MD. I had read reports on him and found them all saying positive things. They did report however that his bedside manner was a wee bit cold. I found this true but not true. I found him very concentrated on the process your about to enter into. He takes it very seriously and if that constitutes a cold demeanor than be it. I would much rather go into surgery knowing all the risk factors involved than knowing a ton of personal things about him. I did ask him why he embarked on this type medicine. I loved his answer. He told me that he can make such a difference in the life of a person and the feedbacks to him are wonderful. It has to be a very rewarding job indeed to get positive feed backs from people who have been beating them selves up for years. He didn't hesitate to answer any question I had for him on a personal level or a clinical level. I found out with him that if you ask the question he is more than willing to share his life with you but you have to make the first move. After meeting him only one time I'm very comfortable with him because I took the effort to get to know him as well as him getting to know and understand me. I did not feel rushed by him at all. We'll see how I feel later down the road. I like the man actually and trust him with my life, and for me that's a good word in his behalf. Thanks; will let all of you know more lately...


Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Hi everyone,
I wanted to update you on my thoughts about my surgeon. HUBBA HUBBA what a cutie patootie. I remember when I read the reviews on him before this entire journey started. Some of them read he was kind of cold and not connected or personable. Well let me tell you this, he is one of the nicest people I have met in life. I could not have found a more qualified surgeon if I had written a personal letter to God. He was right there for me at all times, he is the one that kept an eye on me when I was in distress and had to go to intensive care at 2 a.m. in the morning. I remember asking him why he got into this profession, and his comment was this is the one thing that he sees the rewards of his labor so to say. He makes people come back to life, to participating in it. It is a life-changing event for fat people. I can tell you just between us old gals; he ain't bad to look at either. He would remind you of a young jet setter with a wonderful smile and bedside manner. I highly recommend him to anyone. And he has a wonderful sence of humor. But the most wonderful thing about him is he does not B.S. around his profession, he knows his stuff and his ability to do it. I trusted him with my life, I'm here and doing wonderful, so what more can be said about him.

Dr. Adolph was wonderful. I don't have anything negative to say about him. I saw him everyday and he was more than willing to spend the time he needed to answer any questions I might have had. I would rate him overall a 9. The staff at BTC were all great. I received fabulous care.