"(Updated 11-DEC-2003)Well, what most programs, including mine, seem to lack is attention to the long-term psychological/interpersonal effects of the surgery and subsequent weight loss. I have had to learn new ways of relating to people, new skills at dealing with the opposite gender, and tactics for handling people who are threatened by or try to undermine my success. THIS is the dirty little secret about WLS--knowing what and when to eat is just the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, with my doc's practice, there's not much support for long-term posties and once the novelty wears off, you are on your own with your emotional and interpersonal issues...couldn't they have prepped us a little?
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(Updated 06-27-2003)Post op: Dr. C is great as is the rest of her practice (Dr. Gupta, and her nurse, Leigh). However, I am profoundly disappointed with the Bariatric Center's post op followup--I get the strong sense from the nutritionists that now that they have my money I don't matter anymore. My surgical experience was very good, as was my hospital stay and immediate post op care. No complaints about that or about Dr. Cacucci's bedside manner and technical expertise, which are excellent.
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(Pre-op consult):She seemed a bit ill-at-ease in front of a group but is excellent one-to-one. I feel very confident in both her skills and her personality and believe that she will do a great job with my surgery. I did not feel the least bit uncomfortable or self-conscious, and she took ample time to answer all of my questions.
Her scheduler, Nikki, is a great, compassionate and very conscientious person--be nice to her. She can be a great ally.
The program is very structured, with monthly support groups, nutritional counseling and a ton of comprehensive preop preparation that includes nutritional semimars, testing and counseling. They emphasize the fact that the surgery is part of an overall permanent lifestyle change, and that it's a big step.
Since I have not yet had my surgery, I can't comment on Dr. Cacucci's bedside manner."
"The Chocolate Coconut Almond bar tastes like an Almond Joy that's had a rough life. It's pretty tasty, and has lots of protein, but watch out for the sugar (7g + 20 sugar alcohols) or just a third of a bar may make you dump. Overpriced but a nice change...I won't be abandoning my favorite Zone bars for this any time soon."
"I was very pleased with my stay and with most of the staff. Particularly nice is the fact that all the rooms on the bariatric unit are private. Also, the staff treated my domestic partner very well and that was a big thing for me as I needed her there. "
