University of Iowa anyone????

What was your experience there.  I have had a bad one and have since moved on, I am outa there!!! not nice. I hope to have surgery with Dr. Glas****  I have my consult on Tuesday. Lisa

I had surgery at University of Iowa and loved them all.  I thought the nurses and Dr. Samuel were very informative and understanding.  They listened to questions and concerns and had my insurance approval in a very short period of time.  I had a few nurses on the floor post op who I could have knocked out but Dr. Samuels team was fantastic.

I'm sorry you had troubles and hope you have better luck with Dr. Glas****

I've heard some not so great things about them too (I live in Iowa City) and I am going with Glas**** as well.  I know they're both centers of excellence with BCBS.. but I prefer Glas****'s program.

Thank you guys for your input.  I hope to get more opinions.

Congratulations to both you & Stacy for choosing Dr G. He did my surgery 3.5 years ago & I have nothing but good to say about his program, staff, & him. I think if you have a positive experience, you feel that way about whichever surgeon you have.  Now about Iowa City, I don't have personal experience with them. I do know that a few years ago they really didn't do a very good job with follow-up after the surgery. They didn't have a support group & their patients sort of felt like they were just forgotten once the surgery was done. However, I understand all that  changed a year or so ago.   Dixie

I had my surgery with Dr. Samuel on 2/12/07.

At first, I felt that one particular nurse was really hard on me as I was trying to loose weight pre-op. She would really tear into me on the months I did not lose weight. I thought to myself, "why am I paying for someone to be so hard on me?" But then I reminded myself that the most important reason to choose a program is surgical excellence.  U of I is where this surgery was invented. The surgeons are phenomenal -- I can't stress this enough. They perform where it really counts -- in the operating room. They tend to bypass less intestine (for me, 105 cm) than some surgeons, too (which is better for your overall health). Some docs will bypass more, so they can have patients who loose faster, but end up having more intolerance issues and nutritional deficiencies. You might want to research this. In this instance, they are doing the right thing, as opposed to the popular thing, which I think says a lot about their philosophy. By the way, the nurses totally loosened up after I had the surgery. I do believe that they are Nazi-like at first, because they want to see if you are able to separate from food before you divorce it, if you know what I mean. The follow-up has been great. I have regularly scheduled follow-up appointments. I attend monthly support group meetings that are very educational and emotionally fulfilling. This group truly cares about each and every patient, I can tell you that. They put their hearts into it, and you will feel that. I have read wonderful things about Glass**** -- I'm sure he's a great choice. I do think a lot of folks are scared away from U of I because of their initial hardline approach. But here I sit, 4.5 months out, 81 pounds down (18 lost pre-surgery), with no complications, side effects or intolerances.

I too, had surgery at the U of I  on 04/24/07 by Dr. Samuel. I agree with the previous post about the nurse being Nazi like at first and then wonderful after the surgery.I think that she is like that so you will get serious about the surgery and succeed in the future.  I have nothing bad to say about the hospital. I had a wonderful experience there. I am 8 weeks out and doing great. 41 lbs lost since day of surgery. I have 4 family members who had had surgery done here as well and rave about t he program to everyone.  Tonya

Thank you guys for the input. I could not hack the Nazi approach.  They only saw the few things I was not doing, nothing good about the good I was doing.  I am the type of person to not take abuse, I felt abused. I could not hack all the milk either.  Dr. G and his staff do not push Milk, YAYYYYYYY!!!

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience at U of I.  I had my surgery there Feb. 26, 2007 with Dr. Jamal.  They have been really great toward me (especially the staff).  I followed the directions they gave me pre-surgery and didn't have the Nazi-like experience.  If you cheat, they'll call you on it..as well they should.  They gave me a specific amount of weight to lose in 3 weeks before my 2nd consult.  I lost the required amount and they were all for me having surgery.  Some people they don't give a specific amount because I think they want to see how serious and dedicated you are.   I am now down 99 lbs. from the day I started my pre-surgery diet.  I couldn't be happier. Hope you have a better experience with your new doctor.