What doctor(s) has helped you on your WLS journey?

National Doctor's Day is Sunday, March 30th.  Please join us by thanking the professionals that have made a difference in our bariatric community. 

What doctor(s) have helped you on your journey?  Recognize your doctor today by sharing your story, we'd love to hear it.

Dr.Rupp from St.Paul Surgeons.... a life saver..

Dr. Cook is no longer at Ohio State Medical Center, I am not sure where he practicing now, but honestly OSU has a great TEAM approach to weight loss surgery. So a big thanks to the TEAM. They had an awesome pre-op program, and post-op appts were with both Dr. Cook and the nutritionist. I was was able to attend a few of their support groups but I lived 2 hrs away and moved out of state a year after surgery. Overall in the 11 years since surgery my PCP has been a huge assistance in helping coordinate my total plan of care when issues arose, she's been a great advocate and often asks me to speak to other patients who are having insurance issues in getting their WLS covered by insurance. 

If it were not for my gracious primary doctor, Margaret Hannon, I would not have had the great fortune of being referred out of our network to one of the finest hospitals in the Midwest, Rush!  I had my surgery with Dr. James Madura who was then at Rush and part of the Affiliated Surgeons group. This was in 2004.  He was wonderful, compassionate and right on target where my results would be.  He has moved on in the surgical field and is now practicing in Phoenix AZ.  Whoever has the good fortune to meet Dr. Madura for their surgery will get the gift of a new life from him! He got off to such a great start and then I followed my program religiously, with great results.  Now I am a Support Group Leader at a local hospital, thanks to OH!

Dr Samer Mattar of the IU Health Medical Center was my bariatric surgeon.  I was very concerned that my age was over the limit for WLS.  Dr Mattar assured me that he had taken older patients and after numerous tests that cleared me for surgery, I began the pre-op diet and nutritional process.  I really appreciate the number of exams they required and knowing that my heart was healthy made my worries less of an issue.  The pre-op liver reduction diet is a wonderful way to prepare for post-op success and I lost 35 lbs. before surgery.  Dr Mattar is a calm and pleasant doctor.  He is friendly, not in a rush to get through your appointments and will answer any question for you.  IU Health is a Center of Excellence with quality nutritional staff and physician assistants.  My surgery was on Sept. 1st, 2011.  Since then I have regained my energy, I enjoy my new life, and change in eating habits.  It has had a positive effect on my family and friends.  I have great appreciation for Dr Mattar and his surgical skill.  Thank you Dr Mattar.

My primary care doctor for the last 14 years, Dr. Kevin Ferentz who never judged me for my weight and has always taken my health care seriously. He never mention bariatric surgery to me but was totally supportive when I finally got up the nerve to say I was considering the procedure.

And the skilled hands of my surgeon Dr. Mark Kligman of University of Maryland Medical Center. I cannot say enough positive things about their program there. They take you through it step by step and do their best to see that you are educated in your nutritional and supplemental needs post-op.

Those 2 men helped me to save my life. They gave me a "reboot". A chance to start over and learn new eating habits and to take charge of my life.

Dr. Ludmila Pupkova did my laparoscopic RNY on May 31, 2007 when I weighed 320 pounds.  At the time, she was working at Barix (Forest Health) in Langhorne, PA.  Days before my surgery, I asked her, "What kind of results can I expect from this surgery?"  Her response was, "You can expect to be the happiest you have ever been."  She was absolutely right.  My journey has included some crazy ups and downs, including developing alcoholism, re-gaining 45 pounds, getting sober (almost 4 years now!) and re-losing the 45 pound plus some more.  I am a co-facilitator of support group meetings at Barix now, and I work diligently with one of their dieticians to stay on track.  I also work the 12-step program of Overeaters Anonymous to help with all the head stuff.  I have many tools in my toolbox of recovery, but the tool of WLS given to me that day by Dr. Pupkova is still the strongest tool in my toolbox. 

You can sign me eternally grateful,

Dr. Carson Liu (Santa Monica, CA), is an excellent bariatric surgeon! He's simply the best of the best. Dr. Liu goes above and beyond for his patients and always takes the time to answer any/all questions and concerns. His office staff is very helpful and friendly as well. 

I had bariatric surgery in 2009 and due to the 90 lb. weight loss I was finally able to conceive twin boys, which were born in 2011.

Dr. Carson Liu has been my life saver and I will forever be grateful to him and his staff for all their help and support throughout all these years.

I just want to thank Dr. Carson Liu from the bottom of my heart for my wonderful transformation. 

XOXO,

Donna

My Bariatric Surgery:RNY with Bruce Schirmer is @ UVA hospital on 10/3 plastic surgen1/2005 and Dr Victoria Vastine was my plastic surgen she is @ Martha Jefferson Hospital. Both of these Dr's played a huge part in my journey and w/out them I would not have been given the chance at this tool to make my life different. And for that I THANK THEM BOTH as well as there nurses and staff for there support. 

I had my surgery Oct. 2012 with the Santa Fe Medical Group in Tijuana. My surgeon was Dr. Sergio Quinones, he was truly one of the most amazing doctors that I have ever met...and I have had several different types of surgeries here in the US. To be honest I was a bit scared to go to Mexico for surgery, mainly because I had never been out of the US before, let alone to have surgery in another country. From the moment that I met Dr. Q, I knew that I was in good hands. He was very caring, VERY patient, and took all the time I needed to answer everyone of my questions, before I went into surgery. I know that there are certain stigmas about having surgery in Mexico, and that that option is not for everyone, but my experience was nothing short of amazing. I thank God for putting surgeons like him on this earth, because this surgery has gave me back so many things that I thought were gone forever.