"The following statements are MY OPINION based on my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. Don't sue me because my outcome was complication free.
My initial interest in Dr. Heaps' procedure was the line on his website describing the "magnificient eating quality" of his post-op patients. Having seen friends suffer from dumping syndrome and gas after other types of bariatric surgery, I was motivated to find out more.
During the surgical consultation, Dr. Heap answered my questions thoroughly and without hesitation. After I finished, he began taking my medical history without judgement. He eventually said "you are a good candidate for this surgery and I will be happy to help you. I think you will do beautifully." About that time, a five-day-post-op patient came in to have her drain removed. Dr. Heap invited her into my room, and allowed me to ask her any questions, which I did without restraint. Since she looked almost NORMAL I asked if her result was typical. He assured me she was quite normal, and I could expect to do just as well. I felt reassured and confident in my choice of surgeon and procedure.
Joetta, Dr. H's sole office assistant, is a dynamo! She has always followed through on my requests for faxed info, and is a perfectly delightful woman to deal with. By the time I made my first appearance in the office, I felt I was meeting a friend.
What I like the least about Dr. Heap is he is a smoker. I understand having a habit that is hard to break and is life-threatening. I ate myself into diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea, for goodness sake. I can only hope he is one of those people who lives to 110 and smokes a pack a day with no ill effects. His accent is not hard to understand, but pay special attention to end of sentances, where he runs the last five words together into one. =D
If you are considering a Dr. Heap's Mini Switch, read about it, know your stuff. Understand the changes that will happen your body, KNOW THE RISKS and if you have any reservations, go on another diet. This choice HAS to be all you, you make the decision, you decide to accept all the risks. Be the best patient you can, follow the rules, take your vitamins, drink your water. Part of a good outcome depends on YOU. (Can I say that any other way? =D )
Because it IS all you, you are responsible for making sure your aftercare is in place.
Risks of surgery: Here is a cut and paste from a letter to a friend:
~~~~~~~~~~~start~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, I have a minute to address dying. =D It is something to think about. Dr. Heaps' statistics are about 1 in a thousand, typically it is 1 in 200. To keep from kidding myself about the seriousness of the procedure, I adopted 1 in 200 as my odds. When I asked Dr. Heap if he had any advance notice, if he could TELL if a person was not going to make it, he became very introspective. He remembered in a musing sort of way every patient, every detail, and exactly what happened. It seemed to me that he had mulled over each event, analyzing them, and I think they still bothered him. He sorta won my heart at that point. He cares SO much. I knew that whatever happened to me, it would not be caused by his lack of skill, or efforts to save me. But sometimes stuff JUST happens...freaky, unexpected, horrible outcomes from surgery. I can say in way of being positive, that even with my heart condition, diabetic condition, and my surprise sleep apnea discovery, my vital signs did not even blip out of normal even once during surgery, but you have to weigh it all yourself and decide what kind of risk you are willing to face. My health made it easier for me to decide.
~~~~~~end cut and paste~~~~~~~
Dr. Heap took his knowledge, his 35 years of experience, his competency and skill and developed a procedure unlike any other, which negates dumping syndrome and other unhappy side effects of other bariatric surgeries ... Personally, I have to give the Doc a 10. He figured out a way to do it better ... didn't accept the status quo. I think that takes bravery, brilliance and skill.
I found his surgical competence to be excellent. As for bedside manner, he is brisk, thorough, but very compassionate and positive. He is a unique person practicing a unique surgery with a unique personality.
"
