questions for dr. sonpal's patients:any complications? any comments?

hi im have questions for dr. sonpals patients, he operates out of st vincent hospital. did you have any complications? how did you like him as your surgeon? did he meet all your needs? would you recommend him as a surgeon?

Hi Em, I would highly recommend Dr. Sonpal! I had open RNY in Aug '05 and have had NO complications. I only met Dr. Sonpal once before surgery (at the surgical consult) and saw him again the morning of surgery. His staff is wonderful, informative and very supportive. If you have questions, they are always there to answer them. If it is not an emergency, you can leave a message and they will return your call with 24 hours. They have secure messaging online that you can email the staff with questions and they return your email in a timely manner. I felt very confindent with Dr. Sonpal while researching the surgery with the reviews I had read and the number of surgeries he has performed. Feel free to email me if you have any specific questions. Good luck to you! ~Dan

i saw him this week and he was rude and sarcastic and i was wondering if anybody else had a problem with him. and as for his staff i view them as not competent. my pcp sent them by their fax number 3 times my records and they still say well we didnt receive them. i have severe hypothyroid disease and he say dont come back unless you lose 25 pounds. well thats why im there, i cant lose any weight with what i have!oh as for email you or call you right back that's such a lie! i wrote her emails a month ago and im still waiting on an answering and she has never ever returned my phone calls. the only way is if i by a slimchance get her on the phone directly!

I did not have this type of experience with them and I am sorry to hear your having problems with them. As for the email and phone call issues, I did not lie about them I only posted my experience, as you asked. I truely hope you find a surgeon, Dr. Sonpal or otherwise, that you are comfortable with. This process is nerve wracking enough and having a surgeon you have confindence in helps put your mind at ease. I wish you luck in your journey. Try to keep us posted. ~Dan

Em, I'm sorry to hear about the bad experience you had with Dr. Sonpal and his staff. I think maybe you caught the staff and Dr on a bad day cause HONESTLY they are truly professional and organized. Is it posssible your PCP office made some kind of mistake? Well anyway it's your choice but maybe you could ask to see Dr. Sonpal partner Dr. Schreiber he is who I had he is very straight forward and to the point with you and he leaves no roc****urned as far as you understanding everything. Also REMEMBER if there telling you that you have to loose some weight prior to surgery, IT HAS TO BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST, cause safety and your best interest is whats PRIORITY to Dr. Sonpal and the staff at CCBS. Jim

well,they must be having a bad day since april! i havent been able to make any headway with that office since than. no,my pcp doctor and nurses there are very thorough i gave them the release info that had the fax number on it and we even rechecked to make sure that was the number to fax to and it was. and the problem with me losing weight i cant with my hypo thyroid and that is due to my celiac disease. so im not stupid or misinformed ive spent the past year researching it ive read 12 books,researched it online,gone to seminar and support meeting to meet sureons and peope who had and who are still waiting to have it.

Hi Em, I did not have Dr. Sonpal as my surgeron I had his partner Dr. Schreiber but at the same facility, St Vincent in Cleveland. My surgery was May 31 2006, so i'm just a week out but so far so good. St V's in my opinion is one of the safest places in our area to have this performed, The staff is very well trained and knowledgeable and most of all CARING. The real good thing about St V's to is while your having your surgery there is always 2 SURGEONS in the room so Dr. Sonpal and Schreiber would be doing your surgery. So I WOULD DEFINETLY RECCOMEND THE CLEVELAND CENTER FOR BARIATRIC SUGERY AND DR. SONPAL AND SCHREIBER. Jim

I had a colleague also, Dr Ben Meir. However, a very close friend went through the process with me and had him. She loved him. She said he was funny and personable. She had no complications at all. Marty

Hi Em, I had Dr Sonpal and recommend him highly. I have had zero complications. I am now down 182 lbs in 16 months. I feel great and look good, too! I would choose Dr Sonpal and SVC again. There was nothing I would change about the whole procedure. Good luck in your adventure. Linda 367/185/?

I had surgery at St vincent Charity in Cleveland where Dr Sonpal practices. I had his co worker Dr Linda Patterson. I have not had one bit of trouble from them. They are always courteous and kind and are always willing to answer questions and concerns. I would say pursue them with a vengence. You will be pleased with your experience with them. Good luck.