re: Dr Ben-Mier... Ohio

Hello, This is our first visit to the board. We live in Ohio. My husband is in the early stage of having weight loss surgery. We have been doing research on what his options are and looking into area hospital's and physians. We are lucky enough to live within driving distance of Cleveland Clinic, University Hospital of Cleveland, St.Joseph Hospital. Also, the Greater Akron area hospitals too. I know most of you in the later stages can relate when I say that so much information can become overwhelming! I see some of you here have Dr. Ben-Mier as your Doctor. He is also one that my husband has considered as well. We don't have any information about him other than what is listed on his webpage. I hope some of you will share your experience and thoughts about him with us so we can really get an idea about him and your thoughts on your visits to Cleveland Clinic. If you had your surgery at another area hospital,we'd like to hear about it too. We'd appreciate it very much. Thank you

Hi, Yes, it can be overwhelming all the info you can find on the surgery and doctors. I also agree, that we are very lucky to have so many choices in our area... I had Lap RNY with Dr. Ben-Meir last September. He is at St. Vincent charity hospital in Cleveland. I am SO grateful to him, for changing my life for the better with this surgery. I have COMPLETE trust in him, you can not be in better hands. I chose him because my cousin also had the surgery @ St. Vincents, although with Dr. Schreiber, my cousin was not a candidate for Lap, only for open. He has had great success. The hospital was excellent too, they have the most experience in the Cleveland area with bariatric surgery. I know many many people who have gone to st. vincents and all have had a good experience. I wish you luck on your journey, and feel free to ask away any questions you might have! Michelle Down 107 pounds since surgery! and feeling great!

I had my Surgery at St. Vincent Charity to but I had Dr. Schreiber. I know Dr. Ben-Meir is at St. Vincent not cleveland clinic he took care of me for 2 days in the hospital cause he was the Dr covering that weekend for Schreiber he seemed very caring and compasionate. Jim

Hi, I had my LAP RNY on 3/7 with Dr. Ben Meir. He is very, very good. He has had 0 leaks since he started doing this type of surgery. I know that I was in surgery longer than others with the same type, but from what I understand it is because he is so very thorough. I would not hesitate to reccommend him to anyone. As a whole I would highly reccommend St. Vincent's Center for Bariatric Surgery. The testing and education prior to surgery was very good, as well as the follow up. Good luck to you!

Todd, I didn't have Dr. Ben-Meir, as I was not a candidate for lap surgery, but my cousin did. I would also recommend him for WLS. The program at St. Vincent speaks for itself, they have very good patient education pre and post-op. Any questions, just ask. doug

Dr Ben-Meir is my surgeon - I had the lap band done in May of 2006 and he removed my gallbladder last week! He is at St. Vincents.. as others have posted. And I trust him completely! Everyone at St Vincents was so very helpful.. I would recommend the hospital and Dr Ben-Meir very very highly! Good luck with whatever doctor and hospital you feel is right for you!

Hey there, I had Dr. Ben-Meir do my Lap RNY on 02/26/2007. He was incredibly warm hearted and kind. He deeply cares for you as his patient, he NEVER made me feel like I was a number or just another patient. He is extremely thorough and wants to be sure that you have all your questions answered prior to him making one cut on you. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone not even for a second. I find him funny and very engaging. The thing I love about him the most is that he appears to not have that whole "I change/save peoples lives therefore worship me for I am a god". I feel he is very humble and truly interested in your success in your WL. He is extremely capable, you husband would be in the best of hands. Now, I know this is a very unpopluar opinion but...... I actually DID NOT like St. Vincent. I had a really horrible nurse and I would like to think my experience was isolated but based on my experience I WOULD NOT return there for any other elective type of surgery ever. I just personally feel that the nurses are a reflection of the hospital and the care they offer to their patience and the care I got was just unacceptable. But keep in mind, that is one opinion among several. I hope this helps. Have a great week! Kym =)

I just returned from St Vincent's after having an open RNY on 4/4/07. I didn't have Dr. Ben-Meier, but would like to comment on my experience at St Vincent's. It was absolutely the best! From the time we walked in the door Wednesday AM until we left Saturday afternoon, everyone at that hospital was wonderful. Everyone was so helpful and so nice. We were treated kindly and with respect by everyone from the first person we talked to at the reception desk to the last nursing aid who accompanied us out. After I was separated from my family and taken to the surgery holding area, they were kept very well informed of what was going on with me. They were not left wondering what was happening to me. The whole experience was so much more than I ever would have hoped for. I expected to run in to a few people who were maybe not as nice as the others or may have been having a bad day and letting it show. But there was NONE of that. I had a nurse one day that I didn't care for her style, but that was only for 8 hours. She didn't treat me badly, I just didn't care for her personality. The bariatric program through St Vincents is very complete and everyone is very supportive. Please send me a message if you'd like any other information about the program or the hospital. Marie

Thank you for your reply,Marie. I have decided not to have LapBand,so I won't be having Dr.Ben Meier either, as that is the only surgery he does there. What I have seen of St.Vincent and the people, I also have been very impressed. It's great that they handle all of the Insurance. That is one headache I wasn't looking forward to doing. I will find out by next Tuesday if my Insurance is going to cover any part of the surgery...I will keep you posted. Thank you to all *****plied to my question. I appreciate you sharing your advice and thoughts. TB

I started the program with Ben-Mier, went through everything--ALL the steps. Then 4 weeks from my surgery date he told me he was not comfortable doing the surgery on me. I told the nurses at the orientation that I had Crohns disease and I told him at my first meeting with him. He said no problem all I had to do is get approval from my insurance company and I did as well as all the other required appts they needed from me. I then took myself to the Cleveland Clinic and met with their surgeons. I told the surgeon at orientation about my condition and he said no problem he had in fact done the surgeries on other Crohns patients. Had my lap band on the 13 of March and my first fill today 4-11-07. To me it is all about being honest and being able to trust your doctors. Ben-Mier just really let me down in the worse way. I will never have anything good to say about him.