Thadeus Trus Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

After starting at the Vermont Program I have had to change over to NH Program. Dr. Laycock is the head of the program there but as there are 4 surgeons I'm not exactly sure who I will be having. I figure placing his name here is a good start. I've heard nothing but good things about the NH Program and hoping to get through things with little difficulty.

When I met with Dr Trus I was really pleased. He didn't talk to me in all the medical terms that I can't understand. He was pleasant and I felt at easse with him instantly.rnrnI am completely ready and comfortable with him doing my surgery.

I met with Dr. Trus on January 26, 2006. The meeting went very well and I found him to be pleasant and knowledgeable. The bariatric program at DHMC requires you to attend three seminars prior to admittance to the program. Each of the three primary surgeons speaks at one seminar. I heard Dr. Trus give the surgery presentation some months before my appointment. My impression of his role in my journey is that of surgeon. Once my surgery is complete, the bariatric team will handle my aftercare. I do believe he follows the progress of his patients and pays attention to the statistics presented by research institutions and also statistics gathered by the DHMC bariatric program. I will provide more information about Dr. Trus after my surgery is complete. UPDATE: March 17, 2006 - I was quite pleased with Dr. Trus and his surgical team. My surgery went smoothly and my incisions are small and clean. Dr. Trus and/or someone from the surgical team visited me twice a day to check on my progress. I feel that they took excellent care of me and I had confidence in their abilities throughout the whole process. I will see Dr. Trus again for a follow-up appointment on April 13, 2006.

I liked Dr. Truss. He is an Associate professor of surgery and Associate director of minimally invasive surgery. He took the time to answer my questions. He was very patient and compassionate. He wanted to help me become healthier. All of the office staff have been wonderful. They are a very busy group, but always treat you with respect and concern. If I had to have lap gastric bypass again, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I trust Dr. Truss. He emphasizes ongoing support, education, and exercise "as surgery is only a tool" to our success. He reminds us the surgery can be undone, so follow the rules for best results. We have an optional monthly graduate support group in one location and another in another location. We have a 24/7 online support bulletin board where we can talk with other patients. We can email questions directly to the nurse practitioner, dietician, or MD. All risks of surgery were reviewed and addressed as well as ways to prevent them. I would rate him as excellent in skill/competence and in his bedside manner.

Very kind, honest, open. He didn't spend a whole lot of time talking to me, but put me at ease and made me feel extremely optimistic. Every time I saw him I just felt comfort and felt that I was in very good hands. I trusted him completely.

First impression: Compassionate, knowledgeable, listens and makes good eye contact but not interested in wasting time -
expects you to be somewhat knowledgeable and have questions prepared in advance. If you participate in the program that Dartmouth offers and are committed to educating yourself and making positive changes in your life this will not be an issue. Since I have demonstrated that I am not hoping for him or his staff to "do this for me" but that I want them to help me help myself I feel like I have a wonderful, capable surgeon and a group of top notch advocates for my well being. There is a structured aftercare program and it is emphasizes that the success rate is greater for those that participate. Aftercare is, I feel, very important for another reason. If our success/failure can be monitored we will be helping amass information that can be studied and used to help future surgery candidates. This will also demonstrate efficacy to the insurance companies so that they will continue to cover these procedures. Risks have been clearly identified by entire staff. I think that surgical competance is what we should look for first and foremost. I am looking for the best "plumber" that there is. He happens to be solicitous and friendly which is a plus.

My first impression of Dr. Trus was that he was a no nonsense kind of Doctor, and luckily that is just the kind of Doctor I trust. He was very thorough, much more thorough then even my PCP. He is part of the Dartmouth Hitchcock Bariatric Program, and it's prerequisites and after care are very involved and structured. Dr. Trus did a wonderful job on my surgery and I am very glad to have been assigned to him. His bedside manner and surgical competence were both great. I honestly cannot think of anything bad to say about my experience with this man. He was very open about the risks of surgery. He went over them with me when I had my initial consult, and then again a few minutes before the surgery. Dartmouth Hitchcock also reviewed the risks almost constantly. It is a wonderful program and he is an extrememly competent surgeon.

Haven't met Dr Trus yet, I am waiting for that 1st appointment.
My appointment is with Dr. Trus. 2/12/04.
2/13/04
Did not for a moment make me fell uncomfortable. Very personable and I felt like I knew him for a long time.

I would rate Dr. Trus as 10 out of 10. He was very good about answering questions and understanding my concerns. He was right on about what to expect with the surgery and recovery.

All of his staff were also wonderful. I received A+++ care from all staff at DHMC.

Out of my 6 incisions, the longest is about 1.25 inches and the smallest ones are no more than half an inch. I feel little pain and stopped needing painkillers 5 days post op.

This surgeon generally books out 4-6 weeks after you meet with him. You will get your appointment the same day. If you go with Lap RnY, expect to go on a liquid diet 2 weeks prior.

Dr. Trus was very helpful, conscise and attentive. He made sure I understood everything that was going to happen and how it would happen and who would do it. He came to see me every day after the surgery while I was in the hospital. He came in right before the surgery and explained everything again--which I needed b/c I was nervouse. Also, my husband and in-laws were there and I know that it put their minds at ease to hear him speak about the surgery. My Mother-in-law spoke highly of him after only meeting him once. And she should know doctors since she has had many hospital stays and many doctors. HIs office staff was winderful--visiting me in my rom aftwerwards as well. I have also called them several times since I have been home to ask questions and each time they are attentive and kind. They never act as if I am bothering them. The only negative about Dr. Trus' practice is that he only does gatric bypasses on Wednesdays. He keeps other days open for other surgeries he performs. (Which of course is his perogative) But it means a long wait when you have jumped thorugh all their hoops and FINALLY get a surgery date and find out it is 3 months out. He gets booked far in advance. I found myself eating like crazy for those three months because I was hearing the clock tick until the surgery. I ended up gaining 10 pounds----ugh. But all that gaining is now behind me:-) He spoke very plainly and openly about the risks of the surgery but also told me whether it was something that pertained more to me than to other and vice versa. But he also made sure I understood all the risks. I would rate Dr. Trus very highly as a wonderful doctor with a very supportive and structured team that takes very good care of thier patients. His bed-side manner and surgical competence were both great. I reccommend him.