Hi Kevin, I remember you.  I was at Dr. Johnell's seminar as well and sat in the front row next to the projector.  I also attended Dr. Snyders on Saturday, I saw the gal that sat next to me but not you.  What a difference, huh?  3 people vs over 200.  At first I was put off the the sheer numbers and volume  of people, sortta thought of it as an assembly line but then when Dr. Snyder started talking, etc. I was at ease right away.  I also went to the seminar yesterday (every Monday) by Colorado Bariatrics at Pres./St. Lukes for Dr.s Brown & Metz.  There were about 6 of us there.  What put me off about the seminar yesterday for Dr.Brown/Metz is that the dr.s didn't attend, no chance to meet them or anything.  I asked the RN giving the presentation and she said we wouldn't meet them until our consult appt.  Also, the seminar was in a very hard to find conference room and started late (the RN was late) afterwards she took us to the actually office to meet the staff and ask more questions and had to go to 3 rooms to find someone willing to meet with us and then all they wanted were our insurance cards.  That was another strike for me.  During the seminar I asked the RN how many surgeries the surgeons had performed and cost and she didn't have that info either.  But sounded like Dr. Metz had only done 40 or so.  I am going to have to be self pay for the reasons we discussed at Dr. Johnell's seminar (exclusion) and Dr. Brown was way cheaper, but I needed to feel more at ease so opted not to go there.   As for Dr. Johnell, I liked him, he didn't have the personality of Dr. Snyder but like you said personality isn't so much a deal breaker as knowledgeable surgeon.  However, the deal breaker there was, Ed who gave the presentation took our insurance cards as you know and said someone would call and let us know our coverage.  I waited til Friday, still no call, so I called and left a message.  I did not get a call bac****il late Monday evening.  If they are that bad at follow up and returning phone calls before you are a patient, what would it be like after?   So that leaves me at Dr. Snyder, I left a message at 830 when I called (thinking they opened at 830 but it was 9) someone called me back at 845 and I have a consult appt.  Then someone else called to be sure I had gotten called.  He seemed very knowledgeable at his seminar, very experienced and my former next door neighbor had bypass by him and says there's none other like him and is super satisfied.  So that is where I will go. My consult is May 14th, I have my psych and Pulmonary screenings teh 6th and 8th and will get my lab work tomorrow.  I believe I am on my way.  Just hope it doesn't take months to get the surgery scheduled, they said it should be rather quick since I don't have to await insurance approvals.   I thought of going to Dr. Kirchenbaum, but opted not to after Dr. Snyder main reason not being a Center of Excellence.  He is the same price as Dr. Brown which is considerably less than Dr. Snyder but for major surgery price isn't my only criteria.   This is probably way more info than you wanted, and I really have no experience with the dr. one on one yet but thought since we met at one seminar I'd fill you in on my thought process.  Good luck with your decision.  Oh and I am having lap band, I know you said you were still looking at both options.  Have you gone to any other seminars? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUTJQIBI1oA#

when is it again, I forgot??

Okay I am no doubt going to get some people that are going to say, wait isn't Payday a "CANDY BAR"?  Yes it is but this is their "healthy bar"  Is it for everyone? no.  Is it better than some of the "nurition bars" out there?  I think so.  I did a full review on my blog along with some samples of the  sugar, carbohydrate, and protein in other "healthy" bars.  You decide.  I like them and don't dump on them and they fill me up for a lot longer than many other bars out there.  They even have quite a few vitamins and minerals in them. http://luvsexytrstno1.blogspot.com/2008/04/payday-pro-high-p rotein-energy-bar.html

Hi I had gastric bypass on Feb. 19th and everything you are sayng is exactly what I went through including the being cold thing. I too was a person that was always very hot... but not no more. I drink EAS (strawberry flavored) for my protein and it taste great if you like strawberry milk you will like this one. Good luck.