Went to Dr. Macik's seminar today

IDK....

I do like that 1. he's in a Center of Excellence and that 2. other than the occassional TT and his niche of endometrosis of the colon & bowels for women, that most of his practice is bariatrics. 3. love he doesn't make you do a liquid diet pre-op (but he did said say if you gain weight from the time you 1st saw him to the op date, it had to come off.  He did say if you didn't lose any, ok, though he preferred that you did. 4. Like that he concentrates on RNY, band - doesn't do DS (can't remember if he did sleeve). 5. He's @ Northside - other than Dr. Smith, he's the closest to me.

He answered all of our questions succeintly. (sp)  (I don't like how it seems he didn't answer my mortality & complication rate question - he just said w/ a RNY, there's virtually no issues. I didj't ask in general, I asked about him. Before I could reask, someone jumped in.)  He came off as.... IDK.. it wasn't cold per se (I've had a cold surgeon and a really personable  for my 2 others).... he just... was.  At least he did smile and make some jokes.  Seemed shy b/c he rarely looked @ us - either that goes against his social or confidence - IDK...

I'm not discounting him or counting him out... I have 3 more seminars to go to.  But can anyone share their experiences with him?  (BTW, I have seminars w/ Dr. Dennis Smith, Dr. William Johnson, and Dr. Scott Steinberg.  All seminars are this month. ) I hope to have a surgeron by mid May so I can get started.  Aetna requires 6mths, but Dr. Macik said they can sometimes get that bumped to 3 mths).

I can tell you when I asked Dr. Macik in November at my initial consultation about mortality rate, he said *HE* had no deaths.  And yes, he also does the VSG (started doing them the middle of last year, I think). 

As far as his demeaner, some people have said he comes off as "shy" or "quiet".  I think he just has a dry sense of humor and it came out a bit during my initial consult, so I didn't get the shy or quiet.  He even cracked a laugh at that visit.  Then again, my mom and I as a team could make the people who stand outside Buckingham Palace in England crack a smile!  We've been told we should take our "act" on the road a number of times.

His pre-op diet is lean protein/meat, green veggies, eggs and cheese.

You'll find Dr. Johnson more personable.  Also, the seminar only gives you a "feel", you'll be better able to judge when you finally see one for a one-on-one meeting. 

I think what you also have to remember about surgeons, the older ones probably didn't start out in bariatrics.  All the docs you mentioned have been doing bariatrics for years, but they didn't necessarily start out that way (I think Dr. Macik said he did his first in the mid-80's when I asked).  But most surgeons go into surgery so they don't have patients.  Meaning, they do their surgery, have 1 or 2 post-op visits and they are outta there!  So, surgeons are just a different breed of doctor.  The ones who have veered off the road into bariatric surgery have had to learn better people skills along the way since bariatric patients need lifelong care.

Because Dr. Johnson is 16 years old, he went into bariatric surgery with a different mindset.  Okay, he's really 34 (don't want to be spreading any nasty rumors) but doesn't look a day over 16.  I bet he gets carded when buying liquor or lottery tickets!  And boy is he REALLY cute.  Some good eye candy there...

hey Talk,

He did crack some smiles.  One thing that tripped me out  was I asked a question about pork chops (long story short, I as explaining a friend who has WLS said yes, just throw on ole George..) well, he said you can't bread them and looked @ me for the longest... Well damn, that's my fav way, but I don't eat breaded but 2-3xs a year anyway, if that.  But he said excellent protein, get the boneless ones as they are the right portion. Hell, I used to buy them until I fell of the wagon.. but I'm like, u can eat that much???

Damn, Dr. ****y age!!! IDK about that one... just saw his pic... It's Doogie Howser, MD!!!!

So, do you suggest  I have consults w/ all four in addition to the seminars???

Sorry, you will have to do without the breading...carbs you know.  And yes, we need carbs post surgery, but good carbs...like fruit carbs.  Breading on pork chops = bad carbs.

When surgery is over, your pouch will be about the size of an egg.  At your max, you'll probably be able to eat about 4 ounces of food.

