"**Updated**
after 24 months, I am still at goal, the procedure was a success. The lifestyle change was a success. My only regrets are that I waited so long to do this for myself.
FIRST IMPRESSION: abrupt and self confident. Office staff are supportive and extremely sweet.
LIKE LEAST: He is pretentious. He knows that he is right. He does not like to have his authority questioned. He is precise. He is perfect. He is meticulously good at what he does, I would trust no one else for the job of cutting and re-plumbing. he makes no mistakes.
WHAT FUTURE PATIENTS SHOULD KNOW: do not think one moment that he is an enabler, he is not. You have a job to do and he does not want to hear your excuses. He has a job to do and he accepts nothing but perfection from himself and his staff. the results are flawless.
After care program:
4 vitamins a day, everyday, forever
first week: liquids
first 6 months: lean meats and leafy green vegetables
after target weight. eat normally but in small quantities
MORTALITY AND RISKS:
freaking scares the crap out of you with 1 in 300 die from surgery.
OVERALL: I selected the best surgeon for the job.
he is flawlessly skilled and very talented.
I hate to admit that he is right. right about the diet before the surgery. right about the diet after surgery. right about the protein. right about carbs sabotaging your efforts. I do not like that he is right, but he is. the most difficult thing for me was that all of the information in books and online stressed protein intake, and while he stressed eating lean meats, it was really hard for me to comprehend how I would be able to stay healthy.
I really felt conflicted, but ultimately, with unbiased blood results, I was able to see concrete evidence that I was really getting all the nutrients that I needed. it would have been helpful to have this explained better during my 'concern' phase rather than a more exasperated discussion at my 'obvious lack of understanding' when I know that I do not know EVERYTHING, I do give myself credit for being smart enough to read the back of a food package (I do have a couple college degrees) and I still had concerns.
10 out of 10, not for his sense of humor but for exactly what he is. a tool to get through this successfully.
SURGICAL COMPETENCE is outstanding.
BEDSIDE MANNER - Tenacious and protective. Many people that are obese are self destructive. He performs the best surgery, and is pretty strict to encourage the patient to maintain the best nutrient / fluid intake so that they can succeed."
" I had two stays, one in 1999 and one in 2001 and both times were riddled with issues from trouble getting a private room to members of the nursing staff having a personal agenda regarding pain medication."