And no, I wouldn't necessarily have consults with all 4 docs.  Once you attend the seminars, you'll probably be able to pick 1 or 2 that you liked best.  Have a consult with the top one (in your eyes).  If that consult meets or exceeds your expectations, great!  If not, than maybe go to a consult with the #2 pick so you can compare apples to apples, so to speak.

It's not easy picking a surgeon.  I'm VERY PICKY about all my docs, not just my WLS.  I went to Dr. Johnson's seminar and then Emory downtown.  I was all expecting to be enthralled with Emory downtown and went to Dr. Johnson's seminar with a chip on my shoulder but figured I needed all the information I could get.  LOVED Dr. Johnson's seminar, was completely unimpressed with Emory downtown.  After my consult with Dr. Johnson, I was hooked.  Loved him (and not just because he's eye candy).  When my insurance finally decided to start covering WLS, I had to switch because they wouldn't cover Emory Johns Creek (though Dr. Johnson IS a provider on my insurance).  I tried to convince his office that he needed to come to Northside to do my surgery (he has privledges there) but that was a no go.  Tried to convince Emory Johns Creek to fill out the paperwork to become a Cigna certified Bariatric Hospital...they were going to "look into it".  So, I switched to Dr. Macik.  For me, the good thing about Dr. Macik and Northside Hospital is that I'm having autoimmune issues...my rheumatologist works out of Northside and is in he building opposite to Dr. Macik's office.  Even if I had convinced Dr. Johnson to do surgery there, he still wouldn't physically be around to consult with the rheumie if needed.

Whatever surgeon you choose will be the right decision for you.  Picking a surgeon is a very personal decision and I wish you luck!

Lol... Yeah, Dr Macik said steak, yes (if and when I can tolerate) potato, no.  Then he said the smallest one in the bag - not a huge baker.  That can be done - it's been done before - well not that small, but close.

I'm gonna have to really pray on the surgeon thing. I jsut don't want to make a mistake and I'm doing what's right and I'm still not losing - then I'll be like I picked the wrong surgeon.

Decisions, decisions... I just made up my mind last Saturday to do this.  was sitting in my family room comfy chair and it hurt like hell to sit.  It hurts to walk. Hell, on some days it hurts to be.  I said I was 90% sure, just b/c of the food thing, but the more I think on it, the more I talk to people who've gone through it, the more I realize my feelings, fears, etc are normal.

I'm just mad I changed from UHC.  6 mths will be killer. That'll be a busy time @ work, and I've met my deductible for the year already. Time off may be hard, and since it's elective... IDK.

Had my surgery w/ macik 2 wks ago... I'm still alive...No, I'm doing really well.....

I started w/ Johnson but his office staff royally screwed my ins paperwork... it was soo bad I had to change surgeons...

Either Johnson/Macik you can't go wrong........

CC

CC,

I should hope so!!! Happy healing, btw!!!

I'm so tired, I think I'd give up french fries...

Weight, let's not get that carried away, lol... I'll bake the dang things and count them, like in WW.

I had gastric bypass (RNY) with Dr. Macik on January 30th of this year, so I am now 10 weeks out.  I had the BEST experience with him - no pain whatsoever.  I have had no complications since surgery (outside of a little nausea the day after surgery).  I would do it over with him in a heartbeat.  However, it will be important for you to choose someone you are going to feel comfortable with.  This is a life-long process, so make sure you use someone you will feel comfortable with being under their care for the rest of your life.  I wish you well.

Alaycia

Your looking great.... how much have u lost? (if you don't mind me asking??)

CC

Dr. Macik is the best!!!  I had my surgery Oct 22, 2008 and have lost over 115 lbs.  Good luck and if you have 6 months, that is even more research that you can do!  I researched it for years off and on before enough was enough...  Tired of being tired.  Tired of hurting.  Tired of all the meds.  I had to do it and WOW what a difference now-  I am never tired, I never hurt, no more meds, etc...  Living a dream

Cherie